International documentaries showcased at Millenium Festival from 15-22 March

Award-winning American film director Oliver Stone is the special guest of honour at the 16th edition of the Millenium Festival in Brussels from 15 to 22 March.

With a programme dedicated to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the event showcases documentaries from around the globe.

It also provides an important platform for emerging talents, staging exclusive masterclasses that explore the art and craft of documentary filmmaking.

Oscar winner Stone will be conducting such a class for the grand opening of the festival on 15 March. The veteran director’s rollcall of cult films includes Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July,  Natural Born Killers and Wall Street as well as the 2023 documentary Nuclear Now.

This masterclass is followed by the screening of the documentary feature The Art of Losing (pictured) by Sebastian Saam (Ger 2023). It recounts the incredible story of Chilean musician Andrés Godoy who despite losing his right arm at the age of 14, developed self-taught techniques to become a virtuoso guitar player.

Some 50 other documentaries follow, attesting to the diversity of the genre and the impact of visual storytelling from around the world. They include One with the Whale, a thought-provoking film about whale hunting in Alaska’s remote St Lawrence Island and Mon pire ennemi, a documentary recreating torture and interrogation practices in Iran. While detailing the violence, it raises questions about the experimental nature of the film project.

The festival gathers an internationally-acclaimed jury to preside over the various competition categories. “This edition is set to be a cinematic feast like no other,” say organisers.

Screenings and events take place at Flagey, Vendôme, Centre Bruegel and CIVA. Check out the full programme for details.

Created in 2009 by Brussels-based Bulgarian filmmakers Lubomir Gueorguiev and Zlatina Rousseva, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals have been the festival’s trademark since its beginning.

Millenium Festival
15 to 22 March
Venues across Brussels. Sorry! Our prize draw has now closed and the winners have been notified.