Serendipity Films is an independent production company based in Belgium, created in 2006 by producer Ellen De Waele. Serendipity concentrates on (co)producing international feature films and documentaries highlighting social relevant issues, initiated by young and established, fresh and innovative talent.
After studying Communication (Université Catholique de Louvain) and Anthropology (Università degli Studi, Bologna), Ellen De Waele (1973) started working in the film industry in South Africa. After her return to Belgium and a career in the advertising industry, she became managing director and producer of Brussels based production company CCCP where she produced several fiction and documentary projects with directors such as Michael Roskam, Wim Vandekeybus, Koen Mortier, Luc Vrydaghs and Bart Van den Bempt.
In 2005 she received the European Certificate in Audiovisual Financing and Commercialisation at the Sorbonne in Paris. She launched Serendipity Films in 2006, with the Dutch/Belgian co-production NADINE, by acclaimed director of feature WILD MUSSELS, Erik de Bruyn.
Recent films include GRANDE HOTEL by Lotte Stoops (IFFR 2011, Bright Future programme), THE NEW SAINT by Allard Detiger (IDFA 2010, IFFR 2011-Made in Rotterdam) and Nanouk Leopold's feature BROWNIAN MOVEMENT (Toronto 2010, Berlinale 2011).
In post-production are the documentary EPILOGUE (Manno Lanssens) and the short film DEATH OF A SHADOW (Tom Van Avermaet). She is currently developing feature films 82 DAYS IN APRIL (EAVE programme 2008) and A YEAR FROM AUGUST of Bart Van den Bempt, and documentaries BEGUINES BEGIN WITHIN (Lotte Stoops, Ute Muegge-Lauterbach & Joachim Kurz) and LEO HENDRIK BAEKELAND, THE INVENTOR OF BAKELITE (Jan Vromman & Jean Marc Panis). She is also the co-producer of director Ineke Smits' feature THE AVIATRIX OF KAZBEK (closing film of IFFR 2010) and Philippe de Pierpont's feature SHE'S NOT CYRING, SHE'S SINGING (Berlinale Co-production Market 2009).
Serendipity Films is a member of the EAVE and EDN network.
FILMOGRAPHY
2010 GRANDE HOTEL, documentary by Lotte Stoops. In co-production with Volya Films (NL)
2010 THE NEW SAINT, documentary by Allard Detiger. In co-production with Volya Films (NL)
2010 CAMPUS KASSAPA, documentary by Ronnie Ramirez. In co-production with Iota Production (French Belgium)
2010 BOYAMBA BELGIQUE, documentary by Dries Engels & Bart Van Peel
2010 BROWNIAN MOVEMENT, feature by Nanouk Leopold. In co-production with Circe Films (NL), Coin Film (DE)
2010 THE AVIATRIX OF KAZBEK, feature by Ineke Smits. In co-production with Isabella Films (NL), Fu Works (NL),
Volya Films (NL)
2008 JACK, THE BALKANS & I, documentary by Sergej Kreso. In co-production with Volya Films (NL)
2007 NADINE, feature by Erik de Bruyn. In co-production with Rocketta Film (NL)
2007 EX DRUMMER, feature by Koen Mortier
2006 GAS STATION, documentary series by Luc Vrydaghs
2005 BLUSH, dance film by Wim Vandekeybus
2005 THE ONE THING TO DO, short by Michael R. Roskam
2005 MARIA DOLORES, feature by Wayn Traub
2004 FIGHTING FOR OTHERS, DYING FOR POLAND, documentary by Bart Verstockt
2004 CARLO, short by Michael R. Roskam
2000 15'METROMANIA, short by Bart Van den Bempt