Ghent, Belgium will host the 52nd edition of Film Fest Ghent from October 8 to October 19, 2025. The festival will feature over 100 films, many of which will be making their Belgian debut. This year's event will also mark the 25th anniversary of the World Soundtrack Awards (WSA), with a special gala concert scheduled for October 15. The Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé, will perform in tribute to composers A.R. Rahman and Philip Glass. Philip Glass and Michael Nyman will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards, and their music will be featured in the “Minimalism in Motion: Glass, Nyman and Beyond” concert on October 16. In 2023, Volker Bertelmann received the Composer of the Year award at the 23rd World Soundtrack Awards ceremony. Nominees for the 2025 Composer of the Year award include Ariel Marx, Hania Rani, Elton John, and Alberto Iglesias.
The festival's cinematic program includes "Julian" by Cato Kusters as the opening film and Harris Dickinson's directorial debut "Urchin" as the closing film. "Julian" had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025. Director Cato Kusters previously won an award at this festival for her short film "Finn's Heel" in 2022. "Urchin" had its world premiere on May 17, 2025, in Cannes, where Dickinson received the FIPRESCI prize and lead actor Frank Dillon won Best Actor. The film is set for a UK release on October 3, 2025. These selections, along with a diverse range of features, shorts, and documentaries, will be screened across various venues in Ghent.
Film Fest Ghent continues to serve as a platform for both emerging and established talent in the film industry. It is the largest film festival in Belgium, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. The World Soundtrack Awards, established in 2001, celebrate the art of film music and are a significant part of the festival's identity. In 2025, the WSA will celebrate its 25th anniversary, further cementing the festival's reputation as a premier destination for film and music enthusiasts.