Film Fest Gent is back! From the 9th to the 20th of October, the beloved ten-day film marathon is back with its 51st edition. The selection is vast and plentiful, so we narrowed it down to our picks that are a must-watch! Two of them are even free for Different Class members. Maybe it's time to message a friend... Me, you and a movie together?
It Was All a Dream
dir. Dream Hampton, USA 2024
Free for Different Class members on 10.10.2024 at 14h30, Sphinx, Ghent
In the nascent era of hip hop in Brooklyn, there was The Notorious B.I.G, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan – and there was Dream. From her personal archive, emerges a visual memoir from director and provocative music journalist, Dream Hampton. Equipped with a camera and intimate access to the greats of the golden age of hip-hop, Dream allows for an honest glimpse into the nuanced dynamics of the rap scene and her place within it, from 1993 to 1995. In an era where hip-hop is being primed to take hold of the centre stage, It Was All a Dream, is a fervent exploration of the genre from a feminist rap fan.
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Frank Capra: Mr. America
dir. Matthew Wells, UK 2023
With three Academy Award wins for best director, Frank Capra is the epitome of the American dream. Responsible for enduring classics like It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life, Capra is the romantic embodiment of the American Dream, reaching beyond its limits of materialism and individualism. In a rags-to-riches story of an Italian immigrant, this biographical documentary by British director Matthew Wells, digs into all sides of a dream, without shying away from the darker aspects that may make up the dreamer themself.
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Pavements
dir. Alex Ross Perry, USA 2024
Director Alex Ross Perry proclaims Pavement to be one of the most influential bands of the nineties. As such, Pavements is an almost visual representation of the band's eclectic sound. Unlike anything you’ve seen before, Perry creates a kaleidoscope on screen that is akin to a meta-movie, being part documentary, part comedy and part faux biopic with real facts interspersed in between. An exercise into what is fact and what is fiction, Perry documents the reunion of Pavement and their first creative endeavours in what can only be labelled as a visual whirlwind!
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Julie Zwijgt
dir. Leonardo Van Dijl, Belgium/Sweden 2024
A feature film debut from director Leonardo Van Dijl comes an intricate story of a prodigal tennis player and the investigation into a victim's choice of silence. Amidst allegations of abuse directed at her coach, we are shown the nuances of enacting a choice, as our protagonist demonstrates that silence doesn’t implicitly denote weakness. Instead, one is met with an enthralling character study of Julie, in which she charts her own road forward on her own terms.
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ANA + YEK
dir. Zohra Benhammou & Romy Mana, Belgium 2024
Free for Different Class members on 14.10.2024 at Sphinx, Ghent
(Auto)biographical in nature, ana + yek, Arabic for me and you, sees filmmaker Zohra begin to film her twin sister Sanaa in their shared apartment in Brussels. From there, a candid story emerges of the two different cultures these young women must navigate: the Belgian culture of their mother and the Moroccan culture of their father. The suspense of the potentiality of a chasm between the two sisters unfolds. Documented on screen, is an intricate narration of the search for oneself, longing for human connection and the transformative nature of the human experience.
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<div class="editorial-banner"> <div class=“editorial-credits”> @filmfestgent / Cover: dream hampton shot by Al Pereira <br/> <br/>Sharing is caring! Get a Different Class membership and bring a friend for free. <br/>Read all details here! <br/><br/> Tickets & info: filmfestival.be </div></div>
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