Belgium at the 97th Academy Awards « Euro Weekly News

The forthcoming 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, 2 March, promise to be a landmark occasion for Belgium, with several Belgian-linked productions vying for an Oscar.

Films such as The Brutalist, Anora, and Conclave have all caught the public’s eye in the run-up to Hollywood’s most celebrated evening. Yet, it is the Belgian co-productions—from ‘Emilia Pérez’ to ‘Soundtrack to a Coup d’État’—that may well steal the show.

Emilia Pérez shines amid controversy: Belgian musical steals the spotlight

Among the Belgian contenders is the Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez, co-produced by Les Films du Fleuve, the production house of renowned Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. With a remarkable 13 nominations, including ‘Best Leading Actress’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’, it initially seemed poised to sweep the board.

The film, which tells the story of a Mexican transgender drug lord, also benefited from the choreography of Brussels native Damien Jalet.
However, Emilia Pérez has faced headwinds after old tweets from its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, resurfaced, featuring contentious remarks about Islam, the Oscars, and Black Lives Matter. This backlash comes on top of criticism from certain LGBTQ+ groups who feel the portrayal of the trans community is problematic. Despite these hurdles, the production’s strong presence at this year’s Oscars reflects Belgium’s growing influence in global cinema.

Belgian cinema shines: Award-winning documentaries and animation gems

Beyond Emilia Pérez, Belgium has a wealth of other hopefuls. Soundtrack to a Coup d’État, directed by Johan Grimonprez, is nominated for ‘Best Documentary’. It explores the lead-up to Congo’s independence, the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and the role of jazz music in Cold War-era cultural diplomacy. In animation, two Belgian-connected shorts—Beautiful Men by Nicolas Keppens and Wander to Wonder by Nina Gantz—are both in the running for ‘Best Animated Short Film’. Meanwhile, the Latvian-Belgian feature Flow competes in both the ‘Best Animated Film’ and ‘Best International Feature Film’ categories, having already won a Golden Globe.
Although Belgium’s official submission, Julie Keeps Quiet, failed to make the shortlist, the country’s multiple co-productions signal an increasingly vibrant film scene. As the spotlight turns to the Dolby Theatre, Belgian filmmakers and collaborators can look forward to an Oscars ceremony that promises to be both exciting and full of suspense.

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