20 - 29 January

In its 27th year, the Brussels festival seeks to reveal the wealth and diversity of European cinema and its contribution to world cinema. The year 2000 event will mark its 5th European Competition awarding the Crystal Star for best film, actor, actress and screenplay. The short film competition is in its 20th year and also awards its Crystal Star. In addition to the festival sidebars of America Meets Europe, World Kaleidoscope and Belgian Focus, the festival is paying tribute to André Delvaux who could be considered the father of modern Belgian cinema. Furthermore Brussels has the honors of launching the European Coordination of Film Festivals' heritage project 15 x 15. Fifteen European directors were to choose one film, which they consider important but little known or underrated outside its country. The selected films will be projected throughout Europe at festivals during the next two years.

Bringing their film are:
Gianni Amelio (Italy)
Theo Angelopoulos (Greece)
Jack Cardiff (UK)
Michael Haneke (Austria)
Marion Hänsel (Belgium)
Aki Kaurismäki (Finland)
Johan van der Keuken (The Netherlands)
Manoel de Oliveira (Portugal)
Ulrike Ottinger (Germany)
Donato Rotunno (Luxembourg)
Jim Sheridan (Ireland)
Bertrand Tavernier (France)
Lars von Trier (Denmark)
Jan Troell (Sweden)
Fernando Trueba (Spain)

The Official Selection has not yet been announced, but already programmed are Solas by Benito Zambrano (Spain), Rien a faire by Marion Vernoux (France), Holy Smoke by Jane Campion (Australia/USA), Mansfield Park by Patricia Rozema (United Kingdom/Canada), Bringing out the Dead by Martin Scorsese (USA) and American Beauty by Sam Mendes (USA).