Nebulae provides an opportunity to reflect on contemporary cinema and foster it by curating projects and initiatives in dialogue with the film programme and reference institutions that support the development, circulation and preservation of cinematic works. The Benelux Focus will unfold over a full day of curated programming on 21 October at Cinema São Jorge in Lisbon.

The Netherlands presents three compelling projects at Nebulae. In Missing Scenes, filmmaker Sabine Groenewegen (produced by near/by film) investigates the removal of an Indo-European actress from the 1936 colonial-era film Rubber. Also part of the Dutch selection are Mar Menor* by Petr Lom (produced by ZIN Documentaire), a Dutch-Norwegian co-production, and Baseball Island* by Lyangelo Vasquez (produced by New Ams Film Company).

From Luxembourg, two projects are featured:

• Who Cares by Ina Ivanceanu (Amour Fou Vienna / Sen Film / Amour Fou Luxembourg), co-produced with Austria

• Lost & Found by Fabrizio Maltese (Joli Rideau Media)

The Belgian line-up includes:

• SIRENA by Charlotte Jean (IOTA PRODUCTION), co-produced with Peru

• White Veins by Maxime Coton (RUBIS Productions / Les Films d’ici / Fado Filmes / Set Sail Films)

• Janyl by Charlotte de Gottal (Rayuela Productions)

• Empire of Lies by Lennart Stuyck & Ralph Collier (Diplodokus)

• The Sound of the Future by Bart Van Peel (Associate Directors), a prospective co-production with the Netherlands, Germany and Brazil

• The Serpent’s Egg by Andrés Lübbert (Krater Films), co-produced with Chile

In addition to the project presentations, Nebulae’s Constellations platform will provide a space for Round Tables, fostering debate on industry-related issues as well as themes connected to Doclisboa’s broader programme - ranging from artistic paths to specific professional issues, conducted by acclaimed and experienced filmmakers and professionals.

Beyond Nebulae, Benelux films are also well represented across several sections of Doclisboa’s programme:

International Competition

• Cinema Kawakeb – Mahmoud Al Massad – NL co-prod. Omar Massad (Jordan, Qatar, Netherlands)

Heartbeat

• Sirènes – Émile Degelin (Belgium)

• Voyage to Cythera – Frank Scheffer (Netherlands)

From the Earth to the Moon

• Memory Is an Animal, It Barks with Many Mouths – Eva Giolo (Belgium)

• Wishful Filming – Sarah Vanagt (Belgium)

• Bamssi – Mourad Ben Amor (Belgium, Tunisia)

• We Had Fun Yesterday – Marion Guillard (Belgium)

• The Tree of Authenticity – Sammy Baloji (Belgium, DRC)

• Landmarks* – Lucrecia Martel – NL co-prod. Lemming Film – (Argentina, USA, Mexico, France, Netherlands, Denmark)

Riscos

• Afterlives – Kevin B. Lee (Belgium, Germany, France)

• Porcupine – Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý (Belgium, Singapore, Vietnam)

• Hair, Paper, Water… – Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý (Belgium, France, Vietnam)

• East of Noon – Hala ElKoussy – prod. vriza (Netherlands, Egypt, Qatar)

Green Years

• Circa – Luca Trouwborst (Belgium)

• Ping Pong – Tianji Yu (Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, China)

• After Lasik – Shannon Liang (USA, Netherlands)