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

IMAGINE Fantastic Film Festival • Competition Mélies d'argent
won Mélies d'Argent, best short European film 2024
KORTFILMFESTIVAL Leuven • European Competition
Audience award best short film 2024
Landshut Short Film Festival 2025 • selection Deadline_Award Competition
WENCH film festival, Mumbai 2025 • Shorts competition

International Film Festival Assen 2025 • KersVers Award for best film


Movies That Matter Film Festival 2025 • Shorts competition


L'Europe autour de L'Europe 2025 • Short Film 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

Stills