The Barefoot Emperor
Synopsis
The Barefoot Emperor tells how the last king of the Belgians became the first European emperor.
In King of the Belgians, the king saw his kingdom crumble. In this sequel, the king is shot in the ear in Sarajevo and wakes up in the summer residence of Tito, the former Yugoslav president, on an island off the west coast of Croatia.
He tries to escape, but is restrained and then named the first emperor of European nationalist Nova by a special delegation. However, the king no longer wants his life to be dictated by others and he decides to take his destiny into his own hands.
Technical sheet
Director: Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth
Casting: Peter Van den Begin, Geraldine Chaplin, Lucie Debay, Titus De Voogdt, Bruno Georis, Udo Kier
Run Time: 98 minutes
Year: 2020
A Bo Films production
In co-production with Wajnbrosse, Topkapi (Netherlands), Propeler (Croatia) and Art Fest (Bulgaria)
With the support of the Center du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (CCA), the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government, the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Eurimages, Flanders Image & Connext, Lumière Invest, Netherlands Film Fund (NFF), Croatian Audiovisuel Center (HAVC), Bulgarian National FIlm Center (BNFC), VOO & BETV, Telenet, Be For Films, Canvas, Lumière, Zagreb Film Festival, RFF International
THE BAREFOOT EMPEROR Trailer | TIFF 2019
"(...) denouncing the return of fascism in Europe The Barefoot Emperor is devilishly interesting"
La Libre
“The Barefoot Emperor is a satire, a dystopia in a future that seems so present, a potentially chilling political farce, both the themes addressed and the abuses denounced seem realistic. "
Cinevox
“ The barefoot Emperor tackles a serious subject with humor and poetry. "
RTBF
“A touching feel-good movie, fresh and full of humanity. "
AlloCine
FESTIVALS
Film Fest Gent 2019 (Ghent, Belgium);
TIFF 2019 (Toronto, Canada);
Torino Film Fest 2020 (Turin, Italy);
Palm Springs International Film Festival (United States);
As well as 28 other festivals including Warsaw, Seville, Avanca, Tallinn, Göteborg, Mediterranean FF, Odessa FF, Cairo, Chicago, Shanghai and Taipei
AWARDS
Awards
Special mention - Avanca Film Festival 2019
Joseph Plateau Honorary Award for Geraldine Chaplin - Filmfest Gent 2020
Golden Arenas for Best Film - Pula FF 2020
Golden Arenas for Best Director - Pula FF 2020
Golden Arenas for Best Actor - Pula FF 2020
Audience Award - AFI European Union Film Showcase 2020
Nominations
Grolsch People's Choice Award - TIFF 2019
Eurimages Award Best European Co -production - Festival de Seville 2020
Best International Feature & ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman & Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award - Cleveland IFF 2020
FEDEORA Jury Prize - Pula FF 2020