JIFF: The Soundman

This film is also showing at our sister cinemas, Lido Cinemas and Ritz Cinemas

Radioman

“...a rare and resonant experience, one that invites audiences not simply to watch, but to listen.” – The Hollywood Times

Australian Premiere

Set on the brink of the Nazi invasion of Belgium in 1940, this engrossing and sensorial drama tells the story of a radio apprentice and a rising actress as their paths cross amidst rising antisemitism and a world edging towards war.

Inside the famed Flagey Building – the Art Deco “cathedral” where Belgian national radio is produced and broadcast – 18-year-old Berre rises through the ranks, from apprentice to engineer, creating transportive radio drama soundscapes. His key collaborator is Elza, a Jewish actress whose family is living in Belgium illegally. As their professional relationship blossoms alongside their public work, so too does the imminent threat of German invasion and political suspicion surrounding them.

Director Frank Can Passel immerses us in this story with lush period detail, luminous visuals and a completely unique approach to sound design and song, crafting a tragicomic and thrilling film about the struggle to retain humanity through invention and storytelling in a world that is collapsing into war.

Festival Appearances/Awards
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2026 – Official Selection
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 2026 – Official Selection

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

118 min

Country

Belgium

Language

Dutch (English subtitles)

Cast

Jef Hellemans, Femke Vanhove, Koen De Bouw, Peter Van den Begin, Nico Sturm, Robbie Cleiren

Director

Frank Van Passel