The film "Augure" by Belgian-Congolese artist Baloji is among the movies selected in the “Un Certain Regard” section for the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
“I am very proud and honoured by this selection, which feels like a victory in the context of my career,” said Baloji, after the announcement of his selection by Thierry Frémaux, the festival’s general delegate. “I also think about my country of origin and what this visibility at Cannes means for the cinema of the largest French-speaking country in the world and hope that it will inspire others."
The aim of the "Un Certain Regard" section is to honour bold and original works by little-known filmmakers.
Shot between Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), "Augure" is an ensemble film about four characters considered witches and sorcerers. They find a way to help each other to escape from their isolation.
The feature film, starring Belgian actors Marc Zinga and Lucie Debay, is produced by production company Wrong Men, with support from the Centre du cinéma de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, screen.brussels, the Belgian federal government’s tax shelter, and in co-production with RTBF, Proximus and VOO&BeTv.
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In addition to "Augure," several Belgian co-productions have also been included in the official Cannes selection.
The Dardenne brothers, who won the 75th Cannes Film Festival prize for "Tori and Lokita" in 2022, will be represented in this year's competition through their production company, which was involved in Ken Loach's "The Old Oak."
The festival, which will be held from 16 to 27 May this year, will also open with another of their co-productions, namely "Jeanne du Barry" by French director Maïwenn, which marks the comeback of Johnny Depp.
