In the framework of the EFAD Rendez-vous with European Cinema events, EFAD, Europa International and the Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) proposed the Belgian exclusive screening of the French documentary La Ferme des Bertrand directed by Gilles Perret, preceded by the Premiere of the Belgian short film Plat de Résistance by Marie Royer & Zinia Scorier, on Thursday 27 June 2024 at Cinema Galeries in Brussels. The event was organised in partnership with the European Audiovisual Production association (CEPI), the International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas (CICAE), Climate Alliance, Cineuropa, Cinema Galeries, European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity, The European Producers Club (EPC), Europa Distribution, Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA), and the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA). The event aimed at promoting the diversity and beauty of European Cinema. This time, the focus was on “Green Planet” (section of the BRIFF) and how cinema can raise environmental awareness through art and its industry initiatives.

The screening was introduced by Adeline Chauveau, Managing Director of Europa International, and by Marie Royer and Zinia Scorier, directors of the Belgian short movie. 

The screening was followed by a cocktail-reception in the presence of the producers of the short, during which the new guide "From Green Goals to Green Actions: A Guide for Film Sales Professionals” was presented by Europa International. This guide is the result of exchanges between Climate Alliance and international film sales agents to map their green skill needs. It is designed to be very hands-on and practical to help film sales professionals and more generally all professionals working in the field of culture to identify green practices that they could adopt in their everyday work. The aim of this Guide is not to propose a single methodology for greening film sales, but rather to highlight the key points and practices for reducing environmental impact in the cultural field, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, to reach a successful transition to climate neutrality by 2050.

About the films

La Ferme des Bertrand is a journey of 50 years in the life of a farm in Haute Savoie (French Alps). 1972: the Bertrand dairy farm and its one hundred animals are filmed for the first time. As a neighbor, director Gilles Perret dedicated his first film to them in 1997, while the three brother farmers are in the process of passing the farm on to their nephew Patrick and his wife Hélène. Today, 25 years later, the director-neighbor takes up the camera again to accompany Hélène, who, in turn, is handing over the reins.

The documentary was preceded by the short Plat de Résistance: through audio recordings taken in the field and poetic moving images, the film portrays activists who use food as a tool in their anti-consumerist struggle.

Pictures ©Vivien Ghiron & Julie-Jeanne Régnault & Flyer invitation designed by Ana Balderramas