13-23 nov 2025
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The Sessions
Program per day
The Sessions

The Sessions

De sessies
Sien Versteyhe
Belgium
2025
71 min
World Premiere
Luminous
Tickets & Times
Synopsis

A young student undergoing trauma therapy recounts how she was raped by someone she trusted. The camera focuses on the therapist’s face, and we never see the anonymous speaker. The Sessions unfolds almost entirely in this space, where the young woman speaks openly about the impact of the rape. Outside the therapy room she doesn’t dare speak to anyone else about it—only her boyfriend knows what happened.

Throughout this period, her rapist is being questioned by the police. We don’t see these interrogations taking place, but we do hear about them in phone calls between the young woman and the court. They can tell her very little, and the police also prove to be of little help to her.

While she suffers every day from what was done to her, it looks like he’s going to get away with it. Her conversations with the therapist and the legal system provide insight into the long and difficult healing process that follows sexual violence.

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Tickets & Times
Fri, november 14
18:00 – 19:28
Tuschinski 2
Film fully subtitled in English

Sat, november 15
Press & Industry Screening, Passholders only
12:15 – 13:30
Pathé City 2
Film fully subtitled in English

Sat, november 15
Film screening followed by a talk, hosted by De Balie.
20:00 – 21:48
De Balie: Grote Zaal
Film fully subtitled in English

Sun, november 16
21:30 – 23:03
Ketelhuis: Zaal 1
Film fully subtitled in English

Mon, november 17
14:15 – 15:48
Tuschinski 5
Film fully subtitled in English

Thu, november 20
18:45 – 20:18
Ketelhuis: Zaal 3
Film fully subtitled in English

Sun, november 23
16:45 – 18:01
Eye: Cinema 1
Film fully subtitled in English
Credits
71 min
color
DCP
Spoken languages: Dutch
Director
    Sien Versteyhe
    Sien Versteyhe
Production
    Wouter Sap for Lionheart Productions
    Wouter Sap for Lionheart Productions
Co-production
    Simon Vrebos for VRT
    Simon Vrebos for VRT
Cinematography
    Sien Versteyhe
    Sien Versteyhe
Editing
    Dieter Diependaele
    Dieter Diependaele
Sound Design
    Thomas Vertongen
    Thomas Vertongen
Music
    Patricia Vanneste
    Patricia Vanneste
Screenplay
    Sien Versteyhe
    Sien Versteyhe
Involved TV Channel
    VRT
    VRT
Screening copy
    Lionheart Productions
    Lionheart Productions
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