Julie Keeps Quiet, the debut feature film of director Leonardo van Dijl, is the official Belgian entry for the Academy Awards, the Oscars. The Belgian jury selected the film, known as 'Julie zwijgt' in Dutch, as Belgium’s candidate to win the coveted statuette for Best International Feature Film.
“Julie is my Trojan Horse - silent on the outside, but ready to change the world from the inside,” stated director Leonardo van Dijl. “By remaining silent, she forces us to listen, she assumes the underdog position and that makes her thoroughly Belgian. The honour of being the Oscar entry gives me the strength to keep going. I will do everything I can to ensure that Julie's silence has not been in vain and that our country is put on the map.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will assess the submitted films in the coming months. On 17 December, the shortlist will be compiled, of which a maximum of five will be nominated for an Oscar. The official nominations will be announced on 17 January 2025. The Oscars will be awarded on the night of Sunday 2 March to Monday 3 March 2025.