Bouli Lanners and Lukas Dhont big winners at the Magritte du Cinéma 2023

Bouli Lanners and Lukas Dhont are the big winners of the twelfth edition of the Magritte du Cinéma, Belgium's French-language film prize.

Lanners' 'Nobody has to know', a romantic drama about a secret love in Scotland, was named best film Saturday night at the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles in Brussels. The film was up against 'Animals' by Nabil Ben Yadir, 'La ruche' by Christophe Hermans, 'Rien à foutre' by Julie Lecoustre and Emmanuel Marre and 'Tori et Lokita' by the Dardenne brothers.

Lanners also won best director for 'Nobody has to know' and best actor for his role in Dominik Moll's 'La nuit du 12'. The film also won the Magritte for best foreign co-production.

Best Flemish film

Lukas Dhont was also one of the big winners. His film 'Close', the Belgian entry for the Oscars, received seven of the ten nominations, namely in the categories of best Flemish film, best original screenplay or adaptation, best actress in a supporting role (Emilie Dequenne), best actor in a supporting role (Igor Van Dessel), best male promise (Eden Dambrine), best cinematography and best production design.

The Ghent director was not present at the ceremony, as he is in Los Angeles preparing for the Oscars. But his team was there. Producer Michiel Dhont accepted the award for best Flemish film and took the opportunity to thank his brother Lukas and the whole team.

"We are very proud to be Belgian and to make Belgian films"

"You are the reason why we are here today. We are very proud to be Belgian and to make Belgian films. It is a great honour to represent Belgium at the Oscars next week," Michiel Dhont said.

The Magritte for best actress went to Virginie Efira for her performance in Alice Winocour's 'Revoir Paris', and the prize for best promising female actor went to Sophie Breyer for her role in Christophe Hermans' 'La ruche'. 'Rien à foutre' by Julie Lecoustre and Emmanuel Marre was considered the best debut.

The Magritte du Cinéma are film prizes created in 2011 and awarded annually to film professionals in various categories to honour the excellence of French-speaking Belgian film productions. They are often described as the Belgian equivalent of the César in France or the Oscars in the United States.

^{Actor Bouli Lanners poses at the 12th edition of the 'Magritte du Cinema' film awards ceremony, Saturday 04 March 2023, in Brussels. The awards are rewarded to movies of Belgian French-speaking producers.}

^{© BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ}