The 2025 edition of the International Film Fest Gent kicks off on 8 October with a packed programme of films and series. Film Fest Gent is a fixture on the Flemish and international cultural scene and one of Belgium's largest film festivals, attracting more than 100,000 visitors to Ghent every year.
Têtes brûlées
Fresh off a world premiere and special mention at the Berlinale, Brussels-based director Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama's poignant feature debut is a deeply-felt coming-of-ager. In Têtes brûlées, we follow – empathetically observed and without any judgment – twelve-year-old Eya’s grieving process after the death of her brother, in one of the biggest, most quiet surprises of the year.
The Silent Treatment
Tess, an unusual 18-year-old with Stockholm syndrome, stalks an introverted man in Budapest. His girlfriend Andrea tries to reach her, and gradually the three grow entangled. Belgian director Caroline Strubbe weaves an intimate, atmospheric drama about relationships, guilt, and trauma as the final chapter of her acclaimed Lost Persons trilogy, which also stands alone.
The Magic City - Birmingham According to Sun Ra
Though he proclaimed to have descended from space, cosmic jazz musician Sun Ra did indeed come from planet Earth. To be exact: Birmingham, Alabama. Through a documentary portrait of the city over time, lovingly crafted in collaboration with its community, The Magic City - Birmingham According to Sun Ra illuminates the mythical origins of an artist cloaked in mystery.
Roomies 2
The beloved Roomies Bibi (Ahlaam Teghadouini) and Ama (Laura De Geest) are back! Freshly graduated interior designers, they move in together again, this time on the fifth floor of an old nursery. Across eight sparkling episodes, creators Kato De Boeck and Flo Van Deuren follow their journey through love, work, friendship, and growing up in Brussels.
This is Not a Murder Mystery
In This is not a murder mystery, a Belgian art icon becomes the protagonist of a mysterious, visually stunning and compelling six-part whodunnit. Surrealist painter René Magritte attempts to clear his name after a brutal murder on a lavish English estate in this highly-anticipated new TV series.
Professional events
As part of the festival, numerous professional events (meetings, conferences, masterclasses) are organised to address the challenges facing the sector and bring professionals together. The highlight is Dag van het Filmberoep, a day-long event focusing this year on screenwriting. Daily meetings will also provide an opportunity to go behind the scenes of projects such as The Silent Treatment (11.10), musical composition (14.10) and Têtes brûlées (15/10).