Win tickets to the Brussels International Women’s Film Festival

Celebrating cinema from around the world, the Brussels International Women’s Film Festival (BIWFF) showcases films directed by women from 13 to 21 October.

Formerly known as Elles Tournent, it is a rare opportunity to see films that would otherwise not be screened in Belgium.

For the festival’s 18th edition, more than 40 films are programmed at cinemas around the capital, while special screenings are hosted by partner venues.

The BIWFF opens with Marie Madeleine (pictured, main image) by Haitian director Gessica Généus (Bel/Lux/Fr/Haiti 2006). Set on the Caribbean island, it centres on an encounter between Marie Madeleine, who lives from prostitution, and Joseph, a young evangelist.

This screening is co-hosted with Namur’s international francophone film festival, FIFF, which says of the film’s unique world:  “Haiti’s vibrant colours contrast with a chilling reality. Balancing infinite tenderness and striking brutality, the director and actress delivers a vision that is as bold as it is sensitive, brought to life by superb cinematography.”

Other highlights of the BIWFF include a series of collaborations with cultural institutions in Brussels: Ellas en la ciudad (pictured above) with Instituto Cervantes, Le Bambine with the Italian Cultural Institute, and Orca with Art Cantara.

A screening of Les Petites Victoires, in partnership with EQLA, is accessible to blind and visually impaired audiences through audio description.

The programme also showcases international short films and the Graines de Cinéastes National Short Film Competition that shines a light on emerging filmmakers in Belgium.

There are also two special screenings: As liñas descontinuas by Anxos Fazáns at the Instituto Cervantes in Brussels on 20 October, and Happy Birthday at the Caméo cinema in Namur on 27 October.

From 19 to 21 October, the festival moves to CINEMATEK for the programme “Traces and Horizons” that celebrates three major Latin American women directors: Matilde Landeta, Suzana Amaral and María Luisa Bemberg.

Meanwhile, the Closing Night features the Belgian premiere of Ton Animal Maternel (pictured above) by Valentina Maurel (Fr/Bel/Costa Rica 2026). The ensemble film is about a mother and her two daughters returning to their native Costa Rica.

Presiding over the festival as its ‘Godmother’ is the Ivorian-Belgian actress Yves-Marina Gnahoua.

All but one of the feature-length films is shown with English subtitles.

Win! A pair of tickets to the festival's opening or closing film screening. Simply fill in your details below. We'll email you on Sunday (11 October) if you've won.