Frontera, The Soundman & A Magnificent Life go to Palm Springs

The Soundman, Frank Van Passel's new film will have its international premiere in the Modern Masters section. Palm Springs also invited Sylvain Chomet's Flemish co-production A Magnificent Life, with animation studio and production company Walking the Dog as its partner from Flanders. The film had its world premiere in Cannes earlier this year.

The Spanish-Belgian co-production Frontera by Judith Colell, starring Kevin Janssens and produced by Bulletproof Cupid from Flanders, has been selected for the World Cinema Now section.

Director Frank Van Passel (Moresnet, Manneken Pis, Madonna's Pig, Back to Oosterdonk, Taste of the Keyser) zooms in on the world of Belgian radio in the 1940s in The Soundman.

While the world teeters on the brink of war, the paths of Elza, a young actress taking her first steps in the radio drama studios, and Berre, a novice sound engineer with almost magical hearing, cross in the iconic Flagey building in Brussels, from where the national radio broadcasts. He seeks solace in the elusive power of sound, she in the enchanting world of radio plays. Their meeting ignites a spark of love that lifts them above the threat of their time.

The leading roles in Radioman are played by Jef Hellemans and Femke Vanhove. The production is in the hands of Lompvis, in co-production with Caviar, VRT, Sunny Pictures and Beluga Tree. In Belgium, the film is distributed by Kinepolis Film Distribution (in cinemas from 17 December). International sales are handled by LevelK.

The Soundman and A Magnificent Life were made with support from the VAF/Film Fund of Flanders' Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez. In addition, the economic fund Screen Flanders, an initiative under the authority of Flanders' Minister of Economy Matthias Diependaele and Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez, invested in The Soundman, A Magnificent Life and Frontera.