Flemish director Leonardo van Dijl has already made a great impression with his work both at home and abroad. His three short films and his feature film show him as a creative storyteller who brings visually strong, profound stories, often focusing on the inner worlds of young characters.

 

His feature-length debut “Julie's Silence” (2024) had its international premiere at this year's Cannes Festival in the Semaine de la Critique and brought home two awards. In addition, the film will premiere at Film Fest Ghent in October and is also the Belgian entry for the 2025 Oscars. The film, shot on 35mm, follows Julie, a promising tennis star who becomes embroiled in a scandal surrounding her coach. While those around her insist on openness, Julie chooses silence, resulting in a fascinating portrait of a young athlete's inner struggle.

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short films ..... 4.30 - 5.30 pm.

 

In both his short films and his feature-length debut, 'Julie Silences,' van Dijl explores the complex relationships within the sports world. After his debut short film 'Get Ripped' (2014), he won the VAF Wildcard in 2015 with his graduation film 'Umpire,' about a 14-year-old tennis talent and her coach. With this Wildcard, he shot 'Stephanie' (2020) on 16mm film, with which he broke through internationally. The film was selected for the short film competition at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Ensor Best Short Film. In “Stephanie,” van Dijl subtly outlines the tension and pressure in the world of young female athletes. His sharp visual style and focus on the mental well-being of young athletes earned him several awards for direction and cinematography at festivals such as Toronto and San Sebastián.

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Masterclass ..... 5.30  -7 pm.

 

In this master class, De Cinema-programmer Joyce Palmers talks with van Dijl about his work, his love of pellicule and his vision for actor direction. Afterwards, casting director Sien Josephine Teijssen joins the conversation to talk about the casting process of both “Stéphanie” and “Julie Zwijgt. In both films, a conscious decision was made to work with young, non-professional actors from the sports world, enhancing the authenticity of the stories.

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