26/02/2016 - The deal was signed yesterday in Brussels

Joëlle Milquet, Minister of Education, Culture and Childhood for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (left), and Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science Dr Jet Bussemaker signing the treaty

Yesterday, the Netherlands and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium signed a co-production treaty for the production of films, which provides an important basis for boosting bilateral co-production, and fostering the development of the film industry and film culture in both territories. The new treaty is also expected to stimulate the audiovisual industries, and the development of cultural and economic exchanges.  

According to Doreen Boonekamp, CEO of the Netherlands Film Fund, “The cinematographic treaty between the Netherlands and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will provide a structure for the framework of co-operation between the parties and give professionals the best artistic and financial possibilities to collaborate.”

Emmanuel Roland, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s head of cinema production, underlined the reasons why such a treaty was necessary. “The most recent research has shown that international cinematographic co-production is a must. First of all, it opens new cultural universes, encouraging diversity and curiosity for other stories and new ways of thinking; it allows a real sharing of creativity. Secondly, it’s the best way to encourage co-operation between professionals in order to reach a common goal regarding picture, sound, set design, editing and so on. And it gives projects other opportunities in terms of financing and new markets for distribution.”

Due to linguistic affinities, Flanders, in the north of Belgium, has for years been a close partner for Dutch co-productions, but cooperation between the Netherlands and the French-speaking part of the country has been less prolific so far. A recent example of a film linking the two territories is Marion Hänsel’s En amont du fleuve [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Marion Hänsel
film profile] (read more), which has yet to be distributed theatrically.

The Netherlands currently has co-production treaties with France, Canada, Germany, China and South Africa.