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Some 100 top 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.
“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.
The signatories 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 added that De Schutter had asked them not to write open letter but had 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 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 Warner 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)
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