10th edition
30.03.2011 – 03.04.2011
Kunstencentrum Vooruit, Cinema Sphinx, Film-Plateau & KASK, Gent (BE)
The Courtisane festival celebrates its tenth anniversary. A reason to be proud, but not an excuse to slow down. Courtisane looks forward towards the future, with both feet firm in the present. The search for relevant and alternative cinematographic forms and experiences brings once again this year a number of surprises. Resistant and poignant, experimental and reflexive, complex and sensual : the selection of works in the programme represent a kaleidoscopic mosaic of styles, media, gestures, languages and emotions; a patchwork of recent and historical works that share an insatiable hunger for experimentation and a creative obstinacy.

Sofie Benoot

Ben Rivers

Olivia Rochette & Gerard-Jan Claes

Selection of recent films and videos

Always up to date, Courtisane brings together a selection of the best recent film and video works seen in Belgium and abroad during the past year: from renowned names from the contemporary art scene (Phil Collins) to everlasting figures from the cinephile milieu (Jean-Luc Godard); from brilliant documentary essay practitioners (Andrei Ujica) to young adventurers in the experimental film tradition (Ben Rivers). Fresh graduation projects (Olivia Rochette & Gerard-Jan Claes) next to elaborate politically instigating works (Herman Asselberghs) and captivating travelogues (Sofie Benoot). All of this, and much more at Cinema Sphinx.



Laurent Van Lancker

Opening Night

The festival opens with a very special premiere. “disorient” by Belgian artists Florence Aigner & Laurent Van Lancker, the latest film chapter in a years-long project on migrations around the world, will be presented for the first time in KASK in a new “expanded” performance version.

disorients - Florence Aigner, Laurent Van Lancker, Sébastien Koeppel, Laszlo Umbreit
WED 30.03.2011, 22:00, KASK, ZWARTE ZAAL - FREE



Robert Beavers


Robert Fenz


Sylvain George

Artists in Focus
Film-Plateau, Vooruit

Again this year Courtisane celebrates the work of several 'Artists in Focus' : a committed activist filmmaker (Sylvain George), a poet of 16mm film (Robert Fenz) and a seminal avant-garde filmmaker (Robert Beavers). They will each present a selection of their own work at Film-Plateau as well as a compilation of works by other filmmakers that have influenced their practice. For the occasion Sylvain George and Robert Fenz will also collaborate with jazz legends William Parker and Wadada Leo Smith. Two unique encounters of cinematographic ingenuity and singular music improvisation.

Performances
31.03.2011, 20:30 : Sylvain George & William Parker – Vooruit, 10/12 eur
01.04.2011, 20:30 : Robert Fenz & Wadada Leo Smith – Vooruit, 10/12 eur



Jean-Luc Godard

Political Cinema?

“Film Socialisme” (Jean-Luc Godard),  “After Empire” (Herman Asselberghs), “marxism today  (prologue)” (Phil Collins), “Qu'ils reposent en révolte (des figures de guerre)” (Sylvain George), “Meditations on Revolution “ (Robert Fenz), ... Many of the titles in this year's festival programme reveal a combative questioning of the dominant socio-political system, not only in terms of a radical philosophical and activist discours, but also artistically and cinematographically. The question of what “political cinema” can mean  – and what it means to make cinema politically – is the implicit  red thread that runs through the programme of Courtisane 2011.

Baby matinee
SUN 03.04.2011, 11:00, SPHINX
€6 (free for children)
Age : 2- 8 (for once the audience doesn’t have to be quiet...)

Courtisane sets out to prove that avant-garde film can be enjoyed by young and old. Following the success of the previous Baby Matinees in past editions, Courtisane will present a new screening programme of artists’ films and videos suitable for children from 0 to 99. A fun initiation to experimental film and a welcome change from K-Zoom and Ketnet!


Martin Arnold

Martin Arnold installations
Shadow Cuts / Soft Palate
THU 31.03.2011 – SUN 03.04.2011, 13:00 – 21:00
VOORUIT, BRUGZAAL - GRATIS

Mickey and Pluto as you’ve never seen them before. Austrian filmmaker Martin Arnold directs his deconstructive impulses to the heritage of Walt Disney. The results are two neurotic re-animations that come to life in the darkness between images, where the viewer meets his dreams and demons. How much do we miss when we blink our eyes.