Michaël R. Roskam
Directing
Biography
As a (very) young man Michael R. Roskam was passionate about graphic novels, comic-strips and cinema. Inspired by the great Belgian tradition of comic-strip artists like Hergé, he decided to become a comic-strip artist himself and went to St-Lucas Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels. There he discovered painting and contemporary art. He graduated but also got involved into writing fiction - meanwhile keeping his passion for the image alive by drawing and experimenting with video. After several jobs as a journalist (@ De Morgen, newspaper) and a copywriter (@ Saatchi&Saatchi, advertising), he wrote a script for a short film. By directing this himself he returned to the roots of his creative urge: cinema. The result was his first short movie: "HAUN". He finally found out what he'd always been looking for: movement. Since then he worked as a moviemaker. "CARLO" (prod. CCCP), his second short, won several prizes at national and international festivals and was shown on different tv-channels and movie theatres in Europe. His third short "THE ONE THING TO DO" (prod. CCCP) premiered in December 2005 at the Leuven International Shortfilm Festival were the film won the Audience Award. In November 2007 he went to L.A. to shoot TODAY IS FRIDAY (prod. SAVAGE FILM/M. ROSKAM), a short film based on an Ernest Hemingway story.
Known For
As Jimmy Keene begins a 10-year prison sentence, he gets an incredible offer: If he can elicit a confession from suspected killer Larry Hall, Jimmy will be freed. Completing this mission becomes the challenge of a lifetime.
Black Bird
Bob Saginowski finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living - no matter the cost.
The Drop
Each short story plays in the same setting with 2 characters, each on their side of the glass of the visitors area from a prison that them (and also the world) divides.
Lockdown
When Gino meets racing driver Bénédicte, it's love at first sight. But Gino has a secret. The kind of secret that can endanger their lives.
Racer and the Jailbird
A young cattle farmer is approached by an unscrupulous veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious beef trader.
Bullhead
November 1943, German-occupied Belgium. In the face of grave danger if caught, the Independent Front, a Belgian resistance organization, publishes a spoof edition of Le Soir to satirize the German occupiers and the nation’s main propaganda-controlled newspaper. Le Faux Soir is considered the first act of media hacking in history.
Le faux soir
Nicky breaks both of his feet, and asks his cousin Carlo to stand in for him during a footballmatch. But when Carlo is picked up on the day of the match, he gets in the wrong car.
Carlo
Edward Monskii, is in a very bad shape, and Botter Gaarman, obviously tired, are in the terrace of a coffee of a Mediterranean city, ready for a long time prepared mission. When a quite old man, Ernest Carpentier, joined their table, the situation becomes tense and dangerous.
The One Thing to Do
Star of the 'Emmanuelle' 70's soft-porn movie franchise, Sylvia Kristel goes from troubled child to being launched into international stardom. Her powerful charisma propels her both to the heights and depths of fame.
Untitled Sylvia Kristel Biopic
Short film is set on a dark and deserted location at two o'clock at night. In the light of the streetlamps, we see how a man has been severely beaten up. To revenge him, his friend gives the assailants a dressing down. The four men attract the attention of curious motorists driving by.
Haun!
A short film about our climate, our conscience and our future.