SKUNK

Synopsis
Skunk follows Liam, a neglected teen who is taken away from his parents’ home, where substances and violence reigned. Trading his school for a closed youth facility, he has trouble starting over again as he gets bullied even worse there. Although Liam finds solace with a new friend and social workers at first, when he revisits old trauma’s during counselling, his past keeps haunting him. 

Skunk is based on a novel written by Geert Taghon. 

Production status
Released on March 13, 2024 

Credits
Director – Koen Mortier
Scriptwriter – Koen Mortier
Producer – Eurydice Gysel (Czar Film & Tv)
Co-producer – Frank Hoeve (Baldr Film) 

Funding 
Script, development and production support from Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF)

Screen Flanders

Supported by BNPPFFF (Belgian Tax Shelter), Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union

NFF – Netherlands Film Fund

Bio director
Koen Mortier has been active in the film world as an author, director and producer. He set his first step into the film industry with 2 shorts: ‘Ana Temnei’ and ‘A Hard Day’s Work’. In 2007 Koen directed ‘Ex Drummer’, which received many festival selections and prizes and was sold to more than 20 countries. Three years later his second film followed: ‘22nd of May’ that also won prizes and was sold to 10 countries. Koen directed a 7’-short ‘Playing away from Home’. It was part of the worldwide project ‘Short Plays’. His third feature film ‘Angel’ has been released at TIFF 2018. Currently, he has undertaken 2 ambitious projects: Voices Of Liberation, an 11 part docu-series about WW2, and Skunk, a new feature film about mistreated children and revenge based off of the book ‘Skunk’ by Geert Taghon. Skunk premièred at the Tallin Black Nights Film Festival in youth competition and won Best Film award. 

Festival selection and awards

• Skunk wins Best Film Award in the Youth Competition Just Film at Tallin Black Nights Film Festival. The jury chose Skunk out of 13 films in competition due to its directing qualities and impressive performance from Thibaud Dooms. In addition, Skunk also received a Special Mention from the Just Film International Jury. Jury’s comment:
  

  “Special Mention goes to “Skunk” for its director’s marvellous skill in orchestrating authentic moments with cinematic images and unforgettable haunting scenes.”

• Skunk got included in the official selection for the Ostend Film Festival as part of the look! competition.