What’s on this week: 23 to 29 February

Animation film extravaganza Anima boasts a fantastic line-up for its 43rd edition. A focus on sci-fi films features Science Fiction Scavengers (pictured) gathering some remarkable contemporary shorts, and Fantastic Planet, a classic film restored for its 50th anniversary. The festival’s rich programme for adults as well as children sees the screening of some 160 films – shorts and features – in competitions, retrospective and special categories. These include Best Of Shorts, C'est du Belge, LGBTQIa+ Queer Stories  on 24 February and the famous Animated Night on 2 March. 23 February to 3 March, Flagey, Marni theatre, Cinematek and other venues in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia

It’s the final few days of home and renovation fair Batibouw. The 65th edition takes a detailed look at affordable accommodation and sustainable renovation. This is 'the place' to pick up info from building professionals, whatever your home project. Until 25 February, Brussels Expo, Place de Belgique 1

Famed in the second half of the 20th century for fashion characterised as youthful and joyful, Liège-born Jules François Crahay is described by the Fashion & Lace Museum as “forgotten”, but by other sources as “discreet”. Whatever the case, he is not a household name like Dior and Ricci, although he was compared to the former and worked for the latter. Find out at the exhibition Jules Francois Crahay: Back in the Spotlight why the man who was hot in haute couture and also designed highly influential collections deserves his place in European fashion history. 23 February to 10 November, Rue de la Violette 12

The Maison des Arts calls them “rituals”, but there’s a fine line between that spiritually infused word and the rather less poignant “obsessions”. The exhibition Encore et Encore: Rituels D’Artistes gives you the chance to decide for yourself, collecting the work of artists who repeat patterns, themes or images over the course of a career. 24 February to 5 May, Chaussée de Haecht 147 (Schaerbeek)

Frolic in the colours, sounds and moves of the season with the good people of Fiesta Latina. Their carnival edition is no less spectacular than their annual autumn event and features costumed dancers, live music, 40+ food trucks, dance workshops and … wait for it … parades! Family-friendly during the day, pumping beats and drinks all night. 23-24 February, Tour & Taxis, Rue Picard 7

The Korean Cultural Center hosts a concert with talented young musicians from the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. Korean cellists Yewon Cho and Yoonsoo Yeo, accompanied by pianist Katsura Mizumoto, perform a programme of music by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Chopin, Barrière and Paganini. The concert is free but it’s necessary to reserve a place. 29 February, Rue de la Régence 4

Book now: Klara Festival  Avoid disappointment by scooping up tickets now to your performance of choice at the Klara Festival, the extremely popular celebration of classical and new music. The festival gets funky with the genres, challenging musical boundaries, cultural divergences and generation gaps. The theme Crossroads – Come Together was inspired by the guest of honour, Claron McFadden (pictured), a superstar American soprano residing in the Netherlands who steadfastly puts opera, jazz and gospel on a collision course. Catch her while you can. 8-24 March, Bozar, Flagey & other venues in Brussels plus Concertgebouw, Bruges

Book now: Circle Mirror TransformationTickets are now on sale for the American Theatre Company’s  (ATC) upcoming production. Directed by Quentin Clements, the play by Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker is an emotional roller coaster of role play by five drama students in a rural Vermont community college. It explores the complexity of human lives and the patterns that enclose so many. 21 to 30 March 20.00, Warehouse Studio Theatre, Rue Waelhem 69A (Schaerbeek)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

For five decades, California artist Jim Shaw has been developing complex and unique work that consists of photos, drawings, paintings, sculptures, installations, film and musical performances. Throughout is a critical eye for a beauty and fame-obsessed society and the myths associated with them. He is one of the most influential contemporary artists in North America, and the show Jim Shaw: The Ties That Bind brings together a representative collection of his fascinating work that is at once fun and uncomfortable: How much do we contribute to this culture of fake perfection and false heroes? Until 19 May, M HKA, Leuvenstraat 32, Antwerp

Welcome to Rampage, the biggest dubstep and drum & bass party in the low countries! It’s the 15th anniversary of the club event that brings together more than 6,000 revellers for international electronic DJ sets that last all weekend. If the length of the line-up doesn’t make you dizzy, the light show will. 23-24 February, Sportpaleis, Schijnpoortweg 119, Antwerp

The little town of Zottegem puts on a big light show with the Egmont Light Festival. Named after city father Count Lamoral of Egmont (instrumental in the uprising that led to the Eighty Year’s War and Dutch independence from Spain), it will use its historical buildings as a backdrop for light art projection. The easy one-kilometre trail of light installations also incorporates the period theme with flags, vandals, illustrious figures and the grandeur of times past. 23-25 February 19.00-midnight, Zottegem centre (East Flanders)

A new large-scale exhibition at Liège’s Guillemins train station is dedicated to the ultimate Italian Renaissance polymath. Leonardo de Vinci. Da Vinci – L’artiste, l’ingénieur, le gastronome explores the man’s genius in numerous disciplines. Forever curious about the world around him and determined to leave a legacy, the 2,000 m2 exhibition space focuses on why he was so brilliant in the fields of art, engineering and lesser-known study of gastronomy. Discover archives, drawings, sketches and some of the experimental machines that he constructed. From 24 February, Liège Guillemins train station, Liège

Bach’s St John Passion is one of the most famous pieces of sacred music. Written for the Good Friday Vespers service of 1724, it was the composer’s first large-scale work in Leipzig, where he was director of church music. After singing the Passion numerous times, conductor Reinoud Van Mechelen presents his own vision of the musical masterpiece at Namur Concert Hall with Namur Chamber Choir, A nocte temporis orchestra and a bevy of leading soloists. Bach’s multiple layers of musical meaning enables audiences to appreciate on a number of levels the work’s dramatic choruses, mournful arias and compelling narrative. 28 February 20.00, Rue Rogier 82, Namur

An exhibition of contemporary art installations at Villers Abbey has been extended until the spring. Visitors to the ruins of the Cistercian abbey can continue to appreciate the monumental works by Belgian artist Pierre Debatty in PAYSonges, an interesting interaction with the site’s ancient stones. Until 21 April, Rue de l’Abbaye 55, Villers-la-Ville (Brabant Walloon)

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) ©Anima; ©Fashion & Lace Museum, photo Detiffe; Encore et Encore ©Katherine Longly & Cécile Hupin; Klara ©Sergei Shauchenka ; ©Jim Shaw, courtesy Gagosian; Leonardo de Vinci L'atelier Mona Lisa © Europa Expo