Programma per thema

100th Epsiode "Vranckx en de Nomaden"

For ten years, promising Flemish storytellers have been traveling the globe with Rudi Vranckx. Each with their own motivation and personal methods, they make a documentary about a unique aspect of the world, under the supervision of Vranckx’ experienced team. To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of this series of reports, Rudi Vranckx invites you at Docville to watch three unseen ones - together with him and the young filmmakers.

portret
A New Kind of Wilderness

A wild and free life in nature. That is what Maria and Nik dreamed of before moving into a remote farmhouse in the Norwegian forest, where they now live with four children. All goes well until disaster strikes and they are forced to move to the city. An intimate documentary that won the Grand Jury Prize for international documentary at Sundance.

family
nature
society
coming-of-age
A Storm Foretold

Roger Stone, Trump's political godfather, gave documentary filmmaker Guldbrandsen unprecedented access to his life, from 2018 to just after the Capitol riots in early 2021. A wild, mind-boggling ride through Stone's sharp worldview. Disconcerting and perplexing.

politics
usa
portret
Adoptionfraud: what can we do to avoid it?

Giving a child from another country a "better life" in Belgium: the motivation of adoptive parents is often the very opposite of reality. As a result, numerous cases of abuse recently led to a halt in adoptions. Time for a discussion on how to proceed: with parents, children and policy makers.

society
politics
Agent of Happiness

Amber, an official Bhutanese Happiness Agent, travels the Himalayas surveying people's happiness. On his remote mountain journey, he measures people's happiness and struggles to find his own fulfillment.

science
psychology
other-cultures
Ammodo Docs Compilatie

Quantum scientist and former hacker Stephanie Wehner believes the revolutionary quantum internet is possible before 2030. Building an internet based on quantum bits could well be one of the most revolutionary projects of the coming decades.

science
fysica
health
ecology
And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine

From British King Edward VII's obsession with the very first camera to the now more than 45 billion cameras constantly recording around the world, moving pictures are everywhere. These filmmakers, who call themselves visual sociologists, demonstrate the human obsession with film and its impact on society.

society
visually-stunning
media
Anselm (3D)

Wim Wenders delves into the life and work of Anselm Kiefer, one of the biggest names in contemporary art. Anselm (3D) is a unique filmexperience in which the bounderies between film and art fade away.

art
visually-stunning
Blue Orchids

A double portrait of two experts representing the two opposite extremes in the playing field of global arms trade. Blue Orchids shockingly unveils how greedy the war industry actually is.

economy
politics
Bouw je eigen raket

Hoe maak je zelf de beste raket? Hoeveel vinnen heeft een raket nodig? En hoe raakt die tot aan de maan? Hoe scherp maak je haar punt, en hoe zwaar? En waarom dan? Je gaat zelf op zoek naar antwoorden: je ontwerpt, test en verbetert je raket en schiet die uiteindelijk spectaculair de lucht in!
Brussels Wild - De terugkeer van de roeken

Bring out your inner birdwatcher! Discover what birds are hiding in our Brussels capital. Maybe you'll spot a pitch-black crow, a stately heron, cute sparrows or even a green parakeet? And if you're really lucky, you might spot a giant rook that hasn't been seen for over 50 years. The film is narrated by biologist and journalist Dirk Draulans.

nature
ecology
Buitenbeentjes (kortfilm)

From the cold land of "Grijs en Grauw", Lotta arrives in the "Buitenbeentjesburcht", a place where children can be 'different'. She feels perfectly at easy there.
Chelsea's Blues

Not long after her birth, Chelsea was placed in a juvenile institution. At 19-year-old, she reconnects with people who have been important to her: her juvenile court judge, the farmer where she sometimes worked, a former neighbour, her best friend, her father ... Over the course of these meetings, she tries to learn more about who she was, but also who she is now and the wo she wants to become.

society
portret
coming-of-age
Citizen Sleuth

True Crime is more popular than ever and podcasts from amateur sleuths like Emily Nestor are very succesful. Currently, Nestor is investigating the possible murder of a young woman, and its cover-up. But what if the business aspect of her true crime series takes over? What if the number of listeners becomes more important than the truth?

spannend
remarkable-stories
usa
media
Closing Night DOCVILLE & Screening The Gullspång Miracle

Two Norwegian sisters decide to buy a new appartment. Their lives turn upside down when they meet the seller of their house. She looks identical to their third sister, who committed suicide thirty years ago.

remarkable-stories
mildly-comical
portret
Confessions of a Good Samaritan

Effective altruism: a philosophy and social movement that seeks the most effective ways to do "good" for others through rational consideration. Just like director Penny Lane, who donated a kidney to a complete stranger.

science
psychology
economy
health
Copyright through the eyes of documentary filmmakers

Copyrights through the eyes of documentary filmmakers. Copyright raises many questions. New forms of collaboration and new technologies necessitate rethinking the concept in the heavily underfunded documentary film sector.
Coral City (kortfilm)

Together with a Belgian research team, a young Sri Lankan scientist and mother tries to uncover the secret of migrating coral larvae, in order to protect the coral reefs and people of her country.

science
nature
Corpus

500 years after his death, Andreas Vesalius takes us on a deepdive into the human condition. Is there a way to transcend our mortality, or the fear of it? Five contemporary pioneers, like Vesalius, combine art and science to explore the human body. DOCVILLE screens this film in a unique place: the old anatomical theater of the KU Leuven.

science
health
Danger Zone

Is visiting a war zone the ultimate tourist experience? It could be. Some tour operators now organise special trips to zones of conflict, just for the thrill, to feel alive again or to be able to sell it as a cool story. A staggering clash between two worlds.

remarkable-stories
war-amp-amp-conflict
Day of the Doc

Professional documentary filmmakers traditionally gather on the last day of DOCVILLE for the annual Day of the Doc. An engaging round-up of the state of Flemish documentary films with time to reflect on some interesting issues.
De chemie van Beauty
De geheimen van de oermens

Are you ready for a spectacular journey to a time where giant animals roamed the Asian jungle? In this unique docufiction filmmaker Jacques Malaterre takes you to a prehistoric China, using beautiful 3D animations.

science
nature
historical-documentary
De Morgen @ DOCVILLE - Volledige dag

In samenspraak met de redactie van De Morgen host DOCVILLE de eerste editie van De Morgen@DOCVILLE! Geniet op zondag 24/03 een hele dag lang van actuele films, panelgesprekken en in- en uitleidingen door DM-journalisten. De vertoningen starten om 10u en eindigen om 20u.
Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y

With this award-winning found footage film from 1997, Grimonprez made an unsettling foreshadowing of 9/11. With images from films, news reports, home movies and multiple archives, he delivers razor sharp commentary on sensationalism in the media, in light of the history of plane hijacking.

essay
historical-documentary
Double Take

Johan Grimonprez casts Alfred Hitchcock as a paranoid history professor, getting unwillingly involved in another perspective on the Cold War era. A very creative collage film where images of the legendary director, his doppelganger and his films are fascinatingly placed in a parallel with historical events.

essay
historical-documentary
politics
Draw for Change - Drawing A Line (India)

Sama Pana's socially relevant drawings have a large following among young, progressive Indians, but they are also subject of discussion. As she is being sued for three cartoons, it is with humour and tenacity, but also with doubt and fear that she awaits her trial.

society
portret
art
Draw for Change - Tree of Violence (Rusland)

For the past decade, cartoonist Victoria Lomasko has devoted herself to meticulously capturing Putin's Russia. However, as Putin launches a "military operation" in Ukraine and demonises Russian dissidents, Lomasko realises that she will not be able to continue her work in Russia.

society
politics
art
portret
Draw for Change: Existimos, Resistimos

Enter the vibrant world of Maremoto, a young Mexican cartoonist who, through her drawings, empowers women and addresses the taboos of her society. In a combination of 360° video and animation, we become part of Maremoto’s ongoing search for her identity and drive through art, tackling themes such as body positivity, sexual harassment and contemporary activism.
Empereur

In this interactive and narrative experience, you will dive into the mind of a father with aphasia. It is the story of a father who is unable to speak and a daughter who tries everything in her power to get to know her father better.

health
portret
Emperors of Nothing

An immersion within the Brussels prison of Forest, notorious for its inhumane incarceration conditions, showing different reactions of peoples' spirits to this harsh world. What it means to be behind bars, is illustrated by personal and candid moments with inmates and wardens alike.

society
portret
visually-stunning
Eternal You

Imagine a world where your great-grandchildren can speak to a digital version of yourself 100 years from now. They can hear your voice, listen to your memories and see your face. An unrealistic, far-fetched idea? Certainly not according to an American start-up that views immortality as a new business opportunity.

science
artificial-intelligence
society
philosophy
Europe’s Mining Renaissance

Massive investments are being made in clean technologies in hopes of "saving the planet." Yet all these technical gadgets rely on critical metals and markets dominated by only a handful of countries. Moreover, all that mining and processing is often done in socially and environmentally irresponsible ways. This documentary exposes the economic, ecological, (geo)political and social consequences of that paradox. To what extent could Europe take over the mining of such metals? And what about the Sami, the indigenous people in the far North, who oppose this mining for "energy transition metals."?

ecology
economy
Expeditie exoplaneet

science
Fauna

In the Catalan forest, shepherd Valeriano picks up a stray goat. On their way back to the herd, they pass a high-tech laboratory where scientists feverishly search for a Covid vaccine. A light-hearted but perceptive documentary about two vastly different worlds that are two sides of the same coin.

science
nature
visually-stunning
Floating With Spirits

This is once again evident in the VR installation Floating With Spirits. You are taken to southern Mexico, where the Mazatec community is celebrating the Day of the Dead. In the 360° around you, you encounter nature spirits and ancestors. You ascend, but the landing is soft.

visually-stunning
other-cultures
Food Inc 2

The American food industry leaves a trail of victims: animals and humans alike pay the price for an extremely efficient yet vulnerable food system. A very small group of multinational corporations own up to 80 percent of industries like the beef processing industry. Workers in the (fast)foodindustry barely get by, and eating patterns fueled by ultra-processed foods head off towards an unseen health crisis. However, innovative farmers, food producers and legislators inspire and try to change course towards a more sustainable food industry.

science
ecology
economy
health
politics
Gassen: Superkoel en gloeiend heet

Er zweven elke dag een hoop gassen rond ons, maar welke? En wat doen die? Tijdens deze show leer je allerlei gassen kennen. Sommigen zorgen voor gloeiend heet vuurwerk, anderen zijn dan weer ijskoud. Je krijgt proefjes voorgeschoteld die je net zo goed thuis kan doen, maar ook experimenten waar je zeker een professional voor nodig hebt! Koolzuur, methaangas, basen en zuren; je leert ze allemaal kennen tijdens de proefjes, waar je zelf natuurlijk ook aan meedoet!
Gestolen Leven

You think you are an orphan, adopted in a Western country, only to discover years later that your official papers have been forged. You are not an orphan, and your biological parents are still alive today... Rani, abducted as a child, testifies about child trafficking by the Catholic Church in India. The Dutch Marcia, a victim of adoption fraud, exposes corruption in Colombia, causing a shockwave in Belgium. And a journalist named Kurt risks his own life to expose a network of Congolese child traffickers.

society
other-cultures
politics
family
Glass, My Unfulfilled Life

In the course of seven years, Rogier Kappers films himself as he strives to achieve the dream he had as a nine-year-old boy: to build an organ from singing glasses and getting rich and famous in the process. With the necessary self-mockery, he meanders between hope, despair and heartache. Because in real life, dreams are not always achievable.

portret
mildly-comical
art
Grasshopper Republic

Deep in the forests of Uganda, millions of grasshoppers gather to mate. It is a spectacular event of unseen proportions. But they are not alone: a group of young men set up a strange construction with the aim of catching the elusive prey.

visually-stunning
africa
nature
Grip (kortfilm)

Emilia, a Ukrainian teenager living in Belgium, goes to climbing camp in the Ardennes with a group of girls. She not only practices to clamber up steep rock faces, but also has to find her place in the group and learn to trust others. During a very special week, a teenage girl gets a grip on the rocks, herself and the world around her.
Hannah & De Krokodil (kortfilm)

When Fien discovers that her sister Hannah is threatened by a vicious crocodile that makes her very skinny and sick, the world is turned upside down. Together with their parents, Fien and Hannah try to defeat the crocodile so that Hannah will make it to her next birthday.
Hollywoodgate

In 2021, the U.S. military pulled out of Afghanistan in a hurry. Documentary filmmaker Ibrahim Nash'at follows a Taliban commander for a year while he takes over the CIA base Hollywoodgate. The abandoned base bulges with materials and information as a true treasure trove. Gradually, the Taliban come to realise that managing an administration is not the same as leading a terrorist group.

politics
war-amp-amp-conflict
Hong Kong Mixtape

In the wake of massive protests in Hong Kong, China enacts a new national security law restricting certain words, images, books, slogans and songs. However, thanks to an underground network of artists groups, it appears that the fight for the freedoms that once characterised Hong Kong is still being fervently fought.

politics
society
If Only Night Wouldn't Fall

In an attempt to eliminate stress, anxiety and other mental health problems, three subjects try to rid their life of all "abnormalities". Do we really become happier when we do not experience setbacks, insecurity or imperfection?

science
psychology
IMMORTALITY VIA AI - DREAM OR NIGHTMARE?

What if a digital version of yourself could live on after your death? Your face, your voice, as well as memories or anecdotes would be recorded. Is it conceivable that a hundred years from now your great-granddaughter could talk to your avatar about life in 2024? Or that a mother of a deceased toddler can speak to her now "digitally raised" child? And do we want that?
In Silico

A bold project of a visionary neurologist charmed everyone. He would replicate a human brain, in all its complexity, on supercomputers. No other project managed to convince the European Union to get that many subsidies. But as years and funds ticked away, the gap between excessive ambition and objective results kept getting bigger.

science
Intercepted

Phone calls from Russian soldiers to family and friends were intercepted by the Ukrainian secret service. They give a startling insight into the hearts and minds of the Russian armed force. Some conversations show them to be more human, and some more inhuman, than you could ever suspect. Hard-hitting, haunting, sobering.

war-amp-amp-conflict
Jan Hoet - Thank God for the Gift

Jan Hoet: top curator and human being extraordinaire. Using his favourite painting as a guide, Jan Hoet's world comes back to life 10 years after his death. A world dominated by art, where work and personal life are inseperable. A portrait of a restless soul who never stopped looking forward to the future.

art
portret
Joan Baez I Am A Noise

Since her debut at age 18, musician and activist Joan Baez has been on stage for more than 60 years. The now 82-year-old singer candidly takes stock of her life, from her involvement in the civil rights movement to her friendship with Martin Luther King to her heartbreaking romance with Bob Dylan. A tribute to an icon who never told the full truth of her life, until now.

music
portret
health
psychology
Ket & Docs

Five brand new child-sized short documentaries, full of real-life stories. For instance, a young pianist tries to bond with his dad who is in the army. A girl fights for her two passions: baking and boxing. Fien discovers that her sister Hannah is threatened by a vicious crocodile that makes her very skinny and sick. A Ukrainian teen learns to trust herself and others during a climbing camp, and Lotta ends up in a world where everyone is allowed to be unique.

music
portret
coming-of-age
Kim's Video

The collection of Video Store Kim's Video, New York, consisted of more than 55,000 DVDs and VHSs. After closing down, it was entirely donated to an unsightly village in Italy whose local government promised to turn the it into a film museum. Director Redmon tries to recover the collection decades later and what he discovers is even more peculiar than the script of a B-movie.

remarkable-stories
mildly-comical
Kip Thorne & Thomas Hertog about the Einstein Telescope

The new underground Einstein telescope will be Europe's most advanced observatory for gravitational waves. Why do we need such a telescope? Why is the detection of those gravitational waves so essential to physics? And which country will get it? The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are exploring the options to host this world-class observatory together.

science
fysica
Lecture Kip Thorne - The Warped Side of our Universe

On Friday, March 22nd, prof. dr. Kip Thorne will be giving a lecture for the general public in the Vesalius lecture hall. Thorne is a theoretical physicist, known for his contributions to gravitational physics and astrophysics. He collaborated with Stephen Hawking and taught at the California Institute of Technology for years. Thorne is active in numerous projects on the cutting edge of science and art and gives scientific advice as well, for example for Interstellar by Christopher Nolan and Contact by Robert Zemeckis. In 2017 Thorne, together with Rainer Weiss and Barry C. Barish, received the Nobel prize for their observational discovery of gravitational waves.

science
fysica
Life Is Beautiful

A young Palestinian filmmaker is invited to a film festival in Norway, but during his stay the border with Gaza closes. He cannot return to his home country, but neither can he stay. A bureaucratic nightmare. With the camera pointed at himself, he tries to hold his identity, story and future in his own hands. A documentary that won the Prize for Best Direction at IDFA.

society
war-amp-amp-conflict
portret
Maak je eigen blauwdruk

Make your own piece of art with blue print. First, you make photosensitive paper yourself, then you go and search for the nicest objects or you make your own drawing for your art. All of this using sunlight or a blacklight. A the end of this creative workshop, you will be going home with your own blue print masterpiece!
Maak je eigen bruisbal

What does your ideal bath bomb smell like? What colour is it? The decision is yours to make! You will also learn why a bath bomb creates bubbles. How do you mix the right colors for your perfect bath bomb? What is the science behind all of this? The result is a fizzing present that you can test out at home.
Marching in the Dark

In rural areas of India, the suicide rate among farmers is high. A group of women farmers who have recently lost their husbands decide to meet with a local psychologist and activist to share their stories and problems and help others in their grief. Through that act of quiet rebellion against a patriarchal society, 28-year-old introverted Sanjeevani finds the courage to be self-reliant. A haunting story of resilient women.

other-cultures
economy
Master Talk Johan Grimonprez

His first feature film had its world premiere at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 1996 and his most recent film was awarded at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It's time for an extended Master Talk.
Masterclass Ben Bernhard

The documentary record of cinematographer Ben Bernhard is impressive. He has worked with award-winning directors such as Victor Kossakovsky (Aquarella, ¡Vivan las antípodas!) and Pernille Rose Grønkjær (Solutions, Hunting for Hedonia). This year he even earned an Oscar nomination for his contribution to the film All That Breathes. A master class from a true master cinematographer in the world of docu.
Moonshot Mission (kortfilm)

Is a communication network with quantum bits possible and would it increase security? Building out a quantum Internet could be one of the biggest scientific projects of the coming decades.
Moving Mountains (kortfilm)

To accurately map the effects of climate change, Dutch mountain hydrologist Walter Immerzeel and his team are going to remote altitudes where other scientists barely set foot.
Nenets vs Gas

In the heart of the Arctic lies the Yamal Peninsula. After the discovery of vast gas reserves, big energy companies have unsurprisingly drawn to the region. But Yamal is also the ancestral home of the Nenets, who have grazed their herds there for more than 200 generations.

ecology
economy
nature
other-cultures
Niels Bohr Larger Than Life

Niels Bohr, one of the founders of quantum physics, helped Danish Jews escape the Nazis, collaborated on the atomic bomb and won the Nobel Prize. In this documentary, we look back on the eventful life of the founder of modern science, against the backdrop of today's society.

science
fysica
portret
Nocturnes

In the lush forests of the eastern Himalayas, the night belongs to moths. In the shadows of the nighttime, two passionate researchers try to unravel the secret universe of these enigmatic nocturnal creatures.

nature
On The Morning You Wake (to The End Of The World)

On January 13th in 2018 at 08:08h, 1.4 million residents of Hawaii receive the same, chilling message: 'Ballistic missile threat heading towards Hawaii. Take immediate cover. This is not a drill.' For 38 minutes, 1.4 million people were convinced that the world was about to end. Take a unique glimpse into this strange incident and experience how they react to a nuclear threat and what choices they make in the face of impeding death.

spannend
Onder het maaiveld - Junior Editie

There are countless animals in our soil, a lot more than there are people, yet not everyone knows exactly what they do. Worms, fungi, moles and other critters play an important role in everything that grows and flourishes on earth. More than that, they keep the soil healthy.

science
nature
Opening Night DOCVILLE

1961. The Belgian and American governments join forces to maintain their power in Congo. In the aftermath of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the CIA deploys jazz artists as a distraction from Western interference in post-colonial African politics. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, jazz and decolonization thus become inextricably linked.
Opening Night ScienceVille

Opening ScienceVille, supervised by Jacotte Brokken, is three short documentaries, two of which were produced by the festival itself. Two projects, both focusing on research by a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), won 40,000 euros last year.
Paradigma

A captivating journey through the most extraordinary visual footage from past decades. Not only does it reveal something about the past, it also sheds a light on our contemporary perspective. This essayistic documentary uses stunning archival footage to reveal that our society is defined by the stories we tell and the paradigms we create as a result.

society
essay
historical-documentary
Patrick and the Whale

Patrick Dykstra has 20 years of experience studying whales and feels like he understands them inside and out. Yet he is completely blown off his feet by an intense encounter with a female sperm whale. He returns hoping to meet her again. A breathtaking documentary about the extraordinary bond that can exist between a human and a sperm whale.

nature
portret
Phantoms of the Sierra Madre

Writer Lars fulfills a boyhood dream when he sets off on an expedition in the footsteps of Helge Ingstad, a famous Norwegian explorer, in search of a lost Apache tribe in Mexico. Gradually, however, he wonders if it is okay to search for a tribe that will not be found? Or is this urge for discovery simply an inherent part of our cultural tradition?

roadmovie
other-cultures
visually-stunning
Ronde 3 (kortfilm)

Sana has two great passions: boxing and baking. Starting this school year, she is training to become a pastry chef. And soon she will get to box her first big competition in Italy. She will have to fight for both passions, but she doesn't think about giving up. At 14, Sana has to make choices in life. Hopefully, she will stand firm in her shoes.
Rupture

Every winter, a group of young people from the rough neighbourhood Peterbos in Anderlecht make a trip to the Pyrenees. Rupture follows these youngsters, on the brink of adulthood. During their journey, they slowly detach from their neighbourhood and their surroundings, reflecting on their youth and looking forward to the future.

society
coming-of-age
Science Pitch

A unique presentation, in which science watcher Hetty Helsmoortel guides you through nine projects, each presented by scientists in hopes of getting their research to be chosen as subject for a new short documentary.

science
Scientifically based speed date

In 2019, DOCVILLE revolved around the theme of love. Therefore, the festival organized a "scientifically based" speed date, together with Prof. Dr. Erick Janssen of the KU Leuven. Eleven matches came out of those dates, and for at least one pair of participants, that encounter was hugely successful. Meanwhile, in fact, there is already a DOCVILLE baby!
Se crasher pour exister

On a circuit, somewhere on the border between Flanders and France, Alizée dreams of being a race car driver, just like her boyfriend, her father, her mother and soon her little brother. On Sundays, she lets go of all the brakes, literally and figuratively. To them, this is more than a hobby. Racing is a way of life.

portret
Seaweed tasting

Did you know that seaweed could possibly be the end of global food problems? Yet it is still not part of our daily menu. High time to learn more about the product of the future. During a one-hour demo, you will get the chance to see, feel, experience and, above all, taste seaweed in detail! Ready to officially add seaweed to your diet?

foodies
health
ecology
Send Kelp

Did you know that seaweed produces more oxygen than ALL plants and trees on land combined? Did you know that it de-acidifies the oceans and may even be the ultimate solution to the global food shortage problem? In Send Kelp, we follow an enterprising 'seaweed nerd' who single-handedly fights climate change and global food insecurity.

science
health
ecology
Shadow World

A staggering insight in the process of the international arms trade, that encourages corruption, decides the course of international politics and undermines democracy and causes suffering across the globe. Shadow World won national and international prizes.
Silvicola

The rugged Canadian forests of British Columbia contain trees that have been there for thousands of years. The ancient forests are the daily purview of industrial loggers. Their lives are closely tied to the forest; they feel like no other the dilemma between connection to and exploitation of the forest.

nature
ecology
economy
SKEPP@DOCVILLE - Spot the UFO

What exactly is a UFO? How often are they spotted and what is done with those reports? Would you recognize a real UFO? A fascinating introductory lecture cum photo quiz (is this a UFO or not?) by Frederick Delaere of UFO Meldpunt.

mildly-comical
So This is Christmas

As a small Irish town prepares for Christmas, some people struggle with the stress, expectations and loneliness the holiday brings. A nostalgic film full of compassion, Irish humour and plenty of tenderness.

mildly-comical
family
portret
Songs of Earth

Arctic-blue glaciers, gurgling waterfalls and green mountain slopes. His entire life, filmmaker Margreth Olin's now 84-year-old father has been hiking through the enchanting Norwegian valley of Oldedalen. Over the span of a year, he takes up the role of wise guide and invites her along for the journey, looking to connect with nature and each other.

visually-stunning
nature
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

1961. The Belgian and American governments join forces to maintain their power in Congo. In the aftermath of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the CIA deploys jazz artists as a distraction from Western interference in post-colonial African politics. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, jazz and decolonization thus become inextricably linked.

historical-documentary
politics
visually-stunning
Speeddate Science Pitch

Since last year DOCVILLE has been involved in the creation of new scientific documentaries. As a filmmaker, you have a chance to win a production budget of €40,000.
State of the Doc and Beyond

What is the state of the Flemish author's documentary? And what does its future look like: how can we as stakeholders work together to build a viable ecosystem for the genre? An open conversation.
Sustainable mining in Europe?

The European market relies on countries like China and DRC for mining and refining. This is where the ecological and (geo-)political shoe pinches: why doesn't Europe take care of the mining of these metals itself? What consequences does this mining have for the Sami? Is mining in the High North compatible with the indigenous population?

science
ecology
economy
TerraForma

What if you decided to turn a barren rock in the middle of the ocean into a tropical paradise? This is what project Ascension island, in the 19th century was about. It was one of the first terraforming experiments and it did not turn out as expected.

science
ecology
historical-documentary
Testerep (kortfilm)

A team of scientists investigates the missing island of Testerep on the Belgian coast. As the scientists try to unravel the mysteries of the island, they ponder the symbiotic relationship between people, technology and our temporal landscape.

science
ecology
The Amazing Johnathan Documentary

Director Ben Berman rejoiced when he heard about The Amazing Johnathan, a magician with a terminal illness who just kept on living. After all, every documentary filmmaker dreams of the perfect story about a perfect character. But nothing is what it seems in this meta-documentary about truth and illusions, as well as how to deal as a filmmaker with a subject who just won't listen.

portret
mildly-comical
remarkable-stories
usa
The Contestant

A Japanese reality TV star left naked in a room for more than a year, tasked with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food and clothing.

media
mildly-comical
The Eternal Memory

In her new documentary, Oscar-nominated director Maite Alberdi tells the intimate and poignant story of a courageous woman who does everything she can to preserve the brilliant mind of her Alzheimer's-afflicted husband. It is a deeply moving and human portrait of an eternal love and perhaps the most beautiful love story of the year.

portret
health
The Faraway, Nearby

A lot can be said about the tragic life of Joseph Weber, the misunderstood founder of gravitational wave research. Until his death, he remained a pariah in his field of research and recognition did not come until 16 years after his passing. Through interviews with Nobel laureate Kip Thorne and psychologist Steven Pinker, among others, we learn, like Weber, to look at the world differently.

science
fysica
historical-documentary
portret
The Guts of the Neuroscientist (kortfilm)

What is intuition? And how can your instincts influence science? Pioneering neuroscientist Eveline Crone takes you on an animated journey through the brain where she emphasizes the scientific importance of intuition.
The Human Trial

Type 1 Diabetes is a serious condition that affects about 9 million people worldwide, with 500,000 new cases every year. Filmmaker Lisa Hepner herself has also been struggling with the disease for 30 years. Recently, she signed up for a groundbreaking clinical trial that involves implanting stem cells to hopefully make insulin again. An intimate look at patients' lives and the challenges they face as they draw hope from this new, innovative treatment.

science
health
The Kyiv Files

In 2017, the former KGB archive was made publiv in Kiev. For the first time in decades, Ukrainians were able to look into their personal file and answer questions that haunted them for years.

historical-documentary
politics
family
The quest for a cure of type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition that affects about 9 million people worldwide, with 500,000 new cases every year. By 2040, the number is expected to increase to 16 million. What prospects are there? Is there hope for a cure? Should we focus our attention on screening for prediabetes? What possible treatments or approaches do we have?

science
health
The role of the food industry

Food is everywhere, that is: unhealthy food. Pushed by billions of advertising campaigns, and designed to mislead our sense of hunger, food is becoming more and more unhealthy. From artificial sugars misleading the body, to fake meat flavor. What are the dangers of ultra-processed foods? What is the responsibility of the industry? Does plant-based “meat” offer a healthy alternative? And what can we do, as consumers? A discussion with i.a. Amy Verbeke (Mosquito in the room), Prof. Lieven Thorrez (KU Leuven, Kulak), Laura Clays (Public Affairs & Media Relation Officer Testaankoop), Pieter Brughmans (dietitian) and moderator Eva Kestermont (Journalist, De Morgen).

science
health
economy
ecology
The Stones and Brian Jones

It was Brian Jones who formed the Rolling Stones in 1962. However, the shy, talented musician got kicked out of the band and died young. DOCVILLE-habitué Nick Broomfield (Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love) made a multifaceted portrait of this forgotten musician who had an undeniable influence on the Stones.

music
portret
The Tuba Thieves

When tubas get stolen from a Los Angeles high school for the deaf, many questions remain unanswered. A surprising, joyful and very creative documentary by deaf filmmaker Alison O'Daniel, teaching you to look - not listen - to sound differently.

visually-stunning
essay
mildly-comical
portret
The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You to See

42% of Americans believe in the existence of aliens and UFOs. Flying saucers are regularly discussed in the media, all the way to the U.S. House of Representatives. But why do people actually believe in UFOs? And if they don't exist, what did all those witnesses really see?

mildly-comical
critical-thought
The Underground Astronaut (kortfilm)

Deep beneath our feet lies a true mystery: a gigantic underground network of fungi that keep our ecostystem alive. No one understands éxactly how exactly the intricate systems work. Evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers goes in search of answers. A fragrant and urgent journey into the underground.
This is my moment

Biniam Girmay, a 17-year-old promising cyclist from the African country Eritrea, dreams of riding the Tour de France. More than 10,000 cyclists have competed since 1903, but only six of them were black. Will Biniam become the seventh black cyclist in the tour de France?

portret
sport
Total Trust

Through the haunting stories of people in China who have been monitored, intimidated and even tortured, the film tells of the dangers of technology in the hands of unbridled power. Taking China as a mirror, the increasing use of surveillance tools around the world gets questioned. If this is the present, what is our future?

politics
society
artificial-intelligence
Traces of Responsibility

In this interactive film, the viewer - like a true investigative journalist - must make choices about which path to pursue in an investigation of the complex genesis and aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.

africa
Under the Surface

Anne is 33, she dreams of living underwater as a mermaid. She has ASD and a visual impairment. Underwater, she is free and happy, removed from the hustle and noise of everyday life. Above water, however, it is not as simple for her to live independently. Slowly she finds her way in life, together with her boyfriend who happens to look a lot like Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid.
Unfinished Sympathies

What's the best documentary you haven't made? What was the idea and where did it go wrong? Funding not getting off the ground, post-production disrupting the process or a distributor dropping out; all stories that are rarely told. Filmmakers tell about their failures and blunders, because we may learn more from those than from the successes.
Universiteit van Vlaanderen “Missen is wenselijk”

Scientists and universities like to let the world know when they have made a breakthrough. But what if a hypothesis turns out to be wrong after years of research? What if a fellow scientist made that groundbreaking discovery two months earlier?

science
remarkable-stories
Vallen en Staan (kortfilm)

In Antwerp, Rona (6), Rayan (8), and Ella (11) embark on their own journey through primary school. Rona takes initial steps into language and math, while Ella nears the end of her primary education. Amid diverse backgrounds, they collectively navigate growth and self-discovery against the school's backdrop.
Vintersaga

Swedish melancholy at its best. Through 24 stanzas, this poetic film renders a mosaic of situations and individuals, each with their own doubts, memories and dreams, set in a land marked by the freezing cold winds. Carl Olsson's beautiful tableaux vivants are reminiscent of another brilliant Swedish director, Roy Andersson.

visually-stunning
nature
essay
Vogels in Leuven: Wandeling in de stad

Welke vogels vind je terug in de stad? Leven ze zoals in de natuur of hebben ze zich aangepast aan het stadsleven? En waar wonen ze dan het liefst? Je komt het allemaal te weten dankzij een professionele vogelspotter.

nature
War Game

A group of top American officials, both Democrats and Republicans, lock themselves in a war room for a simulation of a recognizable scenario: an extreme group disputes the outcome of the election. Insurgents advance in major cities and a battle over news and social media breaks out. Raging, sobering or perhaps just hopeful?

politics
spannend
Wervelende wetenschapsshow
Wij, jongens (kortfilm)

Collin (12) has often missed his dad - who is in the military. But this summer everything will be different...Collin and his dad get to know each other better and discover that they have different views of the world. Dad dreams of a bunch of tough sons; Collin dreams of a big piano on a concert stage. Cautiously, Collin and his brother try to bond with their absent father.

Programma per thema

thema

Buitenbeentjes (kortfilm)

Coral City (kortfilm)

Grip (kortfilm)

Hannah & De Krokodil (kortfilm)

Moonshot Mission (kortfilm)

Moving Mountains (kortfilm)

Ronde 3 (kortfilm)

Testerep (kortfilm)

The Guts of the Neuroscientist (kortfilm)

The Underground Astronaut (kortfilm)

Vallen en Staan (kortfilm)

Wij, jongens (kortfilm)