Skiff by Cecilia Verheyden sets sail for international film festivals

Brussels, October 6, 2025. Skiff, the new feature film by Cecilia Verheyden starring Femke Vanhove, has been selected for several international film festivals, including the Just Film section of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (November 7–23, 2025), the leading film festival in the Baltic states and one of the most important industry gatherings in Northern Europe.

In addition to this selection, the film is also part of Europe Voices of Women Plus in Film at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival (October 2–12), the Oculus Aurora section at Mexico’s Transmutación Festival de Cine Contemporáneo (October 1–7), and the Gijón International Film Festival in Spain (November 14–22) and a dozen more festivals planned that still have to be announced.

With Skiff, Cecilia Verheyden (Ferry, Rough Diamonds, Malditos) brings a deeply personal story to the big screen for the first time, with a screenplay co-written by Vincent Vanneste. The leading roles are played by rising talents Femke Vanhove (Geldwolven) and Lina Miftah (Baraki), supported by established actors Natali Broods (Tabula Rasa, Skunk) and Jeroen Van der Ven (Undercover, Rough Diamonds).

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Malou grows up in a small town where she excels at the local rowing club. Her mother isn't home a lot, and within the rowing team she feels excluded. Only with her brother Max can she truly be herself. When Malou develops feelings for his girlfriend Nouria, she becomes entangled in a confusing love triangle. During a summer filled with desire and rivalry, Malou is torn between family ties and the search for her own identity. To fully embrace who she is, she must make choices that risk her bond with Max.

Skiff is produced by Mirage (BE), in co-production with Lemming Film (NL), Grand Slam (SE), Les Films du Fleuve (BE) and VRT. The film was made with the support of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) of the Flemish Government, the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Shelter via Flanders Tax Shelter, Screen Flanders, the Netherlands Film Fund and the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, the Swedish Film Institute, Eurimages, and Creative Europe – MEDIA of the European Union.

French company Outplay Films handles the international sales, while Dutch FilmWorks and Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD) will release the film in Benelux in spring 2026.

Riema Reybrouck

Riema Reybrouck

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