'Black', the second feature by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fillah, is selected for the 42nd Film Fest Gent (13-24 Oct). The film features new faces such as Martha Canga Antonio and Aboubakr Bensaïhi. The film will have its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 11th and will be screened at Film Fest Gent on October 19th.
Worlds collide when Mavela, a teenage girl with ties to Brussels' Black Bronx gang, meets Marwan, a member of a rival Moroccan gang, at a police station. Keenly aware of the consequences of getting involved with someone from another gang, they at first resist their attraction to one another, but they can only resist for so long. Just when they've started to imagine a different life for themselves, a terrifying incident reminds Mavela where she belongs — and, more precisely, to whom. In order to break free, Mavela and Marwan will have to betray the very loyalties on which their gangs are founded. And they know what lies ahead for them if they don't.
Artistic director Patrick Duynslaegher: "El Arbi & Fallah's shorts were previously discovered and honored at Film Fest Gent. Now, only a few years later, they made their second feature, which we'll be presenting at the festival. They are both incredibly enthusiastic and passionate filmmakers, who delivered a truly contemporary, current and urgent film."
'Black' was written by Nele Meirhaeghe, in close cooperation with Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah. They were coached by director Hans Herbots. 'Black' was produced by Caviar, in co-production with a team productions and Climax Films.
The 42nd Film Fest Gent will run from 13 to 24 October in Kinepolis Ghent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Vooruit, KASKcinema, Bijloke and ’t Kuipke. Info & tickets on www.filmfestival.be.