Program – DOCVILLE

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Belgian competition

The Belgian selection excels in fascinating protagonists: Ukrainian brothers who grew apart, Brussels drag queens who share joys and sorrows, or Tayfun, Limburg's most flamboyant funeral director. Don't be fooled by its name, this selection reaches far beyond the Belgian border. From Conakry to Tervuren, prejudices and clichés are left behind and the collective past is given a much-needed reinterpretation. Behold the harvest of the past Belgian documentary year and discover which film will be crowned Best Belgian Documentary on the closing night.

2m²

Volkan Üce  80 min.

For those who live between two countries and two cultures, one ultimate question inevitably arises: on which two square meters do you want to be buried? Is this the final answer to the difficult question of where you truly belong? An intimate look at the delicate balancing act between faith and commerce a Turkish (lees meer)

Funny  Portrait

Achter de tralies van de tijd

Stijn Geenen  87 min.

When we think of “prisoners,” all kinds of images come to mind, but rarely that of people over 70. And yet there are many elderly people in detention who struggle with physical and mental health problems. A unique insight into the challenges faced by both prisoners and prison staff in providing adequate care and (lees meer)

Healthcare  Society

Famille Choisie

Elisa Vdk  85 min.

In the heart of Brussels, four drag queens talk candidly about their lives. Massi, Addi, Lylybeth, and Joy navigate the complexities of their identity and acceptance. In their shows they challenge norms, but above all they find an outlet for their search for self-acceptance and belonging. They are confronted with (lees meer)

LGBTQ+  Society

Fantastique

Marjolijn Prins  71 min.

Fourteen-year-old Fanta has to bend over backwards, both literally and figuratively. She tries to combine caring for her sick mother with school and her greatest passion: training at the acrobatic circus Amoukanama, in the hope of being part of their next big tour. By trying to combine all these expectations, Fanta (lees meer)

For kids  Women's rights

Last Letters from My Grandma

Olga Lucovnicova  94 min.

In the hope of unraveling a deep-rooted family secret, award-winning filmmaker Olga Lucovnicova travels from Belgium to a remote village, tucked away in the Russian Ural region. Just when she was trying to connect with her estranged family and their shared history, Russia launches another war. Will the voices from the (lees meer)

Essay  Family

Mariinka

Pieter-Jan De Pue  94 min.

Long before the Russian invasion in 2022, there was already war in the Ukrainian frontline town of Mariinka. Amidst the war, a promising boxing talent becomes a military paramedic, a girl smuggles unexpected goods across the front line to survive, and two brothers now fight on opposite sides of the front (lees meer)

Portrait  Visually stunning  War

Parasisi

Zaïde Bil, Sébastien Segers  61 min.

On the border between Suriname and French Guiana, the indigenous Wayana community continues to face the consequences of contact with outsiders. Illegal gold mining, religious interference, and even doctors with the best of intentions leave traces that are often invasive. With powerful cinematography and stunning sound (lees meer)

Ecology  Visually stunning

Sauf le passé

Sanaz Azari  69 min.

How do you give a museum that was built more than a century ago as part of colonial propaganda a new purpose? After a five-year renovation, the Africa Museum in Brussels has reopened its doors with new exhibition formats. Inside, visitors exchange ideas with their guides and with each other. Different perspectives on a (lees meer)

Africa  Society

The Sessions

Sien Versteyhe  71 min.

A young student begins to rebuild her life through trauma therapy after experiencing sexual violence at the hands of someone she trusted. Outside of her therapy sessions she speaks to nearly no one about what she went through. With intimacy and restraint you follow a woman's struggle to talk to her (lees meer)

Psychology  Society

Uprooted - Five women against a colonial crime

Quentin Noirfalisse, Jean Charles Mbotti Malolo  86 min.

Five Congolese women bear witness to their traumatic lives, marked by violence. Abducted as children because of their mixed-race heritage, stripped of their rights and identity, and abandoned after Congo’s independence, they decide to break their silence and file a complaint against the Belgian state for crimes (lees meer)

Africa  Society  Women's rights

Belgian Selection

DOCVILLE presents three extraordinary Belgian documentaries.

Dennis Tyfus - Eindelijk op canvas

Pieter Verbiest, Katherine Schmelzer  53 min.

Dennis Tyfus has been an established name in the Antwerp art scene since the late 90's. As a visual artist, musician, radio maker, publisher and organizer he usually works outside of the institutional art circuit. Improvisation and freedom are the common thread in just about everything he does, that (lees meer)

Art  Portrait

Team Rudy

Nic Balthazar  53 min.

In this warm, intimate, and often disarmingly funny documentary, director Nic Balthazar follows actor-writer Rudy Morren, who surrounds himself with a close-knit group of friends after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As he undergoes major brain surgery, his “Team” grows into a powerful network of (lees meer)

Healthcare  Portrait  Psychology

Transporc

Halewijn Timmerman, Niels Hoornaert  64 min.

The determined Thérèse trades in pigs. In her 45-year-old Mercedes truck, she transports 41 pigs from rural Senegal, through Gambia, to Guinea-Bissau. A road trip documentary that lays bare both the visible and invisible borders of trade, faith, and survival in West Africa.

Africa  Portrait  Roadmovie

Artist in Focus: Pieter-Jan De Pue

Pieter-Jan De Pue is not only known for his breathtaking cinematography, but also for his legendary long production times. Mariinka took him ten years to complete, while The Land of the Enlightened took almost nine years. And it shows: as a director, photographer, and cinematographer, he consistently delivers meticulously told stories. Timeless themes and harsh social realities are reinforced by visual ingenuity. This was already evident in his graduation project O and Girls and Honey, the origins of what eventually became Mariinka.

Girls and Honey

Pieter-Jan De Pue  8 min.

Svetlana and Anatoli are the last remaining residents of the war-torn village of Pesky, located on the front line in eastern Ukraine. Despite the daily challenges and bombings, they refuse to abandon their honeybees.

War

Mariinka

Pieter-Jan De Pue  94 min.

Portrait  Visually stunning  War

O

Pieter-Jan De Pue  26 min.

A man and a boy find themselves in the middle of a desert that used to be the bottom of the largest river in the world. Together, they embark on a journey to find the last drop of water.

The Land of the Enlightened

Pieter-Jan De Pue  85 min.

A stunning cinematic journey into the raw beauty of war-torn Afghanistan, where children provide daily proof of the ingenuity and resilience of a people. Justified winner of the Best Cinematography Award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Visually stunning  War

International Competition

The international selection compiles documentaries from all around the world that are more than worthy of the label 'author driven documentary'. Sometimes political, always relevant, and visually stunning. In short: more than worthy of the big screen.

A Fox Under a Pink Moon

Mehrdad Oskouei, Soraya Akhalaghi  77 min.

Soraya is 16. She creates beautiful drawings and sculptures, but above all, she is determined to shape her own future. For five years, she has been trying to escape from Iran, away from her marriage to a violent man, and flee to her mother in Austria. Over a period of five years, Soraya films herself, her escape (lees meer)

Politics  Portrait  Visually stunning  Women's rights

All About the Money

Sinead O'Shea  95 min.

The son of one of the wealthiest families in the US establishes a communist revolutionary community in rural Massachusetts, seeking to disrupt the capitalist system he has come to despise. This marks the starting point of a bewildering journey that gradually reveals what access to astronomical wealth does to a (lees meer)

Amazing stories  Economy  Outsiders  Society

Jaripeo

Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig  71 min.

In Michoacán, Mexico, the annual jaripeos—a regional form of rodeo—are a celebration of cowboy culture, nostalgia, and macho masculinity. But surprisingly, beneath the spectacle, a hidden queer subculture quietly unfolds. Director Efraín returns to his hometown and creates an intimate portrait of queer (lees meer)

LGBTQ+  Portrait  Visually stunning

Kabul Between Prayers

Aboozar Amini  102 min.

Who are the Taliban supporters living in Afghanistan? An unprecedented glimpse into the life of Samim, a devoted soldier of the Taliban ideology, who struggles between the seductive promise of martyrdom and the mundanity of his existence. His 14-year-old brother Rafi looks up to him as he slowly but surely leaves (lees meer)

Society  War

Nuisance Bear

Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman  91 min.

For thousands of years, polar bears have migrated along the shores of Hudson Bay in northern Canada. Today, that ancient rhythm clashes with a human world full of tourists, conservationists, and hunters, while climate change slows the freezing and drives the bears closer to human settlements. Who is the “nuisance” (lees meer)

Ecology  Nature  Society

The Castle

Danny Biancardi, Stefano La Rosa, Virginia Nardelli  72 min.

In a forgotten neighborhood in Palermo, three children turn an abandoned building into their secret, safe place. Angelo, Mery, and Rosy are eleven years old and discover an abandoned school in the middle of their neighborhood while playing. A tender glimpse into the world of fragile young people, in a place where they (lees meer)

Coming of Age  Family

The Python Hunt

Xander Robin  91 min.

Catching as many pythons as possible, that is the aim of an annual competition in which anyone who feels called to do so, can participate. This ten-day python hunt in Florida is a bizarre competition that attracts colorful characters from all over the world (including Belgium). In The Python Hunt, we may not be (lees meer)

Funny  Thrilling  USA  Visually stunning

The Tale of Silyan

Tamara Kotevska  81 min.

In North Macedonia, farmer Nikola lives in harmony with the land until new government measures make this impossible. His family moves abroad, and Nikola starts working at a landfill. Here he meets Silyan, a stork with a broken wing. A beautiful environmental fable from Oscar-nominated director Tamara Kotevska (lees meer)

Family  Society

Tussen Broers

Tom Fassaert  106 min.

Rob and René, both in their seventies, are brothers and polar opposites. One was a psychologist for many years, the other a psychiatric patient with a compulsion to collect things. Since the death of their mother, they have been in closer contact with each other. While trying to clean up René's cluttered house, they (lees meer)

Family  Portrait  Psychology

Ultras

Ragnhild Ekner  89 min.

Few images are as powerful as tens of thousands of decked-out soccer fans singing at the top of their lungs in a carefully choreographed display in the stadium. They stand as one. Who are the faces behind the banners and club songs, the people for whom their team comes first, even before their own families? A (lees meer)

Sport  Visually stunning

TOPICS

Films that take a critical look at the world, dare to ask questions and don't avoid hot topics, that's what TOPICS stands for. Widen your horizon and feel free to engage in conversation afterwards; inspiration enough.

Among Thieves

Gino R. Caspari, Trevor J. Wallace  85 min.

When an archaeologist uncovers a ruthless grave-robbing mafia, he sets out on a detective-like investigation in this thrilling documentary thriller. Together with his undercover cameraman, he infiltrates the black market to unravel a network of corrupt dealers and complicit museums, thereby protecting an invaluable (lees meer)

Art  Investigative journalism  Thrilling

Change My Mind

Robin Kvapil  103 min.

Can people who have become completely entangled in conspiracy theories and the fake news vortex ever change their minds? Perhaps by confronting them with “reality”? Director Robin Kvapil takes on the experiment with three self-proclaimed Czech patriots who reject the ‘mainstream media’s’ coverage of the war (lees meer)

Critical thought  Politics  Society

Cutting Through Rocks

Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni  93 min.

Sara is the very first woman ever elected to the village council in her rural Iranian community. It is no easy task, yet giving up is not in her nature. There is much to be done: keep girls in school for as long as possible, curb child marriages, give women inheritance rights, and in the meantime also ensure that the (lees meer)

Portrait  Society  Women's rights

Elon Musk Unveiled - The Tesla Experiment

Andreas Pichler  90 min.

When tech billionaire Elon Musk unveiled his plans for a self-driving car in 2014, the world responded enthusiastically. What almost no one knew was that the autopilot function was far from ready when the car was launched on the market. A shocking investigative film reveals that an unfinished product was deliberately (lees meer)

Economy  Investigative journalism

I, Poppy

Vivek Chaudhary  82 min.

In rural India, elderly Vardibai carefully tends her poppy field, as the harvest provides her with much-needed income. As is often the case, it remains uncertain until the last moment whether she will receive permission to harvest. These permits are controlled by corrupt officials who manipulate the system to their (lees meer)

Economy  Society

Mijn woord tegen het mijne

Maasja Ooms  112 min.

One in ten people hears voices from time to time. Some hear just one voice, others hear as many as nineteen. Five people living with this phenomenon start working on it in a therapeutic setting. A psychiatrist — who remains off-screen — engages in conversation not only about their voices, but also (lees meer)

Psychology  Science

Sentient

Tony Jones  105 min.

Even if we may find it necessary to test on animals, do we have the right to do so? A balanced, but sometimes heartbreaking look at the dilemma of laboratory research on animals, considering the arguments of both supporters and opponents. Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel, a primatologist who has emerged as an animal welfare (lees meer)

Ecology  Science  Society

Surviving the Death Committee

Nima Sarvestani  85 min.

What if you were to track down the executioner of a family member or your own torturer? In 1988, thousands of political prisoners were secretly executed in the Islamic Republic of Iran and buried in mass graves. In 2019, several Iranians now living in Sweden manage to trace a key figure of Iran’s so-called (lees meer)

Politics  Society

The Last Ambassador

Natalie Halla  82 min.

As Afghanistan's last female ambassador, Manizha Bakhtari remains posted in Vienna, even though all formal ties with the regime have been severed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. An inspiring and powerful portrait of a woman who risks everything in her fight for women's rights in Afghanistan, while (lees meer)

Politics  Portrait  Women's rights

The Seoul Guardians

Jong-Woo Kim, Shin-Wan Kim, Chul-Young Cho  70 min.

At the end of 2024, martial law was declared in South Korea and soldiers blocked the National Assembly so that members of parliament could not revoke the order. How does it feel to have to take to the streets to defend your democracy, which had been taken for granted for decades? Join the people on the streets, (lees meer)

Asia  Historical  Politics  Society  Thrilling

Spectrum

Spectrum brings together festival favorites and unknown gems. From education to music, from politics to failed detectives; DOCVILLE is pleased to introduce you to this must-see mix.

Agatha's Almanac

Amalie Atkins  86 min.

The 90-year-old Agatha is fragile; yet incredibly strong at the same time. She still lives on her own on her family's old farm in the Canadian province of Manitoba. She lives without running water, telephone or drivers license. She leads a solitary life, but doesn't feel lonely. There is much to (lees meer)

Ecology  Nature

Ai Weiwei's Turandot

Maxim Derevianko  78 min.

World-renowned Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei delves into the world of opera and tackles Giacomo Puccini's controversial opera Turandot. In Rome's majestic Teatro dell'Opera, he takes a close look at the century-old work. His radical reinterpretation infuses the classic production with urgent contemporary (lees meer)

Art

André Is an Idiot

Tony Benna  88 min.

“Brilliant” idiot André is dying because he never dared to undergo a colonoscopy. The sobering diagnosis, his insatiable curiosity, and his complete irreverence toward death set him on an unexpectedly hilarious journey in which he discovers how to die happily without losing his sense of humor.

Funny  Healthcare  Portrait

Award ceremony and closing film Whistle

Christopher Nelius  84 min.

An eccentric group of international whistlers arrives in Hollywood to participate in the Masters of Musical Whistling, the world's largest whistling competition. Egos clash, musical talent overwhelms, tears flow, but only one can be crowned the best whistler on the entire planet. The whistlers may never become famous (lees meer)

Funny

Cast off

Julian Wittmann  94 min.

Who doesn't dream of escaping the rat race of society and being completely free? Forty years ago, 80-year-old Wolfgang “Gangerl” Clemens made that choice: he left everything behind and has been sailing around the world on a sailboat ever since. Filmmaker Julian Wittmann travels with this fascinating free spirit for (lees meer)

Coming of Age  Ecology  Outsiders

Coexistence, My Ass!

Amber Fares  95 min.

Comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi once performed as a poster child for peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. She shook hands with Hillary Clinton and the Dalai Lama and aspired to a career at the UN. Over the years, however, her stance shifted, and for some Israelis she gradually became a public enemy. (lees meer)

Funny  War

Eat More Trees

Arne Focketyn  79 min.

Spanish farmer Alfonso and his wife Yanniek are trying to save their farm from desertification in drought-stricken La Junquera. They are switching to sustainable farming methods, fighting against illegal water extraction and the unpredictability of the climate. Their herd of rare cattle is growing, but (lees meer)

Ecology  Economy  Nature  Science

Ket&Docs 2026

Ket & Doc 2026 is launching its annual series of documentaries that let children tell their own stories. From the vulnerable testimony of a boy whose father is in prison to two friends in the youth fire brigade, prepare to be surprised by this moving mix of up-and-coming film talent.

For kids  Society

Orwell: 2+2=5

Raoul Peck  119 min.

A sobering crash course on Orwellian abuse of power: starting from the mind of a terminally ill George Orwell, who in 1948 worked on his masterpiece ‘1984’ in unspoiled nature, this provocative documentary essay examines the world of today. An alarming, highly relevant, and visually impressive documentary by Raoul (lees meer)

Critical thought  Philosophy  Politics  Society

Sabam Avond 2026

Sabam is the Belgian association for creators of all kinds. It manages the copyrights of audiovisual works, literature, music, and the arts. Their support also makes numerous film productions possible every year. Discover Sabam-supported documentaries at this festive screening. The highlight of the evening will be the (lees meer)

Small dogs bark loud

Nora Nivedita Tvedt  75 min.

How do you deal with grief and sadness as a young teenager? Twelve-year-old Tuni gives us a glimpse into her playful world, where she hears animals talk and makes a bucket list. It helps her come to terms with her brother's suicide and her mother's terminal cancer. A heartwarming tribute to children's resilience (lees meer)

Coming of Age  For kids  Psychology

The Balloonists

John Dower  86 min.

Flying around the world in a single journey by hot air balloon. In 1999, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and the British flight instructor Brian Jones, set out in their Breitling Orbiter to realise the last great aviation challenge of the 20th century. A heartwarming buddy comedy (lees meer)

Historical  Thrilling

The Golden Spurtle

Constantine Costi  75 min.

it’s all about porridge in the Scottish village of Carrbridge, where contestants from around the world gather each year for the World Porridge Making Championship. For over thirty years, devoted oat enthusiasts have competed for the coveted Golden Spurtle, the ultimate prize in this celebration of humble oats. A (lees meer)

Food  Funny

The Last Class

Elliot Kirschner  71 min.

A Thousand students fill the largest auditorium at the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. They all want to attend the very last lecture given by Robert Reich, an icon in American politics. He was Secretary of Labor under Clinton, author of bestsellers, and still active as a political commentator. A (lees meer)

Economy  Politics  Portrait  Society  USA

The Peter Plan

Grzegorz Pacek  72 min.

For Peter, the controversial condition known as Electromagnetic Hypersensitvity (EHS) is not a matter of debate. He experiences intense pain and discomfort in the vicinity of electricity, even from small devices like a mobile phone. He flees his hometown and cuts contact with his family and with (lees meer)

Critical thought  Healthcare  Outsiders  Visually stunning

With Hasan in Gaza

Kamal Aljafari  106 min.

rediscovered tapes reveal two days of the life in Gaza in 2001. A search for a former cellmate from 1989 turns into an unexpected road trip from North to South Gaza, accompanied by Hasan, a local guide whose fate remains unknown. Fleeting everyday moments have since become fragments of an (lees meer)

Society  War

Kunst & Wetenschap

Art and science have gone hand in hand for centuries, so it's long overdue for ScienceVille to devote a focus program to this theme. ScienceVille brings together the most valuable scientific documentaries of the past year; with this years edition shining a spotlight on artistic science and scientific art: a creation launched into space, or microscopic images that make it to art. That and more in this cross-pollinating focus program.

ELEMENTAL -Atomic Tales & Periodic Fables

A collection of short documentary films, ranging from 6 to 20 minutes in length, that explore human stories through various elements from the periodic table. These elements are closely connected to us: our bodies are made up of them, our survival depends on them, and they form everything that surrounds us. From our (lees meer)

Phenomena

Josef Gatti  87 min.

A mesmerizing audiovisual adventure that spans from the subatomic to the cosmological level. All of the stunning images of various natural phenomena were captured with a camera, without visual effects or artifice. An impressive sequence of hyperrealistic images that reveal the inner workings of nature.

Art  Science

The Universe in a Grain of Sand

Mark Levinson  73 min.

What can science learn from art, and art from science? Art and science are not each other's opposites, but rather allies in our attempt to make sense of the world. Our perception (and understanding) of the world is determined by our ability to observe and represent it. Award-winning filmmaker and physicist (lees meer)

Art  Philosophy  Science

Unseen Skies

Yaara Bou Melhem  98 min.

Artist Trevor Paglen, who has been fascinated by mass surveillance and data collection for years, is turning his gaze upward in a new project: toward the satellites and drones that constantly record and track us. He is undertaking one of his most daring projects to date: launching a work of art into space to (lees meer)

Art  Science

Outside the dox

In a documentary landscape where hybrid methods are gradually becoming the norm, there are documentaries that still manage to keep reinventing themselves. Think: Hamlet in a video game. These films challenge norms and flout genres. For anyone looking for the better film experiment, try it Outside the Dox.

Do You Love Me

Lana Daher  76 min.

A playful and personal journey through Lebanon's audiovisual past, composed entirely of archival material. A creative reconstruction of a fragmented history in a country without a national archive; a personal and collective history marked by joy and intimacy, but also by destruction and loss.

Historical  Society

Edge Of The Night

Vladimir Loginov  90 min.

A poetic ode to the invisible nightlife of the city Talinn - from the cries of newborns to quiet park benches, from the last tram to the chaos of emergencies, from swingers in secret clubs to the melody of a blind musician. A mosaic of vibrant silence that invites the viewer to experience Tallinn not as (lees meer)

Essay  Portrait  Society

Intelligence Rising

Elena Andreicheva  76 min.

Several intellectual and strategic heavyweights—from military strategists to philosophers—take part in a special game: in a daring war simulation, they are confronted with the potential impact of AI on policymaking and how artificial intelligence could change power relations. Or how some of the world's (lees meer)

Artificial Intelligence  Critical thought  Historical  Society

Omega Wants to Dance

Ramón Tort  93 min.

From whirling Sufi's to passionate flamenco dancers, from an 80-year-old techno enthusiast to a mesmerizing Japanese Butoh dancer. Dance is one of humanity’s most universal languages. This visually striking documentary studies how dance, in all its forms, is both a reflection of personal expression (lees meer)

Art  Funny

RockVille

Music documentaries are a staple at DOCVILLE and once again they’re not to be missed this year. RockVille, DOCVILLE’s music film festival, made a strict selection from the wide range on offer: five times a unique behind-the-scenes look, five stories that linger. For several screenings, DOCVILLE is once again joining forces with Het Depot, Leuven’s largest concert venue.

Broken English

Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard  99 min.

In this original hybrid documentary, Marianne Faithfull is the subject of an investigation by “The Ministry of Not Forgetting,” a fictional government agency. The chair of the institution—played by Tilda Swinton—leads the investigation and meticulously reconstructs the iconic artist's life story using (lees meer)

Music

I was a Teenage Sex Pistol

Nick Mead, Andre Relis  96 min.

In 2026, it will be exactly 50 years since The Sex Pistols' debut single, Anarchy in the UK, was released. Punk was born: loud, bold, dirty, and raw, and with their middle fingers raised, the group caused a real shockwave in the UK, which was ravaged by crisis and unemployment. In this film, original bassist Glen (lees meer)

Music

Newport & the Great Folk Dream

Robert Gordon  100 min.

Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, John Lee Hooker, Pete Seeger... these are just a few of the countless artists we see performing on stage at the Newport Folk Festival, the “original festival” of all the pop and rock festivals that would follow. The film focuses on the pivotal years 1963 to 1966; years in which (lees meer)

Music

The Making of De Jeugd van tegenwoordig

Jan Hulst, Tomas Kaan, Bastiaan Bosma  77 min.

De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig celebrates its 20th anniversary with this film. As you would expect from the band, they did not deliver a traditional band biography, but a quirky, clever, occasionally uncontrolled, often funny film: an improvised making-of of a fake feature film about their creative life, crammed with (lees meer)

Music

ZEF. the story of Die Antwoord

Jon Day  90 min.

The wild story of the elusive South African band Die Antwoord, which rocked festival stages some 15 years ago—and not just figuratively speaking: Die Antwoord was a dangerous-looking, unpredictable band, a motley crew that embraced white trash South African aesthetics and delivered a mix of hard-hitting, (lees meer)

Music

ScienceVille

The stars align for ScienceVille this year: not only will there be a partial solar eclipse during the festival - resulting in Space Day - there is also a rock-solid selection of films about pseudoscience. Why have we been fascinated by horoscopes for thousands of years? And why does the urge to visit a medium persist for generations in the case of some people? Is all of this, after all, rooted in truth? Or could it be considered as the oldest form of therapy? In addition to this themed series, you can visit ScienceVille for in-depth panel discussions, the strongest science documentaries, intriguing short films and a broad selection for children.

A Life Illuminated

Tasha Van Zandt  89 min.

Groundbreaking marine biologist Edie Widder descends to a depth of 1,000 meters in the darkest parts of the ocean. In this twilight zone, she captured the first-ever images of the elusive giant squid. Now she embarks on her most daring mission yet: documenting a bioluminescent phenomenon that could change our view (lees meer)

Nature  Portrait  Science  Visually stunning

B. F. Skinner Plays Himself

Theodore Kennedy  74 min.

BF Skinner, founder of radical behaviorism and operant conditioning, “plays” himself in this reissue of a “failed” educational film. Encounter pigeon-guided bombs, rat experiments and baby-box trials, utopian communes and debates with Dennis Hopper.

Historical  Portrait  Psychology

Chronically Ignored

Daniela Schmidt-Langels, Sibylle Dahrendorf  92 min.

Although myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) was classified as a neurological disorder by the WHO in 1969, it remains widely misunderstood in politics, the medical field, and society to this day. The number of people affected has risen dramatically in the wake of the COVID-19 (lees meer)

Healthcare  Science

Dance your phD cup

Explaining what doctoral research is about is always a challenge. Doing so through dance sounds completely absurd. And yet that is what has been happening for 18 years thanks to the ‘Dance Your PhD competition’ organized by the renowned journal Science, which receives hundreds of entries every year. Come and watch (lees meer)

Art  Funny  Science

Fission

João Pedro Prado, Anton Yaremchuk  77 min.

Is nuclear energy the future or a dangerous relic from the past? Inhabitants of two towns — one is Germany and the other in Poland — join the debate. In Germany, the first nuclear power plant is being decommissioned, while in Poland the first one is expected to open in 2033. A warm film about a hot-button (lees meer)

Ecology  Physics  Science

Ghost in the Machine

Valerie Veatch  110 min.

Artificial intelligence did not come out of nowhere. AI is deeply rooted in our desire to classify people and society, to discover patterns and form models. Centuries ago, this was done with phrenology and eugenics; now it is done with AI. These patterns and categories are not neutral, either now or in the past, but (lees meer)

Artificial Intelligence  Historical  Science

Het Kwantumhuis

Vincent Langouche  35 min.

For teachers as well as enthusiasts, from Schrödinger to Einstein: a series of educational video's presents the history of quantum physics in an accesible manner.

Historical  Portrait  Science

Kwantumhuis voor leraren

For teachers as well as enthusiasts, from Niels Bohr to Einstein: a series of educational video's presents the history of quantum physics in an accesible manner. The launch of an educational platform: website, films, and book to provide guidance to high school physics teachers who want to start (lees meer)

Science

Live podcast - (on)zin over je brein

Is sleeping on your right side better for your brain? Do women with strong legs have healthier brains? Is it true that scientists have localized the source of the christmas spirit inside the brain? In recent years, a series of health reports about our brains have been circulating. During a live podcast, the (lees meer)

Funny  Healthcare  Psychology

Messenger RNA Trailblazers

Raphaël Hitier  88 min.

Many of us first heard about mRNA when the Covid-19 vaccine was successfully developed. But it was preceded by more than 60 years of research. An enlightening insight into decades of silent progress in mRNA research, a fascinating journey full of passion, doubt, setbacks, perseverance, and even coincidence.

Healthcare  Science

Messengers

Jeffrey Zablotny  45 min.

Neutrinos are extraordinarily tiny particles (millions of times smaller than an atom) of which some 65 billion pass through every square centimeter of Earth each second. Because they are so small, the vast majority travel straight through the planet without even slowing down. But every once in a while, one collides (lees meer)

Physics  Science

Opening Night ScienceVille

In wereldpremiere: de twee gloednieuwe documentaires gemaakt tijdens de Science Pitch van vorig jaar waarbij wetenschappers en filmmakers met elkaar worden gekoppeld. In aanwezigheid van de regisseurs en de wetenschappers. Presentatie door Dirk Draulants.

Refugee Stories

Christian Baobab, Raphael Bradenbrink  56 min.

Media coverage of refugees often focuses on extreme and exceptional stories, leaving the daily lives of the majority underexposed. That majority does not live in the West, but often in large camps such as Kakuma in Kenya. The RefugeeStories project offers a scientifically based, data-driven insight into life in such a (lees meer)

Africa  Portrait  Science

Science Pitch 2026

A selection of current research projects at Flemish universities. Researchers from all Flemish universities pitch their projects. In the audience: a group of filmmakers ready to make a (short) scientific documentary about the proposed research. But anyone interested in cutting-edge scientific research is also more (lees meer)

Science

Science Pitch docu's 2026

During the Science Pitch 2025 filmmakers and scientists found each other again for two science documentaries, with the winged (No) Bird Brain and the vulnerable Who am I when I wake up? as a result.

Nature  Psychology

Spillover - Planet of Viruses

Michael Wech  89 min.

The moment a virus jumps from animals to humans remains crucial in every epidemic. Ebola, Marburg, Nipah, COVID-19, and bird flu—the list of deadly viruses with such a “spillover” keeps growing. Why is this? And can we learn anything from it? A compelling documentary that searches worldwide for answers about (lees meer)

Healthcare  Nature  Science

The Brain Keepers

Barbara Bernardini  52 min.

Seventy years ago, Italian neurologist Rita Levi-Montalcini made a groundbreaking discovery: she discovered how nerve cells can regenerate. She won the Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1986 at the age of 77, but it is only in recent years that the medical world has fully discovered the life-changing impact her (lees meer)

Psychology  Science

Underland

Robert Petit  79 min.

We know so little about the world that resides beneath our feet. For many, the 'underworld' is an obscure place, for others a fascinating universe. This cinematic documentary takes you to places that rarely get to be seen by human eyes: from ancient holy caves, flooded sewer pipes, (lees meer)

Science  Visually stunning

ScienceVille for Kids

Always wanted to know what a pangolin is and how many ants it eats? Curious to see what it's like to turn into a fish? ScienceVille for Kids is back! Discover how to build a robot, learn whether farts can be deadly, and find out everything there is to know about time travel. On March 21 and 22, 30CC/Wagehuys turns into the headquarters of ScienceVille for Kids once again.

Diary of an Elephant Orphan

Hermien Roelvert-Van Gils  86 min.

A baby elephant has lost her parents, but luckily she is rescued by a group of conservationists. They name her Khanyisa and make sure she grows up strong and healthy. But an elephant needs a family, and that's not so easy, because wild herds usually don't accept orphaned elephants. The team comes up with a special plan (lees meer)

For kids  Nature

Dodelijke scheten & Viking-tanden

This double children’s lecture kicks off with a curious question: What’s hidden inside a Viking’s tooth? Much more than you’d ever imagine! By studying Viking teeth, we can discover what Vikings really looked like: their hair color, their eye color, and even what they liked to eat. After that, fire safety (lees meer)

For kids  Funny  Historical

Fluppie's Grote Rivier-Race

Which pumps are safe and where do you need to be extra carefull? Can you reach the finish line before the big sea gate closes? In this life-size floor game, you become a fish! Form a ‘school’ with your friends and race across the river to the sea.

Ecology  For kids  Nature

FormaX Interactive

A captivating, audiovisual installation developed by Vision Nocturne, audio by the electronic musical artist Rawakari.

Art  For kids

Het Matilda-effect : meisjes in de wetenschap

Mathilda is a lively storytelling and creative adventure inspired by the “Matilda effect”—the surprising story of how many brilliant female scientists throughout history have been forgotten. Through vivid stories, we are introduced to both famous and hidden heroes of science who changed the world with their (lees meer)

Homo Universalis: Reis door je Brein

Curious about your brain? Join us on a journey of discovery! Do you ever think about how our brain works? How do they allow us to think, talk, walk, laugh, or do math? And how do we actually know what is going on inside our heads?

For kids  Psychology

Jungle Bricks - Maak je lievelingsdier uit de jungle

Elephant or parrot? Chihuahua or pangolin? Get to work with lego blocks and make your own dream animal.

Art  For kids

Knutsel je neuronen

Neurons are special cells in our brains that can transmit messages that render us able to think, feel and move. How is a neuron built? Craft your own neuron with colorful material. Neuronen zijn speciale cellen in de hersenen die boodschappen doorgeven zodat we kunnen denken, voelen en bewegen. Hoe (lees meer)

For kids  Psychology

Maak je eigen lichtgevende sleutelhanger

The Colruyt crew is present with technical material and teaches you how to make your own lamp and key chain. Go home with a fun gadget!

For kids

Maak je eigen robot

Craft and decorate your own robot, make an electrical circuit and make him fight the other robots. Who will be the big winner?

For kids

Makelarij Escape Box

The Repair Escape Game is an interactive and playful experience that shows how repair can sometimes be challenging, but is mainly about overcoming obstacles. Each team receives a toolbox full of puzzles, hidden clues, and technical challenges. Only through creative thinking, logical reasoning, and good teamwork will (lees meer)

For kids

Ontdekkingsreizigers & Wonderen van het pigment

During this double children's lecture, we first travel with historical explorers, from Adrien de Gerlache at the South Pole to Jacques Piccard in the deep sea. Then we dive into the world of color: discover where pigments come from, unravel the magic of old masterpieces, and get creative yourself.

Amazing stories  Art  For kids

Opening ScienceVille voor Kinderen - Reis door de tijd

Step inside a living time machine and travel through the past, the present and the wondrous world of Albert Einstein! How does time work? Why does it sometimes go faster or slower? Do you age slower if you move your body, or if you stay closer to the ground? A journey of discovery full of music, jokes and (lees meer)

Art  For kids  Physics

Pangolin - Journey to Freedom

Wayne de Lange  50 min.

Meet Kosha, a small, scaly, ant-eating mammal with a ridiculously long tongue... and no teeth. In 2017 kosha got saved from poachers in Zimbabwe when she was just a baby and eventually got released back in nature successfully, where we follow her on all her extraordinary adventures.

For kids  Nature

Praat met de Microsoft Pretpanda

Pretpanda by Microsoft: a playful conversation agent and illustrative prototype that shows what an AI-agent for young viewers could look like.

Artificial Intelligence  For kids

Schilder je hersenen

Playfully explore the different parts of the brain: Which part helps you remember, where do emotions arise, and how does your brain enable you to move, think, or dream? Discover it all and get creative: color your own brain!

For kids  Psychology

Schilderen in VR

Step inside your very own virtual studio with Vermillion! This unique VR-painting program lets you paint as if you were working with real oil paint, but without getting paint splatters all over your clothes. Mix colors, experiment with brush techniques and create masterpieces.

Art  For kids

Schilderij onder de loep

How do you recognize a fake painting? Did you know you can look through the paint, in search for hidden underlayers? Discover like a true art detective with which techniques you can expose forgeries.

Art  For kids

Townscaper

Townscaper is a magic mix of art and smart computer science. Imagine that you are a painter, but instead of a brush, you use a smart algorythm, a sort of digital brain, to build. Click on the water and create your own construction. What emerges? A roof terrace? A bird house?

Art  For kids  Visually stunning

Trotseer de techtoren

Build your own electronic circuit and see what happens when real electricity is generated.

For kids

Wetenschapsshow : Film & Wetenschap

In films you often see things that are impossible: people who fly, monsters, stunts, spectacular explosions... How exactly do they do that? Learn about which special effects there are and how science makes these sensational scenes possible.

For kids  Funny

Word kunstdetective!

Art baron Kik-d'Irpaquière sets off on a world tour and entrusts his most extraordinary finds to his friends. But... are all these art treasures genuine? The stories about his adventures sound spectacular, but the rumor mill is in full swing: are there any fakes among them?

Art  For kids

Zoo van de Toekomst

Why only look at animals... when you can walk beside them? In the Zoo of the Future you discover wild habitats through interactive experiences in virtual reality. From penguins to elephants: this is your chance to discover nature up close—without glass, bars, or cages. A feel-good adventure that is intense, (lees meer)

For kids  Nature

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is a rewarding medium for documentary filmmakers to transport their audiences to places they've never been. Take a trip through three different worlds: the inside of a nuclear power plant, the Vilcanota Mountains where the last Incas lived, or Hallein in Austria, where you'll see devastating floods and learn how humans and nature can cooperate with each other again.

VR - Energeia

Ugo Arsac  30 min.

Step inside the secret buildings of a French nuclear power plant. For once, you are free to wander around as you please. Along the way, you will meet various experts—engineers, physicists, and researchers—who will explain their vision on the future of energy.

Physics  Science  Visually stunning

VR - Out of Nowhere + Ancestral Secret

Join us on a contemplative journey through the beautiful landscape of the Q'ero community, high in the Vilcanota Mountains, the place where the last Incas lived. Or experience how destructive climate change can be.Two extraordinary VR documentaries.

Ecology  Historical  Visually stunning

Canvas Talks

As a documentary channel par excellence, VRT CANVAS sends an expert to a selection of films. Under the name VRT CANVAS Talks, they delve deeper into a series of currently relevant themes. From education to world politics: a VRT personality provides the necessary insight.

VRT vs (des)informatie

As the documentary channel par excellence, VRT CANVAS delegates a subject-matter expert to accompany a selection of films. Under the banner VRT CANVAS Talks, they delve deeper into a series of urgent and pressing themes. Editor-in-chief of Investigations and fact-checker extraordinaire Luc van Bakel has immersed (lees meer)

Critical thought  Media

Weermannen: de echte helden van de ballonvaart

Meteorologist and weatherman Bram Verbruggen provides commentary and explanation on the incredible story of Piccard and Jones. He talks to Luc Trullemans, the weatherman from the film, who elaborates on his groundbreaking calculations. How impossible is it to travel around the world completely at the mercy of the whims (lees meer)

Science

Wie is aansprakelijk als een auto zichzelf bestuurt?

VRT journalist Luc Pauwels specializes in energy, climate and environmental issues. Together with director Andreas Pichler, he joins a discussion on flaws in Tesla and other automotive software. Pauwels has previously uncovered additional defects in car software, concluding that the problem extends far beyond (lees meer)

Artificial Intelligence  Society

DOCVILLE PLUS

Whoever says DOCVILLE, doesn't just say films, but also says extensive framework. Besides introductions and conclusions, there are DOCVILLE+ sessions as well: at this point, the festival has made debates and panel discussions about currently relevant themes, related to programmed films, its trademark.

Art and science in interaction

How can art and science inspire, challenge and enhance each other in a meaningful way? Scientists and artists with a background in psychology, philosophy, art history and mediastudies have a discussion about how their work fuses art and science. Various researchers and artists from KU Leuven's (lees meer)

Art  Science

Dierenproeven - (on)nodig?

Animal testing: still necessary for medical progress? But are medical advances already fully achievable without animal testing? And under what conditions are medical substances tested on animals? Scientists engage in dialogue with animal rights experts.

Nature  Science

Een nieuwe vorm van therapie?

Following the premiere of Mijn woord tegen het Mijne and to conclude Brain Day, there will be an extensive discussion with director Maasja Ooms, psychiatrist and protagonist Dirk Corstens, and Ruud Vanwinkel (Psychiatry, KU Leuven).

Psychology

Ouderenzorg in het gevangeniswezen

How does Belgium perform in terms of elderly care within the prison system? Which specific needs are there, and which resources do the institutions have available? Is Belgian policy in line with universal human rights? Experts in the field discuss the issue.

Society

Traumaverwerking na seksueel geweld

How do you move forward after becoming a victim of sexual violence? And what does victim support look like in our country? How can strength and trust be rebuilt during what is often a long and arduous recovery process? Together with EMDR therapist and psychologist Hannah Van Dingenen, an expert from the European (lees meer)

Psychology

EOS Verdiept

The scientific journal EOS assigns journalists to discuss specific topics with experts in the field.

CVS & Fibromyalgie

The scientific magazine EOS invites journalists to discuss specific topics with experts in the field. After Chronically Ignored, you can join a panel discussion with medical experts. They will take a closer look at medical developments in research into fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Healthcare

Het leven in de diepzee

The scientific magazine EOS invites journalists to discuss specific topics with experts in the field. EOS-journalist Kim Verhaeghe and a deep-sea expert discuss the creatures who inhabit the ocean floor.

Nature

DocXtra

Nice extras alongside the film.

Ecologisch tuinieren in potten & bakken

Has Agatha’s Almanac planted a seed in your brain, inspiring you to start your own vegetable garden? Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned grower, transform your terrace, balcony or windowsill into an edible oasis. With expert guidance from Velt, you’ll create your own mini garden and learn all about (lees meer)

Ecology  Nature

Porridge tasting

Do you want to taste the creation of one of the only Belgian competitors ever in the Oatmeal World Cup after the screening of The Golden Spurtle on 22.03? Anse and Ewout Vanmassenhove, co-founders of Oats Day Long, will provide some explanation alongside a three course oatmeal tasting menu.

Food

DOCVILLE Academy

DOCVILLE not only wants to connect documentaries and audiences, but professionals can also intermingle at the festival. There are several master classes and networking opportunities for filmmakers and other members of the documentary sector.