Brussels’ cultural season is shaping up to be particularly film-centric. From September 4 to 12, 2026, the Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) will once again take over several of the capital’s iconic venues for nine days of screenings, meet-and-greets, and festive events. And the first announcement already sets the tone: the festival will open with one of the year’s most talked-about films.
A fall season dedicated to great cinema
Every year, BRIFF transforms Brussels into a veritable playground for lovers of the seventh art. For this ninth edition, the festival once again promises a clever mix of previews, competitions, international discoveries, and Belgian cinema.
The festivities will take place primarily at the UGC De Brouckère, the Cinéma Palace, and the Cinéma Galeries, which have become the festival’s headquarters over the years. True to its DNA, BRIFF aims to bring together both discerning film buffs and the general public through an eclectic and accessible program. Free outdoor screenings at Mont des Arts, as well as a festive village set up on Place De Brouckère, will also liven up the city center throughout the event.
A Cannes sensation to kick off the festivities
The festival will kick off on September 4 with *Notre Salut*, the new feature film by Belgian director Emmanuel Marre. Winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the last Cannes Film Festival and already praised by the international press, the film stands out as one of the most anticipated releases of this fall’s film season.
Following *Rien à foutre*, which premiered at Cannes in 2021, Emmanuel Marre returns with an ambitious epic that blends grand history with personal narrative. The film * * follows Henri Marre in 1940s France, as the Vichy regime gradually takes hold. The cast features Swann Arlaud and Sandrine Blancke in the lead roles.
The icing on the cake: the film’s cast and crew will be in attendance at the opening screenings held at the Palace and the UGC De Brouckère.
A festival that brings Brussels to life for nine days
At the heart of this edition, the BRIFF competitions highlight creativity in all its forms. The International Competition presents powerful stories such as *Notre Salut *by Emmanuel Marre, *Rose* by Markus Schleinzer, and *Chronicles From The Siege*. In the National Competition, Belgian vitality shines through in the offbeat comedy *Ceci n’est pas un film français* by Tom Adjibi, *Frontera*, and *Radio Bonheur*. Finally, Directors’ Week sets its sights onemerging European talent with unique works such as*Iván & Hadoum* and *Home Stories*.
At the same time, the out-of-competition program offers a tailored exploration. It centers on an “Ireland Focus” with folk-inspired themes, the socially conscious “Green Planet” section organized in collaboration with the À travers champs festival, and the “Once Upon a Time” retrospective dedicated to the great female directors of the past. Between the Belgian Panorama, highly anticipated Special Screenings, a Family section, outdoor screenings, and concerts, every festivalgoer will find a reason to celebrate the art of cinema!
Check out the full program for this magnificent celebration of the big screen!
