The Belgian capital is home to a wealth of unique independent cinemas, all of which lay on busy and carefully curated programmes of films each month, making it hard to choose what to watch.
The Brussels Times has picked out a selection of the best films and documentaries (as well as a few festivals) for cinephiles and curious cinema goers alike that are not to be missed this May.
Ones to watch
'Challengers' (2024), Cinema Palace, until Tuesday 7 May
Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach after a severe injury, transforms her husband from a mediocre player into a world-famous grand slam champion. Following a losing streak, he needs to beat his ex-best friend, who also happens to be Tashi's ex-boyfriend, and tensions soon start to rise.
Directed by Italian Luca Guadagnino, who rose to fame after his sensual tale of first love 'Call Me By Your Name' (2017), 'Challengers' tells a very different story but promises to be just as hormone-fuelled.
Find more information here.
'Love Lies Bleeding' (2024), Cinema Aventure, Thursday 16 May (Avant-Première)
Gym manager Lou's (Kristen Stewart) life is turned upside down when bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O'Brian) walks through her door. Jackie's sole focus is training for the biggest bodybuilding competition in Las Vegas. Romance blossoms between the two, but when Lou's sister is brutally beaten up, things take a violent turn.
Directed by Rose Glass, 'Love Lies Bleeding' is like 'Thelma & Louise' on steroids, and a quirky, romantic thriller about envy, obsession and the American dream.
Find more information here.
Documentaries
'Après la pluie' (2024), Cinema Aventure, Thursday 30 May (Avant-Première)
On 14 July 2021, it rained in Wallonia. Everyone thought it would soon stop, but along the Vesdre river in Verviers, Ensival, Dolhain, Theux, Pepinster and Trooz it kept raining. After just few hours later, 15,000 people were left homeless in the region. Many lost their lives, and those who survived were left traumatised.
Credit: Cinema Aventure
Quentin Noirfalisse and Jérémy Parotte's distressing documentary tells the story of a flood, a crisis and the aftermath of the deadliest climatic catastrophe in Belgian history.
Find more information here.
'The Stones and Brian Jones' (2023), Cineflagey, until Sunday 2 June
In this documentary, director Nick Broomfield recounts the turbulent life of iconic guitarist Brian Jones, founder and initial leader of the Rolling Stones. While he was known for his sex appeal and charisma, alcohol and drugs undermined his reliability. Jones left the band in 1969 and shortly afterwards drowned in his swimming pool.
Through candid interviews and remarkable, unreleased archives, 'The Stones and Brian Jones' reveals Jones' creativity and musical genius – the secret to what would become one of the most popular rock bands in history.
Find more information here.
'Echo(e)s' (2023), Cineflagey, until Sunday 2 June
This documentary shines a light on the often minimised and trivialised experiences of violence endured by gynaecological and obstetric patients. Directed by Chloé de Bon, the film weaves together eight threads of the same story, told by patients through interviews and movement, both on the ground and underwater.
Echo(e)s by Chloé De Bon. Credit: Flagey
The poignant film, interspersed with animations, delves into the healing journey of these patients and invites viewers to question the violence that some experience in the healthcare system.
English subtitles are available. Find more information here.
Festivals
Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF), various locations in Brussels, until Saturday 4 May
The annual Brussels Short Film Festival is back for its 27th edition, with a jam packed schedule of more than 250 films. With family friendly films, free outdoor screenings and emerging talent to celebrate Belgium's current presidency of the Council of the European Union and this year's Oscar nominees, there's something for everyone.
Films shortlisted for the National competition include 'Beautiful Men' (2024) about three insecure bald brothers travelling to Istanbul for a hair transplant, and 'Oblitérer' (2024) which documents rush hour passengers recalling the 2016 suicide attack on the Brussels Metro.
Last year's outdoor screening on Mont des Arts. Credit: Brussels Short Film Festival
Entries on the International shortlist include 'Ik ben geen robot' (2023), where a woman unable to complete a Captcha begins to question whether she is a robot. For the Next Generation category, we recommend 'Manos Ajenas' (2023) about a young woman with cerebral palsy who hires a sex worker to experience her first sexual encounter.
There will be a selection of 2024 Oscar nominees on Wednesday 1 May, including Wes Anderson's 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' (2023), and an adults-only screening of funny and quirky short films on Thursday 2 May.
Find more information here.
Brussels Porn Film Festival (BxlPFF), various cinemas, from 2 to 5 May
Following the success of its two previous editions, the Brussels Porn Film Festival is back in the Belgian capital to offer "a window into contemporary alternative pornography". The festival aims to help interested viewers discover a film genre that is "too often relegated to obscenity" with over 50 sexually-explicit films in various forms, ranging from experimental, poetic and raw to activist and documentary-style.
'The Listener' (2022), directed by Lidia Ravisso. Credit: Brussels Porn Film Festival
As part of the festival, 16 stands will also open at the Beursschouwburg where people can buy textiles, harnesses, lingerie, jewellery and even erotic ceramics. Other activities, such as an open mic and workshops – from screenwriting to making lubricant at home – will also be organised.
Find information here.
Ukraine on Film, Cinema Galeries, from 9 to 12 May
This year's edition of Ukraine on Film offers a panoply of perspectives on the war-torn country. The festival features the Oscar-winning documentary '20 Days in Mariupol' (Mstyslav Chernov), a horrifying glimpse into the first days of the Russian invasion. Oksana Karpovych's 'Intercepted' reveals conversations between Russian soldiers and their families back home. 'We Will Not Fade Away' (Alisa Kovalenko) examines the reality of war from young peoples' perspectives.
Ukraine on Film 2024. Credit: Cinema Galeries
The festival also probes deeper into Ukrainian history, ensuring that its rich culture can be appreciated alongside its bleak situation in 2024. 'Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors' (Sergei Parajanov) is considered iconic cinematography in the Eastern European country, and 'La Palisiada' (Philip Sotnychenko) tells the gripping story of a 1990s murder mystery just months before the death penalty is abolished.
Find more information here.
Other languages
'Le Deuxième Acte' (2024), Cinema Palace, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 May
'Le Deuxième Acte', directed by Quentin Dupieux, is a black comedy in French with an all-star cast: Léa Séydoux, Vincent Lindon, Raphaël Quenard and Louis Garrel. It will kickstart the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
In the film, Florence wants to introduce David – the man with whom she is madly in love – to her father Guillaume. But David is not attracted to Florence and wants to get rid of her by throwing her into the arms of his friend Willy. The four characters end up in a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
English subtitles are available. Find more information here.
'Les Tortues' (2023), Cinema Aventure, Wednesday 15 May (Avant-Première)
Henri (Olivier Gourmet) and Thom (Dave Johns) live together in Brussels and have been happily in love for 35 years – or so it seems. Since Henri retired as a police officer, nothing has gone right. His days are dull and endless, his feelings are fading and their home has become a battlefield.
Still in love, Thom is ready to do anything to rekindle the flame and save their relationship, even if it means filing for divorce himself.
Directed by David Lambert, this sensitive blend of comedy and drama shines a light on an aging LGBTQ couple tackling the difficulties of everyday life against the beautiful backdrop of the Belgian capital.
Find more information here.
With special thanks to Ellen O'Regan, Maïthé Chini, Ciara Carolan and Thimoté Bozzetto for their contributions.
