What does the film chosen to represent Belgium at the Oscars each year tell us about our political, social and economic situation? 

It may seem a little bold to claim that cinema, and in particular the fifilms chosen to represent Belgium at the Oscars, can give us a good insight into the situation over the years. However, we will see that the surrealist-inflfluenced magic realism, the Belgian social cinema and the neo-noir thrillers that competed to represent Belgium all appeared in contexts specifific to their release. The aim of this presentation is to present these works of art, these Oscar contenders, as mirrors, or at least as witnesses, of the economic or political crises, social victories and changes that Belgium has experienced since 1968. 

Quentin Moyon is a French fifilm and series critic who writes for various media in France (L’éclaireur Fnac, Sofifilm, Somewhere Else) and Belgium (Cinergie, Surimpressions). He also works as a coordinator for the fifilm and series production team at the RTBF, working on projects such as Pandore and Trentenaires. A graduate of Sciences Po from Toulouse, France, he has specialised in the management of cultural events and has made cinephilia and the cinema his playground, from Communications Manager at CINEMATEK to jury member at festivals such as Anima. He is a member of the Académie des Magritte and jury member for the Fipresci prize.

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