Belga Films

Belga Films is a Belgian film production and distribution company founded in 1937 by Elyse Tobback. As the oldest film distributor in Belgium, it has played a pivotal role in both the local and international film markets. The company is involved in film distribution, production, and theatrical exhibition, with a strong presence in the Benelux region.

Belga Films has expanded its operations through acquisitions, partnerships, and the development of its production arm, Belga Studios, as well as its subsidiary nWave Studios.

History

Formation

Belga Films was founded in 1937 by Elyse Tobback, making it the oldest independent film distribution company in Belgium. The company initially focused on distributing both local and international films, establishing itself as a key player in Belgian cinema with titles such as '' Berlingot and Company'' (1939), ''Cyrano de Bergerac'' (1946), and '' The Man in My Life'' (1951). In this period, Tobback's brother-in-law, Luc Hemelaer, joined the company.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Belga Films widened its distribution portfolio to include a wider range of international films, such as '' An Impudent Girl'' (1985), '' Vagabond'' (1985), '' Billy Ze Kick'' (1985), '' Chronicle of a Death Foretold'' (1987). At the same time, the company remained committed to promoting local Belgian cinema and played an active role in the early development of video distribution in Wallonia.

Expansion

Since 1998, Patrick Vandenbosch, grandson of Luc Hemelaer, has served as the chief executive officer of Belga Films, while Jérôme de Béthune has held the position of chief operating officer, overseeing the company's operations. In a significant restructuring, Vandenbosch and Alexandre Lippens acquired the company's shares from RTL Group, re-establishing Belga Films as an independent entity. This acquisition marked the beginning of a new phase for Belga Films, with a shift in strategy towards more selective acquisitions and a reduction in the number of films released annually. The company aimed to focus on more targeted content, rather than maintaining a broad release slate.

Alongside its distribution activities, Belga Films has expanded into film production through Belga Studios. The company's productions have included titles based on established franchises, such as '' The Yellow "M"'' based on the '' Blake and Mortimer'' series, and '' The Einstein Enigma'', a thriller adapted from the novel by José Rodrigues dos Santos. Additionally, the company entered the cinema exhibition market with the launch of White Cinema in Brussels and Médiaciné in Liège.

Acquisitions

In 2022, Belga Films acquired full ownership of Independent Films, a Dutch distribution company with which it had previously maintained a 50/50 partnership. This acquisition integrated Dutch film development and distribution into Belga's operations, allowing the company to release films in both the Belgian and Dutch markets under a unified structure. It also enabled Belga to expand its operations in the Netherlands and develop more Dutch-language content. Before this acquisition, Belga Films and Independent Films had collaborated for over two decades, with Belga handling the distribution of Independent Films' titles in Belgium and vice versa in the Netherlands.

Belga Films also maintains an interest in the animation sector through its shareholding in nWave Studios, a Belgian animation studio. Notable productions from nWave include ''Bigfoot Family'' (2020) and ''Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness'' (2022). This partnership reflects Belga's strategy to diversify its portfolio and strengthen its presence in the animation sector.

Assets

As of 2023, Belga Films' subsidiaries and affiliated entities include:
* Belga Pictures – a limited liability company focusing on film production and distribution.
* Belga Studios – a limited liability company engaged in developing and funding feature films.
* Independent Films – a public limited company specializing in Dutch film distribution.
* Médiaciné – a public limited company managing cinema operations in Liège.
* nWave Studios – a public limited company known for producing 3D animated films.
* White Cinema – a limited liability company operating a cinema chain in Brussels.

References

External links

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Belgian companies established in 1937
Belgian film studios
Cinema chains in Belgium
Film distributors of Belgium
Film production companies of Belgium
Mass media companies established in 1937
Mass media in Brussels
1937 establishments in Belgium