Top Euro Film Professionals Demand Answers Over Unexplained Firing Of Flanders Image Head Christian De Schutter

Melanie Goodfellow
·10 min read
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More than 200 key European film professionals have published an open letter expressing their shock and concern over the unexplained, sudden firing of long-time Flanders Image boss Christian De Schutter.

Producer Mike Goodridge at Good Chaos, International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) co-founder and head of industry Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen, German Films MD Simone Baumann, Tribeca Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer, Haut et Court Head Of Acquisitions Laure Calliol; Goodfellas Head Of Sales Eva Diederix and Oscar-nominated director Stijn Coninx are among the signatories.

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“We the undersigned are professionals in the film industry who are concerned about the termination of employment of our well respected and long-time colleague, Christian De Schutter, from Flanders Image,” they wrote.

They said they had been shocked by both the termination and the manner in which it had been handled by Koen Van Bockstal, CEO of parent body Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF).

“We all learned of De Schutter’s dismissal from the organization he has served for 20+ years in an impersonal mass email sent from Van Bockstal on December 20, 2023,” read the letter. “Van Bockstal then turned on his out of office messages for the holidays and as of the morning of Jan 12 has not replied to any inquiries about why De Schutter has been dismissed.”

“There has been no explanation whatsoever for this sudden and drastic move. Of course, any manager is responsible for his team and decisions about staffing. But the way this specific exit has been decided is raising many concerns and questions, as there was no explanation provided as to why a senior and very experienced expert in promotion and marketing of European films was released from his position. Were internal politics at play?,” it continued.

The signatories highlighted the contribution De Schutter had made to the Flemish and wider European film industry across his career.

“To lose such a valued cultural sector expert as Mr De Schutter leaves a huge hole in the cultural landscape of Flanders,” they said.

“Over the past two decades, we have found Mr De Schutter to be a huge asset to the local and international film community, passionately and professionally promoting Flemish films, TV series and talents with a deep knowledge, expertise, creative energy and enthusiasm. We the undersigned have never heard about any complaints of his work and have no complaints ourselves.”

They noted how De Schutter had spearheaded the annual Connext event aimed at connecting international producers and sales agents with upcoming Flemish films and series.

“Without Mr De Schutter’s involvement, there is talk amongst some international parties of not attending the next edition of Connext and this will be a huge loss for the Flemish creative community to lose these international connections,” read the letter.

The signatories said De Schutter had asked them not to write open letter but had done so any way because they wanted answers.

“We’re not sure if he wants for his job to be reinstated especially given the leadership issues at Flanders Image currently, but we’re all flummoxed by the situation and as his longtime colleagues we think we deserve some sort of explanation. We know that many people in Belgium, including your leading filmmakers, are also confused and angered at this turn of events and are looking for explanations. This has clearly not been handled in a professional manner,” they said.

The letter added that a number of Belgium filmmakers had privately voiced their support for De Schutter but refrained from signing for fear of how it could impact their future funding.

“This alone is reason enough to ask the board and stakeholders in VAF and Flanders Image to bring transparency and clarity to their process as public funding should not be personal,” read the letter.

“We would like for VAF leadership including Van Bockstal to be held accountable and provide a transparent account of why De Schutter has been dismissed. Do the industry stakeholders and filmmakers in Flanders agree with this VAF decision?”

The full list of signatories;

Tasja Abel, Producer MadeFor Film/Banijay (Germany)
Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen, IDFA (The Netherlands)
Ido Abram, CEO, I DO ! (Netherlands)
Mark Adams, former Artistic Director Edinburgh International Film Festival and Festival Consultant (UK)
Karim Aitouna, Producer and Industry consultant, Haut Les Mains productions (France)
Luca Andreotti, Program Coordinator, Torino Film Festival (Italy)
Rod Armstrong, Associate Director of Programming, SFFILM (USA)
Beth Barrett, Artistic Director, Seattle International Film Festival (USA)
Simone Baumann, Managing director of German Films (Germany)
Charles Bin, Sales Agent, Best Friends Forever (Belgium)
Martina Bleis, Head of Berlinale Co-Production Market (Germany)
Ahmet Boyacioglu, General Secretary, Festival on Wheels/Ankara Cinema Association (Turkey)
Frédéric Boyer, Artistic Director, TRIBECA Film Festival (USA), Les Arcs Film Festival (France), Reykjavik International Film Festival (Iceland)
Giovanni Brancaccio, Head of Programming, Giffoni Film Festival (Italy)
Sarah Calderón, CEO The Film Agency, co-founder Red Balloon Alliance (Spain)
Laure Caillol, Haut et Court (France)
Saidja Callewaert – Former Flanders Image colleague (Belgium)
Javier Chavez, Associate Film Programmer, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (USA)
Anaïs Clanet, Partner, RESERVOIR DOCS (France)
Jan De Clercq, Producer (Belgium)
Stijn Coninx (director, Belgium)
Didier Costet, CEO, Swift Distribution (France)
Caroline Couret-Delègue, Sales Agent, Film Seekers France (France)
Nicolas Girard Deltruc, Festival Director, Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal (Canada)
Hilde De Laere, Producer (Belgium)
Annemie Degryse, Producer (Belgium)
Fabian Desmicht, former VAF colleague (Location Flanders / Screen Flanders) (Belgium)
Tatiana Detlofson, Owner and Executive Publicist, MEDIAPLAN PR (USA)
Ellen De Waele, Producer (Belgium)
Jean-François Deveau, Eaux Vives Productions, former buyer (France)
Virginie Devesa, Alpha Violet World Sales (France)
Eva Diederix, Goodfellas (France)
Jan Doense, Film by the Sea (The Netherlands)
Ellis Driessen – Proctor Film / Consultant for Holland Film Meeting (The Netherlands)
Nelleke Driessen, film sales (The Netherlands)
Judith Dubeau, Publicist, Ixion Communications (Canada)
Jacques Dubrulle,Honorary President of the Intl Filmfestival Ghent (Belgium)
Markus Duffner, Head of Locarno Pro, Locarno Film Festival(Switzerland)
JoJo Dye – Founder, JJDConsultancy – The MEMBERS CLUB (UK)
Emmanuel Eckert, acquisition deputy director, Mediawan Rights (France)
Christine Eloy, Managing Director, Europa Distribution (Belgium)
Basak Emre, Ankara Festival Director, Festival on Wheels/Ankara Cinema Association (Turkey)
Evrim Ersoy, Head of Programming, BEYOND FEST (USA)
James Faust, Artistic Director, Dallas International Film Festival (USA)
Julia Fidel, Producer, former head of Berlinale Series (Germany)
Simon Field, former director International Film Festival Rotterdam (UK)
Damjana Finci, All Aboard (UK)
Keiko Funato, Co-CEO, Alpha Violet (France)
Colin Geddes, Former TIFF programmer, producer and consultant (Canada)
Ray Gillon, International Localisation Producer, attached Wa\rner Bros (UK)
Rita Goegebeur – Former General Manager Flanders Image and Chef de Projet Village Int’l (Belgium/France)
Martin Gondre, Sales Agent, Best Friends Forever (Belgium)
Mike Goodridge, Good Chaos (UK)
Arnaud Gourmelen, Program Manager, Angers Film Festival – Premiers Plans (France)
Robert Gray, Kinograph inc., Montréal, film festival adviser (Canada)
Gabor Greiner, Films Boutique (Germany)
Georg Gruber, Managing Director, MAGNETFILM (Germany)
Laufey Guðjónsdóttir, consultant (Iceland)
Bill Guentzler, Vice President – Acquisitions, Gravitas Ventures and former Artistic Director, Cleveland International Film Festival (USA)
Reta Guetg, Zurich Film Festival (Switzerland)
Tonje Hardersen, Festival Director – The Norwegian Int. Film Festival (Norway)
Moritz Hemminger, Head of Sales & Acquisitions, The Playmaker Munich (Germany)
Xavier Henry-Rashid, Film Republic (UK)
Todd Hitchcock, Director, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (USA)
Erwin Houtenbrink, Rotterdam Arab Film Festival, Doha Film Institute (Netherlands) Grainne Humphreys, Executive Director, Dublin International Film Festival (Ireland)
Sterre de Jong, Head of Professionals & Talent, Netherlands Film Festival (The Netherlands) Alexis Juncosa, Artistic Director, Luxembourg City Film Festival (Luxembourg)
Louise Keller, film journalist (Australia)
Alice Kharoubi – Marché du Film (France)
Katia Kirby, Deputy Artistic director, Series Mania (France)
Tine Klint – Founder & CEO LevelK (Denmark)
Nerina T. Kocjančič, Head of Promotion & Distribution, Slovenian Film Centre (Slovenia) Vladimir Kokh, Distributor, KMBO (France)
Milada Kolberg, X Verleih AG (Germany)
Jim Kolmar, Film Programmer, South by Southwest Film Festival (USA)
Kathrin Kohlstedde, Head of Programme Filmfest Hamburg (Germany)
Stephen Lan, Publicist (Canada)
Claudia Landsberger, Baseworx For Film (The Netherlands)
Anne Laurent-Delage, Executive Director (Austria)
Catherine Le Clef, President of CAT&Docs (France)
Agathe Lejeune, Acquisition Foreign Fictions, Canal+ (France)
Françoise Lentz (Luxembourg)
Ry Levey- Owner, RBL Films and Head of marketing and services, Ryan Bruce Levey Film & PR Services (Canada)
Marge Liiske, Head of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event (Estonia)
Tiina Lokk, Director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia)
Pia Lundberg (Sweden)
Jacqueline Lyanga, Executive Director & Founder, Global Cinematheque; US Delegate, Berlinale and former Director, AFI FEST, American Film Institute (USA)
Annick Maes, Managing Director CARTOON (Belgium)
Grégoire Marchal, distributor, KMBO (France)
Hrönn Marinósdóttir, director Reykjavik International Film Festival (Iceland)
Jovan Marjanovic, Sarajevo Film Festival (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Mallory Martin, Artistic Director, Cleveland International Film Festival (USA)
Nico Marzano, Former Head of Cinema ICA London / Current Member Selection Committee of the Rome Film Festival (UK/Italy)
Marian Masone, Curator, Film Art|Basel (USA)
Alex Masson, Delegate for France, Belgium and Canada, San Sebastian Film Festival (Spain)
Kathleen McInnis, See-Through Films, Strategic Publicist, Marketing Producer (USA)
Pierre Menahem, Still Moving (France)
Jean-Charles Mille, Managing Director, MPM Premium & Premium Films (France)
Wendy Mitchell, film festival consultant and writer (UK)
Lizette Gram Mygind – Festival Consultant, Feature Films (Denmark)
Gyda V. Myklebust, Head of New Nordic Films, The Norwegian Int. Film Festival in Haugesund (Norway)
Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director, Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland)
David Nugent, Artistic Director Hamptons International Film Festival (USA)Karel Och, Artistic Director, Karlovy Vary IFF (Czech Republic)
Stine Oppegaard, Manager, International Relations Feature Films (Norway)
Mohamed Ouasti, Producer/Head of Development at Benetone Films (Thailand) – Former Client Manager at Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes
Jérôme Paillard, Consultant, former head of Cannes Marché du Film (France)
Alejandra Paulín, Executive Director Los Cabos International Film Festival (México)
Martijn te Pas, e u R O P E doconsultancy / Mirage (Sweden)
Mimi Plauché, Artistic Director, Chicago International Film Festival (USA)
Zoé Protat, Director of programming, Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal (Canada)
Malika Rabahallah, Director of Filmfest Hamburg / former head of International Funding MOIN Filmfund (Germany)
Michael Rabehl, Director of Programming, Cinequest FIlm Festival (USA)
José Luis Rebordinos, Director, San Sebastian International Film Festival (Spain)
Jo Roddick, Split Screen (UK)
Anton Roebben, Producer Walking The Dog (Belgium)
Jan Roekens, former head of production at Screen Flanders (Belgium)
Jan Rofekamp, President/CEO Films Transit (Canada)
Deborah Rowland, Director of We Are The Tonic (UK)
Gabrielle Rozing, Managing Director, Imagine Film Distribution (The Netherlands)
Dennis Ruh, Director of the European Film Market (Germany)
Sara Rüster, Festival Consultant, Swedish Film Institute (Sweden)
An Rydant (Belgium)
Elad Samorzik, Artistic Director, Jerusalem Film Festival (Israel)
Markéta Santrochová, Head of Czech Film Center (Czech Republic)
Yianna Sarri, Director of Hellas Film, Greek Film Centre (Greece)
Maarten Schmidt, Producer and founder Storyhouse (Belgium)
Sophie Schoukens, Producer-Director (Belgium)
Ulrike Schroeder, Global Screen – A Telepool Brand (Germany)
Karel Segers, Writer, The Story Department (Australia)
Alissa Simon, Lead Programmer, Palm Springs International Film Festival (USA)
Shane Smith, Documentary Consultant and Festival Strategist, former Artistic Director, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (Canada)
Piet Sonck – Director/Producer, Gypsy Productions (Belgium)
Carl Spence, Artistic Director, Sonoma International Film Festival (USA)
Rastislav Steranka, Director National Cinematographic Centre, Slovak FIlm Institute (Slovakia)
Wallie Pollé, Marjolijn Prins, director (Belgium)
Chris Schouten, Head of programming Maritime Museum Rotterdam (former Head of programming IFFRotterdam) (The Netherlands)
Elma Tataragić, screenwriter and president of Association of Filmmakers (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Niklas Teng, LevelK (Denmark)
Andrew L Urban, film journalist, editor, author (Australia)
Godfried Van de Perre, former member of the committee, International Filmfestival Flanders- Ghent (Belgium)
Marit van den Elshout, FilmForward (The Netherlands)
Silvia van der Heiden, Netherlands Film Festival (Netherlands)
Ben Vandendaele, Sales agent, Radiator IP Sales (Belgium)
Bart Vandesompele – Former General Manager and Business Lead at International Filmfestival Vlaanderen Gent (Belgium)
Alexander Vandeputte, Lumière Cinemas (Belgium)
Michel J. Vandewalle, Managing Director, Atlas International Film (Germany)
Tom Van Avermaet, Director (Belgium)
Claire van Daal, Head of program Netherlands Film Festival (The Netherland)
Bas van der Ree – Netherlands Film Commission (The Netherlands)
Barbara Van Lombeek, Partner, THE PR FACTORY (Belgium)
Elise Van Marcke, Managing Partner Searchers (The Netherlands)
Mathieu Van Neck, former Flanders Image colleague (Belgium)
Alex Verbaere, Witebox (Belgium)
Laurence Verheijen, Former VAF colleague (Belgium)
Myrocia Watamaniuk, Senior International Programmer, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (Canada)
Henry Welsh, senior communications manager (Canada)
Susan Wendt, Managing Director, TrustNordisk (Denmark)
Ann-Kristin Westerberg – Former Sr. Vice President Int’l Sales – (Sweden)

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