Bursting the bubble: Bozar launches lively news programme ‘Checkpoint Brussels’

A new monthly programme designed to bridge the divide between linguistic communities in Brussels and Belgium launches on 17 November at Bozar with an eclectic line-up of speakers.

Checkpoint Brussels tackles hot topics such as drone phobia with a journalist just back from Ukraine, the recent US midterms elections, soon-to-open art museum KANAL – Pompidou and the Belgian Film Faux Soir by Michael Roskam, due to be released on 2 December.

The initiative by Bozar is aimed at creating connections between Brussels’ diverse communities. “Each has its own newspapers and seems to inhabit its own news bubble,” it points out.

“This monthly live news programme brings together policymakers, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers and engaged citizens to discuss current affairs – local, national and international – from a variety of perspectives,” says Bozar.

Each session includes personal testimonies, debates, interviews and breaking news, as well as music and art. 

Full programme

Drone phobia:  Arnaud De Decker, the only Flemish journalist to have lived almost continuously in Ukraine since the Russian invasion, tells the story of ‘drone phobia’ in the war-torn country (in Dutch, French and English subtitles).

US midterm elections: Two American journalists, Sarah Wheaton (Politico) and Samuel Dempsey (The European Correspondent), join transatlantic relations expert Penny Naas (German Marshall Fund) to analyse the results of the US midterm elections and discuss their implications for the US, Europe and the rest of the world (in English, without translation).

Breaking news from Brussels: Checkpoint Brussels teams up with journalists from other media outlets to bring the very latest news. Brussels’ Dutch-language media Bruzz has an exclusive story to share (in Dutch, summaries in French and English).

ShunGu: The Brussels-born multidisciplinary artist bridges the worlds of hip-hop, jazz, psychedelic rock and house music. He is joined by a special guest (in English, without translation).

Faux Soir: Daniel Couvreur (Le Soir) is an expert on one of the most daring exploits of the Belgian Resistance during the Second World War. Bernard Falaise co-wrote the screenplay for Le Faux Soir, the film directed by Michael R. Roskam about this extraordinary episode. There’s also a surprise in store from the archives (in French, summaries in English and Dutch).

Opening of (K)anal – Centre Pompidou: The biggest cultural news of the month is the opening of the new art museum in Brussels. There’s also a surprise for the audience (in English, without translation).

Belgium's 200th anniversary: In 2030, Belgium will mark its 200th anniversary and the State Archives of Belgium and the Royal Library of Belgium are already working on a historical exhibition to mark the occasion. Their research is uncovering some unexpected discoveries (in French and Dutch, summary in English).

The second episode of Checkpoint Brussels is on 16 December.

Checkpoint Brussels
17 November, 19.00-21.00
Bozar
Rue Ravenstein 23
Brussels

Photo: Bozar ©Marin D