Berlinale recognises Flemish shorts revival

Three Flemish shorts have been selected for the 60th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival. Venus vs Me by Nathalie Teirlinck and Long Live the New Flesh by Nicolas Provost made it to the Berlinale Shorts, where they are competing for the prestigious Golden Bear. Siemiany by Philip James McGoldrick has been selected for the Generation 14plus programme and is competing for the Crystal Bear against 11 others, including Spike Jonze with his new short, I’m here.

More than 2,600 films were submitted this year for an official Berlinale spot. The festival described the Berlinale Shorts competition as a collection of ’films that explore cinematic boundaries’ with selections from – besides Belgium – Peru, South Africa, Italy, Korea, Romania, Croatia, among others. Venus vs Me and Long Live the New Flesh not only compete for the Golden Bear, but also for a nomination for the European Film Academy Short Film Award 2010 and a DAAD grant. The Berlinale shorts award ceremony will be held on 16 February.

The Berlinale Shorts, according to the festival, ’has established itself as a platform for artists and filmmakers, one that leaves room for experiments and courage.’ Almost in the same breath, the festival mentions the artist-filmmaker Nicolas Provost with his short, Long Live the New Flesh, which will be screened at the festival. Parallel to the festival, Nicolas will hold a solo exhibition at the Haunch of Venison gallery in Berlin. This prestigious gallery has divisions in New York, London, Zurich, etc. Previous work by Provost has also screened at festivals such as Sundance and Rotterdam.

In Long Live the New Flesh, Nicolas Provost uses fragments of existing horror films to create a new film. The film uses a technique that makes the images seem to eat one other, as slowly the film rises to a visual climax of the horror experience. All ingredients that have made Nicolas Provost’s experimental art films into an international success are again present here.

With her selection for Berlin, Nathalie Teirlinck adds another line to her already promising résumé. In 2006, her short film, Anémone, was selected for competition at the Locarno International Film Festival and awarded at the Leuven IFF for Shorts (jury award) and the Ghent IFF (ACE prize). With her graduation project, Juliette, Nathalie also won one of two VAF Wildcards for fiction in 2007. Her latest film, Venus vs Me, is the result of that VAF Wildcard and more than proves its worth with a Berlin selection.

In Venus vs Me, 12-year-old Marie, entangled in a realm of thought, has trouble growing up. When her young mother brings home a new boyfriend, questions remain unanswered and communication seems impossible. Frantically, Marie tries to win back her mother while she silently finds solace in a world of memories.

Siemiany by Philip James McGoldrick, will have its German premiere at Berlin, but it’s not the film’s first accomplishment. The film has also been selected for competition at the famous Short Film Festival at Clermont-Ferrand. In Berlin, Siemiany is competing against 11 other shorts.

Siemiany tells the story of Andrzej and Michal, two young teenagers who come together every summer in the small tourist village of Siemiany in the Polish countryside. Their friendship has grown into years of great memories and the boredom of the countryside takes the boys’ friendship to a new level of sexually charged intimacy.

The Berlin Film Festival runs from 11-21 February this year. Flemish producers for Long Live the New Flesh, Venus vs Me and Siemiany are Nicolas Provost, Xavier Rombouts and Ben Vandendaele respectively.

As in previous years, the Flanders Image booth can be found at the European Film Market’s Martin Gropuis Bau venue (booth G3 – 1st Floor).