Calendar

Come grab some good food and let the kids play in the street while you can! Passerstraat 5, 1070 Anderlecht will be car-free, and it’s all yours on the 30/08 Kids, parents, neightbour: you're all welcome to join. There’ll be a bouncy castle, bikes, scooters, face painting, sidewalk chalk, a BBQ, and more. Swing by between 13:00 and 17:00. 

On 5 September, Schijnwerpers Short Film Festival kicks off with programme 1: Discovery. More information about all the films can be found below.

18:00 Doors open
18:30 – 20:00 FIlms + Q&A, stay afterwards for a drink

Address: Kroonlaan 12, 1050 Ixelles (GC Elzenhof)

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•Tomatoes to be planted — Annelies Bodiang – 19′50″ [EN]
We follow Nelle (25) on the day she returns home after a year of solo travel. Fragments from her travel diary reveal thoughts from the past year. The happy reunion with her sister and father is quickly overshadowed by the question: 'What now?' How does she want to shape her young adult life? Has she made the right choices in recent times? At the point where Nelle can no longer avoid these questions, the viewer meets her.

•Listen to my waves — Freia Van Lint – 3′15″ [EN]
This film is a message in a bottle from a young girl who finds her escape in surfing. Told through abstract metaphoric visuals and poetic voice-over, Listen to my waves invites the viewer to feel and interpret freely — with minimal context, and no fixed meaning.

•Norm — Jansher Khan – 9′38″ [EN]
A Brussels film school student's dream of becoming a director is challenged by a difficult choice. His family, from Afghanistan, discovers he's making films without telling them, as filmmaking is taboo in their society.

•Black Pearl — Zita Bamurange Vanbellingen – 9′22″ [EN]
A Brazilian father living in Belgium passes on the culture of his native Bahia to his daughter, the heart of Afro-Brazilian heritage. Through candomblé and capoeira, he shares his roots, spirituality, and pride. An intimate portrait of identity, heritage, and the bond between father and daughter.

•A letter to a friend — Ana Prebil – 3′40″ [EN]
A letter to a friend sent from far away. A whiff of love and loneliness in the wind and the smell of summer bringing friends back together.

•Mama Romy — Jette Renders – 19′25″ [EN / no subs]
Romy's wish to become a mother seems within reach when she guides a 16-year-old pregnant girl. As their bond grows, Romy projects her own desires onto the teenager, but is her longing still reasonable in today’s world? And is the way she pursues it truly right?

On 6 September, Schijnwerpers Short Film Festival brings you programme 2: Life's Burdens. More information about all the films can be found below.

18:00 Doors open
18:30 – 20:00 FIlms + Q&A, stay afterwards for a drink

Address: Kroonlaan 12, 1050 Ixelles (GC Elzenhof)
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•Papillon — Noah Nazyimana & Faisal Muhammadu – 12′27″  [EN subs]
Papillon tells an intimate and moving story about young Moïse, a teenager who, after the death of his father, is suddenly forced to take on the role of “man of the house.” He feels responsible for his mother, Monique, who is under immense financial pressure but tries to hide her worries. Moïse does his best to support her, yet he struggles with the reality that, despite everything, he is still just a child.

•Role Play — Ilja Zekovic – 23′55″ [EN subs]
Nenad, a sixty-year-old history teacher, invites a young prostitute, Julia, to celebrate his birthday together.

•Ghosted — Shana Mbala Pembe – 8′42″  [EN subs]
A young girl gets ghosted on a date, which yet again she experiences deception in the romantic field. So in order to feel better she decides that revenge is the way to go and decides to become the ghost to the ghoster.

•Broken wings — Aime Octave – 13′44″ [EN subs]
Emile receives a phone call from his mother who is sick prompting him to go back home. After years of living away from home, and leaving a trauma in the past, there is a secret he shares with his father, Dele, and something weighing on his mother, Amina. He breaks the conspiracy of silence as he tries to communicate with his parents.

•Vuela — Florangela Condorich – 3′42″ [no subs]
Vuela (Fly) is a heartfelt story about dreams, resilience, and the courage it takes to leave home in the pursuit of your dreams. This short animated film follows a young girl and her dream of soaring through the skies. Along the way, she discovers the challenges of chasing her aspirations, but with her mother’s unwavering support, she learns that dreaming big and being brave, are the keys to making those dreams a reality.

Would you like to learn Lingala or Swahili? Good news: our language courses are starting again this school year! Come to the information session on 10 September at 7 p.m. to ask questions, sign up for the course and meet the teachers.

The Swahili module (different levels) takes place on Wednesday evenings. More information about our courses and practical details will follow via this link.

On 12 September, Schijnwerpers Short Film Festival brings you programme 3: Sensibilization. More information about all the films can be found below.

18:00 Doors open
18:30 – 20:00 FIlms + Q&A, stay afterwards for a drink

Address: Passerstraat 5, 1070 Anderlevcht (Kuumba vzw)
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•Legacy — Dahyeong Hwang, Doyeon Kim, Jisu Lee, Minha Joo – 8′00″ [no subs]
In mid-to-late 20th century Greenland, a boy who loves animals lives with his father. Unlike other kids, he enjoys reading and mostly keeps to himself. One day, his father takes him hunting.
When the father hands him a rifle, the boy hesitantly accepts it, his hands tense with nervousness. As he takes the shot, the bullet misses the seal—but the moment leaves him lost in thought...

•Our city pets — Matias Ramos ter Maat – 13′51″ [no subs]
"We see them everywhere, yet rarely stop to look. This documentary turns its lens on the overlooked life of the pigeon."

•Au revoir Paradiso — Aurelie van Herk – 6′06″ [EN subs]
In a forgotten corner in Flanders, Eddy lives among dreams of wood, dust and memory. Since he was a child, he has been building his own circus universe with a museum full of miniatures, posters and stories that no one tells anymore. Now, at almost 80 years of age, he is getting ready for his very last show.

Au Revoir Paradiso is an intimate and poetic documentary about dedication, imagination and the art of aging. In the silent setting of his self-made world, Eddy becomes a clown, archivist, child and artist. All at the same time. This film is more than just a portrait. It is a time capsule, a gentle cry against oblivion and a tender ode to what remains when everything seems to disappear.

•Self-loving Jew — Sterre Volders – 15′00″ [EN subs]
Self-loving Jew is a short, intimate documentary following three members of the Anti-Zionist Jewish Alliance in Belgium as they confront what it means to be Jewish in a time of genocide. Often labeled as self-hating, they reflect on intergenerational trauma, faith, family rupture, and political awakening. Their message is clear: to oppose injustice in our name is not self-hatred — it’s self-love.

•Born to be — Björk Vijgen – 4′05″ [no subs]
Sheep has nothing to say in her life. From birth her brain is removed, she gets an assigned diploma, she is put to work in a factory, she gets married and in her womb starts a new life cycle .And so the cycle begins again. The story repeats itself in an even more changed dystopian world. the third Sheep questions the way of living in the present and the future.

•Keep walking — Luna De Win & Oudôm Van Pottelbergh – 10′04″ [NL subs]
In deze korte documentaire volgen we Darin (55), die als vijfjarig meisje de genocide in Cambodja overleefde. Nu, vele jaren later, voelt ze de noodzaak om haar herinneringen te delen. Niet alleen als getuigenis, maar als brug tussen generaties. Ze wil de rijkdom van haar cultuur doorgeven aan kinderen en jongeren die opgroeien in België, en gelooft dat ook het verleden daarin een plek verdient. Voor het eerst besluit ze haar verhaal te vertellen. Van de dag dat de Rode Khmers Phnom Penh binnentrokken tot de stille tochten door bossen vol verborgen gevaar. Haar herinneringen zijn niet vervaagd. Sommige angsten leven nog in haar lichaam, zoals de schrik voor het donker of het gevoel van een lege maag dat zich als een echo door de tijd blijft herhalen. Met haar verhaal bewaakt ze een verleden dat niet verloren mag gaan, en in haar herinneringen schuilt een stille wens: dat wie na haar komt, nooit de gruwel hoeft te doorstaan die zij als kind heeft geleefd.

•The village idiot — Michell Heyndricksx – 8′31″ [EN, NL subs]
Bob, the local village idiot, invites us to spend the day with him. We don’t know much about him, other than he’s been left home alone against the advice of his superiors and that he's still in recovery. He pulls us into his world—or is it a fantasy? A delusion? A hallucination? In this film, Michell Heyndrickx draws from his own experiences with psychosis and psychological vulnerability, as well as the way these issues have historically and culturally been understood. By writing and performing not just the role of Bob but all the characters in the film, Heyndrickx reclaims his voice—a voice that has often been taken over by art and media throughout history. He challenges the clichés and stereotypes surrounding psychological vulnerability.

The film’s aesthetic is inspired by the surreal, artificial worlds of low-budget TV shows and interactive children’s programs, which often feel strange and unsettling due to their artifice. Heyndrickx built the sets entirely from cardboard and paper, a metaphor for the fragility of our perception of reality.

In our series Half-and-Half: Feeding the City, starting this fall, we will explore the food heritage of several major cultural communities that emerged from the great migration movements of the 20th century.

For this first event, we will focus on two neighborhoods with a strong Central African presence. First, there is Matonge, which, since the 1960s with the presence of a few colonial clubs, but especially thanks to the influx of students from the Maison Africaine and even a nightclub has transformed into a vibrant district with galleries, restaurants or malewas, and grocery stores.

There is also Cureghem, where, in the shadow of the imposing bronze bulls of the Abattoir and partly influenced by the car trade on Rue Heyvaert, a kind of “new Matonge” has emerged over the past decade.

A guide will take you through both neighborhoods and share the stories of their origins and evolution. Naturally, we will also pay special attention to the aromas and flavors that define them.

We will end at Kuumba, where you can enjoy a tasting of Central African dishes prepared by the volunteers of this Flemish-African cultural house.
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Location: The activity starts in Matonge, Square Patrice Lumumba, and ends at Kuumba, Vlaams-Afrikaans Huis (Rue du Compas 5, 1070 Anderlecht).

Program
14:00 - 16:00: Guided walk in Matonge and Cureghem
16:00 - 16:45: Transfer to Kuumba
17:00 - 19:00: Tasting buffet and concert

Participation fee
Guided walk, tastings, and concert:
€12 (+ €1 administration fee)

[Register HERE]
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Cooking workshop: Prior to the guided tour, we are organising a cooking workshop on 4 September focusing on Central African cuisine, with a particular emphasis on Rwandan cuisine. Join a chef from Kuumba in the kitchen and prepare a few dishes together. Naturally, you will also have the opportunity to sample the results.

The workshop will be held in Dutch.

Participation fee:
10 euros (+ 1 euro processing fee)
Registration link will follow soon

On 13 September, Schijnwerpers Short Film Festival brings you programme 4: Jury's highlight 1. More information about all the films can be found below.

18:30 Doors open
19:00 – 20:30 FIlms + Q&A, stay afterwards for a drink

Address: Passerstraat 5, 1070 Anderlevcht (Kuumba vzw)
____
•Papillon — Noah Nazyimana & Faisal Muhammadu – 12′27″ [EN]
Papillon tells an intimate and moving story about young Moïse, a teenager who, after the death of his father, is suddenly forced to take on the role of “man of the house.” He feels responsible for his mother, Monique, who is under immense financial pressure but tries to hide her worries. Moïse does his best to support her, yet he struggles with the reality that, despite everything, he is still just a child.

•Role Play — Ilja Zekovic – 23′55″ [EN]
Nenad, a sixty-year-old history teacher, invites a young prostitute, Julia, to celebrate his birthday together.

•Broken wings — Aime Octave – 13′44″ [EN]
Emile receives a phone call from his mother who is sick prompting him to go back home. After years of living away from home, and leaving a trauma in the past, there is a secret he shares with his father, Dele, and something weighing on his mother, Amina. He breaks the conspiracy of silence as he tries to communicate with his parents.

On 19 September, Schijnwerpers Short Film Festival brings you programme 5: Jury's highlight 2. More information about all the films can be found below.

18:00 Doors open
18:30  – 20:00 FIlms + Q&A, stay afterwards for a drink

Address: Passerstraat 5, 1070 Anderlevcht (Kuumba vzw)
______

•Mama Romy — Jette Renders – 19′25″ [EN subs]
Romy's wish to become a mother seems within reach when she guides a 16-year-old pregnant girl. As their bond grows, Romy projects her own desires onto the teenager, but is her longing still reasonable in today’s world? And is the way she pursues it truly right?

•Keep walking — Luna De Win & Oudôm Van Pottelbergh – 10′04″ [NL subs]
In deze korte documentaire volgen we Darin (55), die als vijfjarig meisje de genocide in Cambodja overleefde. Nu, vele jaren later, voelt ze de noodzaak om haar herinneringen te delen. Niet alleen als getuigenis, maar als brug tussen generaties. Ze wil de rijkdom van haar cultuur doorgeven aan kinderen en jongeren die opgroeien in België, en gelooft dat ook het verleden daarin een plek verdient. Voor het eerst besluit ze haar verhaal te vertellen. Van de dag dat de Rode Khmers Phnom Penh binnentrokken tot de stille tochten door bossen vol verborgen gevaar. Haar herinneringen zijn niet vervaagd. Sommige angsten leven nog in haar lichaam, zoals de schrik voor het donker of het gevoel van een lege maag dat zich als een echo door de tijd blijft herhalen. Met haar verhaal bewaakt ze een verleden dat niet verloren mag gaan, en in haar herinneringen schuilt een stille wens: dat wie na haar komt, nooit de gruwel hoeft te doorstaan die zij als kind heeft geleefd.

•The village idiot — Michell Heyndricksx – 8′31″ [EN / NL subs]

Bob, the local village idiot, invites us to spend the day with him. We don’t know much about him, other than he’s been left home alone against the advice of his superiors and that he's still in recovery. He pulls us into his world—or is it a fantasy? A delusion? A hallucination? In this film, Michell Heyndrickx draws from his own experiences with psychosis and psychological vulnerability, as well as the way these issues have historically and culturally been understood. By writing and performing not just the role of Bob but all the characters in the film, Heyndrickx reclaims his voice—a voice that has often been taken over by art and media throughout history. He challenges the clichés and stereotypes surrounding psychological vulnerability.

•Legacy — Dahyeong Hwang, Doyeon Kim, Jisu Lee, Minha Joo – 8′00″ [no subs]
In mid-to-late 20th century Greenland, a boy who loves animals lives with his father. Unlike other kids, he enjoys reading and mostly keeps to himself. One day, his father takes him hunting.When the father hands him a rifle, the boy hesitantly accepts it, his hands tense with nervousness. As he takes the shot, the bullet misses the seal—but the moment leaves him lost in thought...

On 20 September, Schijnwerpers Short Film Festival brings you program 6: African diaspora in the spotlight​. More information about all the films can be found below.

18:00 – Doors open
18:30 – 20:00 FIlms + Q&A
20:00 – Public award announcement, stay afterwards for a drink

Address: Vooruitgangsstraat 76, 1030 Schaarbeek (TRACK)
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• Black Pearl — Zita Bamurange Vanbellingen – 9′22″ [EN subs]
A Brazilian father living in Belgium passes on the culture of his native Bahia to his daughter, the heart of Afro-Brazilian heritage. Through candomblé and capoeira, he shares his roots, spirituality, and pride. An intimate portrait of identity, heritage, and the bond between father and daughter.

•Broken wings — Aime Octave – 13′44″ [EN subs]
Emile receives a phone call from his mother who is sick prompting him to go back home. After years of living away from home, and leaving a trauma in the past, there is a secret he shares with his father, Dele, and something weighing on his mother, Amina. He breaks the conspiracy of silence as he tries to communicate with his parents.

•Ghosted — Shana Mbala Pembe – 8′42″ [EN subs]
A young girl gets ghosted on a date, which yet again she experiences deception in the romantic field. So in order to feel better she decides that revenge is the way to go and decides to become the ghost to the ghoster.

•Papillon — Noah Nazyimana & Faisal Muhammadu – 12′27″ [EN subs]
Papillon tells an intimate and moving story about young Moïse, a teenager who, after the death of his father, is suddenly forced to take on the role of “man of the house.” He feels responsible for his mother, Monique, who is under immense financial pressure but tries to hide her worries. Moïse does his best to support her, yet he struggles with the reality that, despite everything, he is still just a child.