Interview with Katrien De Hauwere, film commissioner of Screen Flanders

Katrien De Hauwere, film commissioner of Screen Flanders, discusses the region’s film industry and its participation in the first Venice Production Bridge Location Market. Her insights highlight how the Flemish film sector is leveraging incentives and facilities to attract international productions, with Screen Flanders playing a key role. This interview offers a detailed look at Belgium’s regional film landscape and its growing influence on European and global cinema.

Screen Flanders Celebrates 15 Years of Supporting Film Productions

De Hauwere emphasizes that her regional fund has been active for over a decade and a half, marking a significant milestone. She explains that the fund’s annual budget of 3.5 million euros enables it to support projects with grants of up to 400,000 euros, primarily targeting Belgian and European co-productions. The region’s focus is on fostering local talent and facilitating international collaborations through bilateral agreements, which have become increasingly important in recent years.

Screen Flanders’ Role Within Belgium’s Fragmented Film Landscape

Belgium’s complex structure, with three regional film commissions, shapes how Screen Flanders operates. De Hauwere notes that her organization works closely with its counterparts in Wallonia and Brussels (Wallimage Tournages and Visit Brussels Film Commission), despite the absence of a national film commission. She highlights that this regional approach allows for tailored support reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of Belgium, making it a versatile hub for film production and talent development. De Hauwere also speaks about Belgium’s tax shelter, which operates differently from the tax rebates of other countries. It is a federal tax shelter aimed at any company in Belgium that has to pay taxes on its profits and can invest in this scheme, receiving a return on investment in the end. It is risk-free for companies and generates important cash flow for producers. The scheme also exists for games, theatre, and musicals.

Belgium’s Infrastructure and Incentives Attract International Productions

De Hauwere points out that Belgium offers a wealth of facilities, including sound and water stages (like the Lites Water Stage), VFX studios, and post-production houses, making it a competitive location for filming. She states that the country’s multilingual crews and flexible workforce are additional assets. She also mentions important productions that have shot in Belgium recently, such as Nicolas Cage’s Lords of War, Brad Pitt’s The Riders, the German series The Dark Ones, and the English series Bookish.