Marc-Henri Wajnberg


Marc-Henri Wajnberg is a Belgian film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, and co-founder and CEO of Wajnbrosse Productions. His work is diverse and has received over 100 international awards.
Wajnberg made 2700 short films – including the famous collection Clapman broadcast worldwide in the 1980s. His short film Le Réveil starring Jean-Claude Dreyfus won an award in Cannes in 1996.
Wajnberg's first feature film Just Friends was the [List of Belgians|Belgian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Belgian submission] for Best Foreign Language Film at the 66th Academy Awards. He also directed and produced numerous award-winning documentaries including Oscar Niemeyer, An architect committed to his century , and Evgueni Khaldei, photographer under Stalin . He coproduced the Lars Von Trier movie,The Five Obstructions.
Wajnberg also directed and produced the feature film Kinshasa Kids, which premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival, and more recently the documentary I am Chance which was nominated for an award at the États généraux du film documentaire and at the 12th Magritte Awards ceremony.
Wajnberg also created, directed and produced the VR 360 film Kinshasa Now which premiered at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.

Filmography

1978: Writes, directs and produces Happy as a child in water – Documentary – 50' on the birth of violence1980–1981: Writes, directs, plays and produces Professor Adelard – Children's series on amusing physics, 12 episodes of 3'30"1983: Writes, directs and produces the collection CLAP – 1200 shorts of 8", broadcast daily for several years in 50 countries1984: Co-writes and co-directs with Eric Angelini Fume, c'est du belge – 10' 1985: Writes, directs, plays and produces Flash Back - 8' feature film project1987: Writes, directs and produces for Canal+ Three-cushion billiards – 26' documentary with Josse de Pauw, featuring the world champion Ludo Dielis and runner-up Richard Bitalis1988:
  • * Co-writes and co-directs with Eric Angelini Fume, c'est du belge - 4x5'
  • * Directs the short film The family Picnic - 7' with Eve Bonfanti, Francine Lafineuse, Patrick Walleffe1989:
  • * Writes, directs and produces the collection Wolinski – 40x20" sexy cartoon series based on the drawings of Georges Wolinski
  • * Writes and directs the collection Les derniers philosophes – 50x2' live series based on the drawings of Georges Wolinski
  • * Writes and directs most of the films for the launching of Canal+ Belgium : The first three minutes, The decoders, Les ricains, The directors1990–1991: Writes, directs and produces the collection Mr Almaniak – 365x50" series, broadcast daily for several years in 25 countries1992–1993: Writes, directs and produces the feature-length film Just Friends starring Charles Berling, Josse De Pauw, Ann-Gisel Glass and Sylvie Milhaud1996: Writes, directs and produces the short film The Alarm Clock – 7' with Jean-Claude Dreyfus1997: Writes, directs and produces the documentary Evgueni Khaldei, photographer under Stalin – 59'1998–1999:
  • * Writes, directs and produces the documentary Around the world in 80 beers – 58' with Jean-Claude Dreyfus and Marc-Henri Wajnberg
  • * Writes and directs two commercials : Tango as part of the advertising campaign Parisienne People by famous directors
  • * Writes and directs four commercials for the Swiss cigarette brand Sélect – 15"2000: Writes, directs and produces the documentary Oscar Niemeyer, an architect committed to his century - 59'2001-2002-2003:
  • * Co-produces the feature-length film The five obstructions by Lars Von Trier and Joergen Leth
  • * Conceives and produces Kaleidoscope, looking at life frames - 33x26' documentary series
  • * Writes and directs The Cruiseliner "SS Norway," Caribbean #3 – Coll. Kaleidoscope, 26'
  • * Writes and directs Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in Brussels #1 – Coll. Kaleidoscope, 26'
  • * Writes and directs Vite lu, bien lu – commercials for Swiss Newspaper "Le Matin"2004-2005-2006:
  • * Writes, directs and produces Bollywood-Mumbai India #33 – Coll. Kaleidoscope, 26'
  • * Writes, directs and produces Nanotechnologia, the movie – 26' fiction/documentary on the revolution of nanosciences
  • * Writes, directs and produces Denpasser market, Bali, Indonesia #21 – Coll. Kaleidoscope, 26'2007-2008-2009:
  • * Writes, directs and produces BAF! – 6' fiction
  • * Writes, directs and produces La ligne – series of 1000 shorts of 11 seconds – animation
  • * Screenwriting of the feature-length film San Mao2010-2011-2012:
  • * Writes, directs and produces Kinshasa Kids - 86' feature-length film
  • * Writes, directs and produces Portrait of Kinshasa - Web-documentary for ARTE
  • * Concert captation Drumming, un concert de Music Fund 2013-2014-2015:
  • * Co-writes with Eric Angelini the feature-length film The Perfect Movie - 90'
  • * Writes and develops the documentary series Fêtes folles dans un monde fou - 6x26'
  • * Writes, directs and produces the documentary Sorcerer children, Kinshasa – 52' 2016–2017:
  • * Writes, develops and directs the documentary series Stolen Childhood – 5x26'
  • * Creates and produces the essay of the VR 360° transmedia experience Being a Shégué
  • * Develops the Kinshasa Now platform and the VR experience Being a Shégué
  • * Develops the feature-length film The Perfect Movie – 90’
  • * Writes and develops the TV series ''SQUAD''

Awards

I am Chance

The documentary was nominated for an award at 41 festivals worldwide, including the renown États généraux du film documentaire and the 12th Magritte Awards ceremony. It won 13 international awards.

Kinshasa Now

The film was nominated for an award at 44 festivals worldwide, including the Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered. It won 18 international awards.

Sorcerer children of Kinshasa

Public Award – Ciné Droit Libre Festival – Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso – 2014Special Mention of the Jury - Ciné Droit Libre Festival – Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso – 2014

[Kinshasa Kids]

Human Rights Award – received in Strasbourg and given by 8 ambassadors Public choice Award for Best Film – Bucharest Film Festival – Romania – 2013 Special acknowledgment for « Man and his environment » - Festroia Festival – Portugal – 2013 Award for Best Foreign Language film – Ecrans Noirs Film Festival – Yaoundé – Cameroon – 2013 Coup de Cœur – Marrakech International Film Festival – Morocco – 2013 Prix Humanum – Union of Belgian Film Critics – Belgium – 2014 Best Editing Award - Magritte Award – Belgium – 2014 Nominated for best film - Magritte Award – Belgium – 2014
Selected in 60 festivals

[The Five Obstructions]

Best Documentary – Durban International Film Festival – South Africa – 2004 Gold Dok of the Year – Gulddok – Copenhagen – Denmark – 2004 Grand Prize – Odense International Film Festival – Denmark – 2004Jury Prize – FIPRESCI – Zagreb Motovun Film Festival – Hungary – 2004
Selected in 95 festivals

Nanotechnologie, le film

Price of Czech Ministry of education for Youth & Physical Training – Technfilm – 2003Silver Book – 33rd Roshd International Film Festival – 2003

Oscar Niemeyer, an architect committed to his century

First Prize – International Festival of Film on Architecture : « Archfilm 2004 » – Bratislava – Slovakia 2004People’s choice Award – Kyiv Festival – Ukraine – 2004 Best Director of Photography – Thunderbird International Film Festival – USA – 2002 Best Professional Documentary – Thunderbird International Film Festival – USA – 2002 Best Documentary - Los Charales Awards – Ajijic International Film Festival – Mexico – 2001 Best Documentary – Sydney Changing Images International Film Festival – Australia – 2001 Silver Screen – U.S. International Film and Video Festival – Elmhurst, Illinois – USA – 2001 Grand Prize FIFA – 19th International Festival of Film on Art – Montréal – Canada – 2001 Bronze medal – 41st Monte-Carlo Festival – France – 2001 Gran Premio « DOCUMANIA » – Madrid – Spain – 2000 Gran Premio – Muestra Intl De Patrimonio Arquitectonico – Alcala – Spain – 2000 First Prize – Made in Europe Documentary Festival – Strasbourg – France – 2000 People’s choice Award – Made in Europe Documentary Festival – Strasbourg – France – 2000

Evgueni Khaldei, photographer under Stalin

First Prize - Rhode Island International Film Festival – USA – 2000Silver Spire - Golden Gate Awards, San Francisco International Film Festival – USA – 1998Grand Prix - Taiwan International Documentary Festival – Taiwan – 1998

Le Réveil (The Alarm Clock)

Grand Prize - Potsdam Film Festival - Germany – 1996Best Short Film - International Festival of Comedy Film – Vevey - Switzerland – 1996Best Comedy Short - Palm Springs International Short Film Festival - USA - 1996Best Direction – Capalbio International Short Film Festival – Italy - 1996Public Award - Capalbio International Short Film Festival - Italy - 1996French Community Award - Namur International Film Festival – Belgium - 1996Silver Palm - Huy International Short Film Festival - Belgium - 1996Best Actor - Huy International Short Film Festival - Belgium - 1996Best Direction - Bucharest International Short Film Festival - Romania – 1996Youth Award - Stains Youth Short Film Festival - France - 1997Free Style Short Film Award - St-Ouen Train Film Festival - France - 1997Public Award - Beauvais International Film Festival - France - 1998Best Absurd Fiction – Mediawave Festival – Gyor - Hungaria - 1998Best International Short Film - Wine Country Film Festival - USA - 1998Grand Prize – Badalona International Short Film Festival – Spain – 2001Public Award – Badalona International Short Film Festival – Spain – 2001Golden Croissant – “Breakfast Cinema” Brussels – 2001Best Distributed Film in TVB’s FILMETS Program – FILMETS International Film Festival – Badalona – Spain – 2002

Just Friends">Just Friends (1993 film)">Just Friends

Belgian entry for Best Foreign Language Film at The Oscars – USA – 1994André Cavens 'Award – Union of Belgian Film Critics – Belgium – 1993 Best Film – La Baule Film Festival – France – 1993 Best Actor Josse De Pauw – La Baule Film Festival – France – 1993 Youth Award – Best Belgian Film – Belgium – 1993 Femina Award – City of Brussels – Belgium – 1993 Philip Morris Movie Club Award – Best screenplay – Belgium – 1993 Best first film – Montevideo Film Festival – Uruguay – 1994 Grand Prix – Aosta Valley Film Festival – Italy – 1994 Joseph Plateau Award – Best Belgian Film at Gand Festival – Belgium – 1994 Joseph Plateau Award – Best Actor at Gand Festival – Belgium – 1994 Joseph Plateau Award – Best Director at Gand Festival – Belgium – 1994 Gran Premio – Sorrento International Film Festival – Italy – 1994 CD soundtrack of the month elected by Jazz in Time' – December 1993

Clapman

Gold Award – International Film and TV Festival of New York – USA – 1984Crystal Antanenna – Best program – Brussels – 1985Gold Award – Creative Club of Belgium – 1985Special Prize for Short Film - Mostra Internacional de Sao Paulo – 1986Special prize, Funny Film festival Boario – 1987
Special guest in more than 20 festivals.

Happy as a child in water

Psychology Award – International Scientific Film Festival – Brussels – 1982

Fume, c'est du belge

Best Editing - Super 8 International Film Festival of Brussels – Belgium – 1975

Others

Teacher

1986 and 1987 – at the ERG in Brussels – Belgium
1994 and 2013 – at the EICTV (Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV) San Antonio de Los Banos – Cuba
2013 – Acting teacher in Kinshasa – Democratic Republic of Congo

Jury

1998 – Festival du film de Genève « Star de demain » – Switzerland
2002 – President of the jury of Festival International du Film sur L’Art – Montréal – Canada
2011 – Festival du Film Fantastique de Brussels – Belgium
2015 – President of the 48H Film Project – Brussels – Belgium

Member of commissions

2003 to 2004 – President du CFA – Brussels – Belgium
2002 to 2005 – Member of the Commission Cinéma – Belgium
2013 to 2015 – Member of the Commission Cinéma – Belgium
Since 1997 – Member of the UPFF – Belgium
Since 2007 – Honorary member of CBA – Belgium
2000 to 2006 – Producer of promotional spots for the European Commission.