San Sebastián Film Festival Unveils Closing Film

The San Sebastián International Film Festival has announced that Michaël R. Roskam’s WWII feature film ‘Le Faux Soir’ will be the closing film of this year’s festival, which is set to take place from September 18 to 26.

Le Faux Soir is a historical drama directed by Belgian filmmaker Michaël R. Roskam, who is known for his critically acclaimed films such as ‘Bullhead’ and ‘Racer and the Jailbird’. The film is based on the book ‘Le “faux” Soir, 9 novembre 1943’ by Marie Istas.

The story is set in 1943, when the Nazis occupied Belgium and turned the national newspaper ‘Le Soir’ into a propaganda tool. A group of resistance fighters came up with a wild idea to print a fake edition of the newspaper, mocking the occupier in what some historians consider to be the first-ever media hack.

Le Faux Soir features an ensemble cast, including Arieh Worthalter, Mélanie Thierry, Karim Leklou, Mara Taquin, Bouli Lanners, Julien Frison, and François Damiens.

Roskam has a personal connection to the subject matter, having worked as a journalist for the Flemish newspaper ‘De Morgen’ before becoming a film director. His film credits include the shorts ‘Carlo’ (2004) and ‘The One Thing to Do’ (2005). He made his feature film debut with ‘Bullhead’ (2011), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best International Film.

Roskam has been part of the San Sebastián Festival Official Selection in 2014 with ‘The Drop’, starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, and James Gandolfini. The film won the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay. His 2017 feature ‘Racer and the Jailbird’ screened in Venice out of competition and was selected to represent Belgium at the Academy Awards.

In 2021, Roskam directed the first three episodes of the miniseries ‘Black Bird’, starring Taron Egerton.

The San Sebastián Film Festival has a long history of showcasing innovative and critically acclaimed films from around the world. This year’s festival promises to be an exciting and memorable event, with ‘Le Faux Soir’ being a highlight of the closing night.

The film’s screening at the San Sebastián Film Festival follows its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Le Faux Soir is set to be a major highlight of the festival, and audiences are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see this powerful and thought-provoking film.

As the festival draws to a close, ‘Le Faux Soir’ is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike.