Barlebas

A short musical film by Malu Janssen

Fixy
Short

When during the 1595 witch hunt on Brabant's Peel, the headstrong Heylken is also accused of witchcraft, she cannot escape her conviction but inspires the young Griet with her free spirit and powerful voice.

Composition, vocals and lead role: Pitou Nicolaes

BARLEBAS premiered at the Imagine Film Festival 2024.

Cast

Heylken • Pitou Nicolaes
Griet • Fay IJsseldijk
Phedra Vandenbergh • Neele
Annemarie Feltmann • Marie
Ko Zandvliet • Boer
Guido Pollemans • Vader Griet
Schepen • Rogier Schippers

Credits

script & director • Malu Janssen
cinematography • Sam du Pon
sound • Gedeon Depauw
edit • Nina Graafland
music • Pitou Nicolaes
production design • Iris Schuttevaar
costume design • Gera Brouwer
hair & make-up • Rianne Bakker
sound design & Mix • Gedeon Depauw
colourist • Peter Bernaers
production manager • Steffie Meijers
producer • FIXY, Janneke Doolaard, Sylvia Baan
Co-producer Belgium • Storyhouse, Maarten Schmidt
with support from • Nederlands Filmfonds, VAF, Cultuurfonds Gemeente 's Hertogenbosch

Festivals

Landshut Short Film Festival 2025 • selection Deadline_Award Competition
WENCH film festival, Mumbai 2025 • Shorts competition
Movies That Matter Film Festival 2025 • Shorts competition
Porto Femme International Film Festival 2025 • international shorts competition
Bref International Short Film Festival 2025 • Fight For Your Rights! competition
Festival Internacional de Cine de Huesca 2025 • International competition (Academy Award qualifying)
Nederlands-Vlaams Kortfilmfestival Tegenstroom 2025 • in competition
Raindance Film Festival 2025 • international competition (Academy Award Qualifying)
Shnit Internation Film Festival • Internation competition (Academy Award Qualifying)
Festival Tous Courts 2025 • International Competition

Prijzen

Fantasia International Film Festival 2025 • Best Film Award & Best Cinematography Award - International shorts competition


L'Europe autour de l'Europe 2025 • Prix Sauvage Corto for Best European Short


Festival Villa Del Cine 2025 • Best International Short Award


Torino Underground Cinefest 2025​ • Best Short Film Award


Brno16 International Short Film Festival 2025 • Audience Award


Festival Internacional De Cine De Derechos Humanos 2025 • Jury Special Mention, international shorts competition


International Film Festival Assen 2025 • KersVers Award for best film


Leuven International Short Film Festival 2024 • Audience Award for Best European Short


Imagine Film Festival 2024 • Mélies d'Argent for Best European Short

Stills