What's on this week: 18 December

Wim Vandekeybus’ name is synonymous with contemporary Flemish dance. Lately, however, the celebrated choreographer has been dabbling in other art forms. This exhibition showcases the results of his exploration of analogue photography. The eponymous portraits and landscapes were snapped all over the world during the development of Vandekeybus’ next project, Galloping Mind. When it premieres next year, this cinematic portrait of orphaned equestrians in far-off lands will be his first feature film. In the meantime, it’s a work in progress that requires a bit more funding to reach the finish line, hence this exhibition. The artist invites the public to become co-producers by buying a photograph. 
Until 3 February | De Bond, Bruges
www.ccbrugge.be

The ninth edition of the Be Film Festival brings together the finest Belgian filmmakers from both sides of the linguistic divide for five days of cinematic show-and-tell. The event boasts 11 previews, 20 feature films, 17 shorts and six documentaries (plus parties, concerts and even a post-festival New Year’s Eve party). This year’s guest of honour is Brussels-born director Frédéric Fonteyne, who presents his Francophone prison drama Tango Libre. There’s plenty of Flemish fare too. Crime thriller Het Vonnis (co-starring Veerle Baetens, recently named Best European Actress at this month’s European Film Awards in Berlin) will be screened in the presence of director Jan Verheyen. Another Flemish production on the programme is Joël Vanhoebrouck’s romcom Brasserie Romantiek. 
26-30 December | Bozar, Brussels
www.befilmfestival.be

Two giants of American music feature on the programme at the Brussels Conservatory. George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is a concerto in everything but name, and features Boyan Vodenitcharov, Queen Elisabeth laureate in 1983, on piano as soloist. Gershwin’s unique fusion of jazz and classical is also evident in his American in Paris suite, which inspired the movie of the same name starring Gene Kelly and directed by Vincente Minnelli. The other work by him on the programme, the Porgy and Bess suite, is an orchestral adaptation of the opera, arranged by Gershwin after the opera closed early on Broadway. The concert also features a work by Leonard Bernstein (pictured), the symphonic dances from his classic West Side Story, a Broadway musical based on the story of Romeo and Juliet, later to be turned into an unforgettable film. David Navarro Turres conducts. Alan Hope
20 December, 20.00 | Royal Conservatory of Brussels
http://bpho.be

Fête d’Hiver: The seaside cultural centre De Grote Post ends the year with a bang. Opening night features not one, not two, not three, not four but five up-and-coming local pop/rock groups.
20 & 21 DEC at De Grote Post, Hendrik Serruyslaan 18A
www.degrotepost.be 

Peep!: This collection of rubber squeaky toys will make you feel like a kid again. The exhibition spans the nearly 100 years since the playthings were introduced.
UNTIL 15 JUNE at Hallepoort, Zuidlaan 150
www.kmkg-mrah.be

Aleksandra Mir – The Space Age: The Polish-born, London-based, Swedish-American artist has spent the last 14 years riffing on space exploration. This retrospective presents the results, including a series of collages and three films.
UNTIL 16 FEB at Museum M, Vanderkelenstraat 28
www.mleuven.be

Spekken Festival: The seventh edition of this children’s theatre extravaganza promises something for everyone, from puppets to comedy to musical theatre. And, yes, there will be clowns.
22-30 DEC at Tinnenpot, Tinnenpotstraat 21
www.spekken.be

Kerst in De Studio: More family-friendly holiday theatre. This programme encompasses two long weekends and features a film and craft workshop titled De Sneeuwman.
26 DEC-5 JAN at De Studio, Maarschalk Gérardstraat 4
www.destudio.com