Christina Stuhlberger, Elisa Juri, Erwin van 't Hart, Eva Giolo, Kristofer Woods, Natalia Orasanin, Pieter-Paul Mortier, Rebecca Jane Arthur, Rund Alarabi, Stoffel Debuysere, Vincent Stroep
— Program Courtisane festival 2025

Dhiaa Biya, Michiel Devijver
— Photographers

Ditte Claus, lau persijn
— Program advisors

Bob Mees
— Technical and projection coordination

David Marquenie
— Catering

Dirk Deblauwe
— Website & graphic concept

Ditte Claus
— Production, administration – email

Emma Tsuji Harrison, Janne Van Beek, Rebecca Jane Arthur
— Translations, editing

Gunther Fobe
— Graphic identity, print design

Julie Daems
— Guests, production – email

Katha Ciax
— Gerant

lau persijn
— Communication, press – email

Laurent Tenzer
— Live subtitling

Louis Gahide, Naomi Fotopoulou, Noortje De Meyere
— Interns

Martin Putto
— Projection

Noah Berhitu
— Video documentation

Pieter-Paul Mortier
— Director, program

Sacho Kris G.
— Projection, film prints and files

Stoffel Debuysere
— Program, publications

yiryel, lau, hennie imogen, Jorn Plucieniczak
— Party DJs

Courtisane Board of Directors
— Fairuz Ghammam, Hilde D’haeyere, Iris Verhoeven, Mohanad Yaqubi

Courtisane General Meeting
— Bob van Langendonck, Caroline Van Peteghem, Dirk Deblauwe, Gerard-Jan Claes, Gunther Fobe, Hendrik Leper, Marie Logie, Sirah Foighel Brutmann, Stoffel Debuysere, Wieter Bloemen

Griselda Hoxhaj, Jan De Vrieze, Katrien Coupez, Lennert Dierick, Marina De Paepe, Michael Knapen, Nathalie De Neve, Pilar Callebaut
Minard

Andreas Vermaut, Egon Van Herreweghe, Joke Verhellen, Jules Mathôt, Patrick Deboes, Sjef Cocriamont, Sofie Mercier, Wendy Vercauteren
Sphinx Cinema

Charlotte Durnajkin, Fenna Maas, Koen Boesman, Lena Baguet
Arca

Dieter Lapauw, Elisa De Schepper, Elke Deklerck, Lennart Soberon, Marthe Peters
KASKcinema

• a platform for film and audiovisual arts. We question the potential of audiovisual arts and its possible ways of showing, experiencing, seeing and looking. In doing so, we explore the relationships between image and world, aesthetics and politics, experiment and engagement.
• a network in which collaborations with formal and informal partners, the exchange of knowledge and the creation of visibility for creators and thinkers are at the core.
• a community in which a stimulating and participatory atmosphere of encounter and confrontation is encouraged.

Courtisane does this through:

• a yearly five-day festival at various locations in Ghent.
• an ongoing yearly programme of film screenings, presentations, discussions and encounters.
• publications of new and/or existing but forgotten texts.

A history:

Courtisane was founded in 2002 by a young cinephile collective. For the first few years, the non-profit organised a festival for short films at arts centre/production house Victoria. In 2005 it moved to Vooruit Arts Centre and traditional cinema halls. Meanwhile, a small yearly programme was developed and an increasing focus was put on performances and exhibitions.

After ten years, Courtisane experienced a moment of transition. The main changes took place in deepening the content, broadening the programme and finding new locations. The focus increasingly moved to the work of artists and filmmakers with a personal signature, work that shows a drive for innovation and social commitment.

From this period onwards, the operation saw a steady expansion of collaborations at home and abroad. In addition to the festival, Courtisane organises about 20 activities per season. In recent years, moments of reflection were extended in the form of conversations, workshops and publications.