The French event dedicated to the cinematographic approach in filmmaking, ended on March the 16th 2008. ASEM films, and particularly ASEM films from Asian filmmakers, often find their goers there.

With a programme consisting in homage’s to prominent filmmakers such as the Malaysian “Enfant Terrible” Amir Muhammad”, and a Philippines production represented by Raya Martin, Arleen Cuevas and Lav Diaz (this year also jury member the International competition); the South East Asian section of the festival was completed by a retrospective of Indonesian political films.

The festival “Cinéma du Réel” competitive sections presented short, medium and feature length documentaries, produced between 2007 and 2008. The films that participated in the competitive sections were shown in France for the first time.

“SAN” by Du Haibin (China) received the Cinema du Reel Grand Prix, ex aequo with the German production “HOLUNDERBLÜTE”, by Volker Koepp. Two other Asian films from ASEM countries have received other awards in the competitive section: ”INVISIBLE CITY” by Tan Pin Pin (Singapore), and “LISTENER’S TALE” by the young Indian filmmaker Arghya Basu.

Awarded films from ASEM Europe included a Romanian production ” PODUL DE FLORI” by Thomas Ciulei (Romania), which was attributed the Library Award and received also an honorable mentions. “GUGARA” , a Polish movie by Jacek Naglowski and Andrzej Dybczak received the Intangible Heritage Award.

“QIAN MEN QIAN” by Olivier Meys, is a Belgian awarded film on the destruction of the last hutong – the traditional Chinese family houses – in the Qianmen district, in Beijing. “What will tourists visit after you’ ll have demolished all the hutongs?.. Skyscapers that they already have home?” The old man who asked the question to the responsible of the construction site is hopeless. It is already too late, a wall decorated – ancient style is hidding the ruines, the Olympic games will start soon.

The film by Olivier Meys shows once again the growing interest in the Belgian French Community for Asian subjects. “QIAN MEN QIAN” also reinforces the more than ten years success for Belgian movies at international festivals.