Gérard Lanvin and Jean-Claude Van Damme reunited at the FIFCL photocall / © Thibault Trillet
2024
The Liège International Comedy Film Festival (FIFCL) welcomed a host of renowned guests, including Lambert Wilson, Sarah Perles, Valérie Bonneton, Carole Bouquet, Mariloup Wolfe, Gad Elmaleh, Mara Bestelli, Benoît Poelvoorde and Christian Clavier. This year’s event attracted 21,441 festival-goers, 267 guests and nearly 600 film professionals.
The prestigious Golden Bull was awarded to Kneecap, a comedy-drama by director Rich Peppiatt, distributed in Belgium by September Film Distribution.
In addition, the CineComedies Lab writing residency was placed under the patronage of Victoria Bedos, and the first co-production forum was held in partnership with Wallimage, marking a key step for the future of the festival.
2023
The FIFCL strengthens its professional base with the Espace Pro Uhoda, a venue dedicated to meetings and exchanges: press and editorial room, CineComedies Lab writing residency, partnership with Europe Créative, cinema training and careers fair, and themed debates, including an exclusive interview with Cédric Kahn.
On the glamorous side, the festival welcomes prestigious guests such as Nathalie Baye, Franck Dubosc, Dany Boon, Valérie Lemercier, Bouli Lanners and many others, attracting 19,525 festival-goers. Gérard Lanvin creates a surprise by appearing alongside Benoît Poelvoorde, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Olivier Marchal.
Rencontres professionnelles, hosted by Philippe Reynaert, discusses the future of movie theaters with major industry players, including Kinepolis Group, UGC and Brightfish.
2022
FIFCL celebrates the 30th anniversary of C’est arrivé près de chez vous with a memorable evening featuring Benoît Poelvoorde, Vincent Tavier and André Bonzel. Poelvoorde emotionally received his very first award, won in 1993 at the Sitges Festival but never recovered.
The festival also features a number of high-profile encounters with André Dussollier, Karin Viard, Kev Adams, Christian Clavier and Patrick Bruel, attracting large audiences. Other prestigious guests include Bernard Farcy, Gérard Jugnot, Jean-Pierre Castaldi and the Caméra Café team.
The partnership with the CineComedies Festival has been strengthened, notably through the CinéComédie Lab writing residency, sponsored by Benoît Mariage.
With 18,433 festival-goers, the FIFCL confirms its position as Europe’s leading festival dedicated to comedy.
2021
In 2021, the FIFCL Rencontres Professionnelles take a decisive turn in partnership with GRE-Liège. Under the theme “Il est grand temps de prendre la Comédie au sérieux!”, experts and major players in the sector, including Wallimage, Umedia and RTBF, will exchange views in the presence of Willy Borsus, Vice-President of Wallonia.
After the health crisis, the public responded massively, with 15,221 festival-goers. The festival welcomes prestigious guests such as François Berléand, Clovis Cornillac, Michaël Youn, Kev Adams and Virginie Hocq.
Highlight: Élie Semoun delights children with Ducobu président! at the Cinéma Palace, bringing laughter and magic to the youngest spectators.
2020
It was only ten days before the start of the festival that Covid brought all the preparations to a halt, forcing the festival management and the city of Liège to cancel the 2020 edition, for which Pascal Légitimus was to have chaired the jury.
Nevertheless, the festival decided to maintain the digital short film competition. The jury, chaired by Ambre Grouwels, deliberates and awards prizes to the various winners. A total of 1,165 festival-goers participated and logged on to the platform. Laurence Oltuski and Michel Crémadès completed the jury.
A number of exceptional guests were confirmed, including Karin Viard, Nicolas Bedos, Édouard Baer and the legend Jackie Chan.
2019
In 2019, FIFCL innovates with the launch of its Plateau-Télé and the inauguration of the Liège Walk of Fame slabs, located on rue Pont d’Avroy. The festival passes a new milestone, attracting 10,458 spectators.
The number of guests is growing all the time: Mylène Demongeot, Bruno Solo, Thierry Lhermitte, Gérard Jugnot, Élie Semoun and many others come to present their films and chat with the public.
The festival is rewarded for its dynamism, receiving the Best Event of the Year 2019 award from the Union Professionnelle des Métiers de la Communication.
2018
In 2018, the FIFCL is launching “La Comédie” craft lager beer, in collaboration with local brewery Brasse & Vous, in a bid to strengthen its regional roots. The festival enjoys growing success, attracting 8,452 festival-goers. Prestigious guests include Stéphane Guillon, Jonathan Cohen, Josiane Balasko, Alex Lutz and many others.
At the same time, FIFCL is teaming up with the Solidaris mutual insurance company to organize a conference on the health benefits of laughter, hosted by Michel Cymes, Bruno Humbeeck and Steven Laureys.
2017
During its 2ᵉ edition, the FIFCL undergoes rapid expansion and growing influence. Gérard Darmon chairs the jury after Éric Judor, and the festival welcomes prestigious guests such as Frédéric Diefenthal, Catherine Jacob, Michèle Laroque, and many others.
Édouard Waintrop, General Delegate of the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, also attends the event. With 5,589 festival-goers in attendance, the festival offers a great opportunity to discover films and meet guests in Liege’s cinemas.
2016 - The start of a new adventure
In 2015, ASBL Cinélabel launched the initial steps that would lead to the creation of the Liège International Comedy Film Festival (FIFCL) in 2016. For this first edition, the festival welcomes many guests, including Daniel Prévost, Éric Judor, Guy Lecluyse, Mourade Zeguendi, Dominique Pinon and many others, attracting 2,563 festival-goers.
Bouli Lanners hosts a conference on Tax Shelter in partnership with BDO, while Olivier Gourmet gives a masterclass on artist status in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Alda Greoli, in collaboration with UCM.
They were
in the spotlight
© Aurore Nivelle – Fanny Demaret – Renaud Gavroy
The Presidents
of FIFCL
Since 2016, Carole Bouquet, Gérard Darmon, Éric Judor and Mylène Demongeot have had the honor of chairing the international jury.
© Fanny Demaret, Aurore Nivelle, Gilles Charlier, Thibault Trillet, Renaud Gavroy, Olivier Breuer, Baudouin Litt, Valentin Conraads