Hof der dingen - James Ensor’s glasses: seeing the world through his eyes

Does the name of James Ensor ring any bells? The West Flemish painter and printmaker lived in Ostend most of his life – the coastal town often referred to as Queen of the Coastal Cities. He had an important influence on the development of expressionism and surrealism. But did you know that one of the most prestigious film and television awards was named in his honour? 

The Ensors are to Flanders what the Oscars are to the United States. The awards are announced every year during the closing night of the Ostend Film Awards. 

The festival was organised for the first time in 2007 under the name ‘Flemish Movie Awards’ with none other than Belgian rock singer Arno as its inaugural guest of honour. Since 2012, the awards have carried the name Ensors – as part of their rebranding. 

To qualify for nomination, films need to be released between the beginning of August of the previous year and the end of July in the award year. Since 2018, the Ensors also include television shows. The Audience Award – to some, the most important award to take home - is determined by public vote. Notable fact is that since 2022, the acting categories have become gender-neutral, which implies that no distinction is made between male and female performers. 

The Ensor Academy, responsible for selecting all laureates, now include over 1700 voting members from across the Flemish Audiovisual Industry. Today, the Ensors have become a symbol of international recognition of the Flemish Audiovisual Sector while also becoming more well-known by the public. 

Recipients for the award take home a sculpture designed by Ostend artist Yves Velter. The one you’re seeing here was donated to us by Peter Craeymeersch, director for Tourism and Kursaal Oostende- a driving force behind the Ostend Film Festival.