Cinema in Ghent, digital culture in Brussels, an art festival in Antwerp, and more. See you there!
Cinema: Experience at Cinema Galeries
From 23 to 26 June Brussels
“Experience” is Belgium’s very first virtual reality festival, taking place over the course of three days in an independent cinema located in a gorgeous Brussels landmark: the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert. The cutting-edge festival gives film fans the opportunity to completely dive into different worlds while discovering this exciting emerging sector.
Talent watch: KASKfilms at Sphinx Cinema
Thursday, 23 June, 17h30 Ghent
June is the month of end-of-year shows in Belgium, when students and graduates alike present what they’ve been working on. One of the highlights is a screening at Ghent’s Spinx Cinema, presenting an exciting, genre-crossing mix of documentaries, fiction films and animation.
Digital culture festival: Les Garages Numériques
From 23 June to 3 July Brussels
Les Garages Numeriques kick of this Thursday in the premises of Cinema Galeries, offering a multifaceted programme full with conferences, exhibitions, audiovisual performances, video projections, parties, and more. See the complete programme of the 10-day digital culture festival here. Featuring Lawrence Le Doux, Romain Tardy, Juliette Bibasse, Julien Bauzin, and many others.
Art festival I: The Sideshow at A-Tower
From 24 June to 2 July Antwerp
© Miles Fischler
Antwerp art collective RUIS, which we interviewed a little while ago here, takes over the 13th floor of their hometown’s A-Tower for nine days for an all free art festival, The Sideshow. The participating artists, each in their own way, explore different aspects of the creation of art, commenting on the process, inspiration, mistakes, techniques, the daily life of artists, and more. Besides the exhibition there’s also a jam-packed programme of performances, workshops, yoga, concerts, and markets. Drinks will be served too! With Andrea Copetti from Tipi Bookshop, Lieven Segers, Karina Beumer, Dries Segers, Lola Pertsowsky, Dimitri Sakelaropolus, …
Book launch, concert & BBQ at Komplot
Saturday, 25 June, 14-21h00 Brussels
With the exhibition “Tradition Doesn’t Graduate” Komplot, one of Brussels major independent art spaces, brings together graduate students with emerging artists from the local Brussels scene in an attempt to stretch, weave and unpick the social fabric of a group. Plus, there’ll also be a book launch and a barbecue for the hungry! With After Howl, Henry Andersen, Lény Bernay, Hanne Van Dyck, Jonas Vansteenkiste, Ersi Varveri, and many others.
Cinema: Brussels Film Festival at Flagey
From 17 to 24 June Brussels
This week sees the opening of the annual Brussels film festival at Place Flagey. Dedicating eight days to European cinema, it offers a varied programme ranging from talks, parties and flea markets to a multitude of screenings – some of which take place under the open sky in a lovely setting next to the ponds. Full programme here.
Art festival II: D.ART Kunstroute 2016
From 24 Junt to 3 July Mechelen
Once more proof that the Belgian art world doesn’t stop at the borders of Brussels, Antwerp or Ghent: this week art lovers will head over to Mechelen for the so-called D.ART Kunstroute, an initiative that wants to bundle the city’s artistic forces. You can discover contemporary art in 8 different locations, with the Artenova show stretching over no less than 2000 square meters being one of the definite highlights.
Music: Paradise City Festival
From 25 to 27 June Perk
Belgium’s already heavy festival scene got a new addition last year: Paradise City, which directly made it into The Guardian’s list of best festivals. This week the second edition goes down at the beautiful location of castle Ribaucourt, with a electro-heavy line-up that includes Tourist, Vuurwerk, Aeroplane, Christian Löffler and others. Plus, it’s dedicated to reducing its carbon foot print and replaces the usual festival junk food with delicious healthy choices. More here.
Shopping: Antwerp Vintage Market at Bocadero
Sunday, 26 June Antwerp
Brussels Vintage Market goes Antwerp: this Sunday the capital’s major vintage sale will leave its homebase at Les Halles St Géry behind and spend a day at Antwerp’s Bocadero. Expect a huge offering of carefully curated second-hand
clothes, accessories, and deco objects.
Outdoor get-together: PiKniK at Bois de la Cambre
Sunday, 26 June Brussels
Here’s another outdoor concept that we hope won’t be cancelled due to this year’s monsoon-like Belgian summer: On Sunday PiKniK plans to take over the Brussels’ major green oasis, Bois de la Cambre, for a free open air get-together spiced up with music and a pop-up bar.
