Cinema lovers, rejoice: Festival des Libertés is running an extended programme of free documentary screenings in two of Brussels' best independent cinemas.
Every year, Festival des Libertés puts on a host of documentaries, plays, concerts and debates, all with the aim of raising awareness about human rights issues around the world.
The annual installment finished up last month but organiser Bruxelles Laïque is running an extended version of the programme. Under the title 'Ciné-Libertés' ('Freedom Films' in English), the non-profit organisation will screen two free documentaries per month between November 2024 and May 2025. Screenings will take place in Cinéma Vendome in Ixelles and Cinéma Aventure in the city centre. The screenings will also be followed by discussions.
"Ciné-Libertés always includes films from the previous year's Festival des Libertés which were greatly appreciated by the public," Chrissy Luypaert from Bruxelles Laïque told The Brussels Times. "It is completely free and is often followed by a meeting with the director or another participant to discuss the subject matter with the audience."
What does it mean to be free?
The entire programme is free of charge "to enable access for everyone and to raise awareness about human rights," says Luypaert. "It is extremely important that everyone takes part in the debate and is able to express their views on societal issues, human rights, citizenship and democracy."
All screenings offer an incisive exploration into what it means to be free and what it means to be deprived of liberty. Lupaert hopes that open access to such topics in two of Brussels' best cinemas will foster solidarity among a varied audience.
Credit: Festival des Libertés
Every aspect of liberty is put under the microscope, whether it is an Israeli massacre of over 200 Palestinians in 1948 ('Tantura' on 12 November), crackdowns on press freedom in India ('While We Watched' on 7 January), the mental health crisis facing refugees in Belgium ('The Mind Game' on 13 May) or state-funded Christian fundamentalism in the US ('Praying for Armageddon' on 28 November).
Tickets are available at the venue on the day of screening. More information about speakers will be posted online in the weeks preceding the screening in question.
Find the full programme and more information here.
