After winning the award for Best European Short Film for Children and Young Audiences at the Berlinale with “Luce and the Rock,” Flemish filmmaker Britt Raes is transforming the film into a series of 39 seven-minute episodes for Ketnet, the children’s channel of Belgian broadcaster VRT. The series is produced by Belgium’s Thuristar in collaboration with France’s La Cabane and France Télédvisions. International sales are managed by Cake Distribution.
The vibrant series follows the adventures of Luce, an inquisitive 6-year-old who opens her bedroom window each morning to discover the happenings in the Lovely Land. Each day unfolds new adventures that Luce shares with her unusual companion, a giant Rock. Together, they embark on explorations, encounter fascinating creatures, and learn to see the world from different perspectives. Each episode brings visual and narrative creativity to life, allowing Luce to view her surroundings in unique ways.
“Following the film’s festival success, we remained deeply attached to the characters and narrative,” Raes tells Variety before Mipcom. “It’s not often that you continue to love a project after putting so much time into it, but we did. I wanted to craft more stories. Together with my producer, we presented it to various networks.” The project found its home at Ketnet in 2023 and quickly received VAF funding, enabling the production team to work on the episodes through spring 2026.
Joining Raes as a co-director is French filmmaker Mathilde Prévost, who brings significant experience to the collaboration. “This is my first venture into something larger than a short film, so having someone with Mathilde’s background is immensely helpful. We support each other to build a strong foundation,” Raes expressed her gratitude for the partnership.
Discussing the brief seven-minute format for each episode, Raes explains that the choice was made with the target audience in mind. “This length allows us to share numerous charming stories while introducing various new characters. The short format affords us creative freedom that is quite different from feature filmmaking, where establishing a narrative and maintaining audience engagement takes precedence. Here, we cater to a younger audience, where attention spans are different. Plus, it feels like a natural extension of my work in short films.”
Producer Perrine Gauthier of Thuristar emphasizes the studio’s commitment to providing young viewers with high-caliber, meaningful content. “‘Luce and the Rock’ exemplifies this vision and represents a feel-good series that is desperately needed in today’s world, especially for children,” she noted.
When reflecting on the animation sector in Belgium, and specifically in Flanders, Raes points out the “significant evolution” she has observed over the past decade. “There are many ambitious individuals eager to tell stories and find ways to engage their audience. However, our funding system for series necessitates having a broadcaster involved, making us reliant on them. It’s not solely about talent and ambition; market access is essential.”
“I’ve taught at various universities in Belgium over the years and have noticed an increase in women pursuing animation,” Raes continued. “Interest in the field is growing, and there are inspiring role models for women, like Emma De Swaef, who directed ‘The House’ for Netflix. This representation is vital; it’s remarkable for young people to realize that someone from Flanders can achieve such success.”
“Luce and the Rock” is created and directed by Britt Raes and Mathilde Prévost, with production led by Perrine Gauthier for Thuristar in partnership with La Cabane, France Televisions, and VRT-Ketnet. This series is backed by the CNC, the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Procirep, Angoa, deAuteurs, and the Hiroshima Artist in Residence 2024 program.
