{{short description|Belgian director (born 1978)}} {{Multiple issues| {{COI|date=February 2019}} {{Lead too short|date=March 2023}} }} [[File:Sheffield OMagis - copie.jpg|thumb|Olivier Magis]] '''Olivier Magis''' (born 28 February 1978) is a Belgian director of several award-winning documentaries.
== Biography == Magis graduated in directing at the Institut des Arts de Diffusion after directing his final film Le Secret des Dieux, in 2004. This short film, a [[mockumentary]], uses the mad cow scandal as a pretext for an investigative narrative, in order to question the critical relationship between viewers and the media. According to Muriel Andrin, Professor of Writing and Film Analysis at the [[Université libre de Bruxelles|Université Libre de Bruxelles]], "Magis kidnaps television images in favour of another story, a fake documentary, a docu-fiction, following in the footsteps of [[Peter Watkins]] or [[William Karel]], on the thin line where reality meets imagination.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chap 02 – MédIADiffusion, A la juste distance du monde|url=http://cinemaenatelier.be/timeline-event/chap-02-1973-mediadiffusion/|website=cinemaenatelier.be|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200739/http://cinemaenatelier.be/timeline-event/chap-02-1973-mediadiffusion/|url-status=dead}}</ref>".
Between 2005 and 2006, he worked as a director at Alterface Projects and wrote and directed films for the interactive educational game "Future Dome <ref>{{cite web|title=Future Dome by Alterface|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSRODkC-IpE|last=Alterface| website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alterface - References|url=http://www.alterface.com/references-1/future-dome-2|website=www.alterface.com|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145541/http://www.alterface.com/references-1/future-dome-2|url-status=dead}}</ref>" for the scientific center [[Our Dynamic Earth]] in [[Edinburgh]].
At the same time, he works as an assistant stage director. In 2007, he assisted Nele Paxinou in the travelling troupe of the Baladins du Miroir, during the creation of the adaptation of [[Tristan and Iseult]],<ref>{{cite web|title=La Bellone - Maison du Spectacle/House of Performing Arts|url=https://www.bellone.be/fr/playdetail.asp?IDfichier=1907598|website=www.bellone.be|access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> written by Paul Emond. In 2011, he goes on to assist Olivier Antoine on the graduation show "Aphasia"<ref>{{cite web|title=ésac {{!}} spectacles et archives|url=http://esac.be/etudiants/spectacles/|last=ESAC|language=en|access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref> at the [[Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque|École supérieure des arts du cirque]], in Brussels. In 2011, he assists director Sofia Betz in the creation of the play "De la nécessité des grenouilles",<ref>{{cite web|title=ASP@sia - De la nécessité des grenouilles-2011-2012|url=http://www.aml-cfwb.be/aspasia/spectacles/23909/De_la_necessite_des_grenouilles-2011-2012|website=www.aml-cfwb.be|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145456/http://www.aml-cfwb.be/aspasia/spectacles/23909/De_la_necessite_des_grenouilles-2011-2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> written by Virginie Thirion, at Atelier 210.
In 2013, he directed his first creative documentary, ''Ion'', produced by Dérives ([[Dardenne brothers]] and Julie Frères). This film tells the story of Ion Beleaua, a visually impaired former political refugee, who works as a police auxiliary in Liège.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chap 31 : Horizons différents|url=http://cinemaenatelier.be/timeline-event/chap-32-horizons-differents/|website=cinemaenatelier.be|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200720/http://cinemaenatelier.be/timeline-event/chap-32-horizons-differents/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Broadcast on Belgian television and awarded in numerous international festivals, the documentary also received the Special Mention at the SCAM Discovery Prizes, audiovisual section<ref>{{cite web|title=Prix Scam 2015 : les auteurs à l'honneur !|url=http://scamold.ntic.fr/fr/ViewerArticle/tabid/363606/ArticleId/3500/Prix-Scam-2015-les-laureats-a-lhonneur.aspx|website=scamold.ntic.fr|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108151111/http://scamold.ntic.fr/fr/ViewerArticle/tabid/363606/ArticleId/3500/Prix-Scam-2015-les-laureats-a-lhonneur.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2014 he directed Les Fleurs de l'Ombre, a documentary diving into Romania, in a Miss competition for visually impaired women. This competition organized by the Romanian Association of the Blind is not ordinary, however: it rewards the inner beauty of the participants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinergie.be/actualites/entretien-avec-olivier-magis-a-propos-des-fleurs-de-l-ombre|title=Entretien avec Olivier Magis à propos des Fleurs de l'ombre|website=Cinergie.be|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref> In 2015, the film won the Best Documentary (ex-aequo) Award<ref>{{cite web|title=SEEfest 2015 Awards|url=https://seefilmla.org/2015/05/08/seefest-2015-awards/|last=Mijojlic {{!}}|first=Vera|website=SEEfest {{!}} South East European Film Festival|language=en-US|date=2015-05-09|access-date=2019-01-08|publication-date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108203709/https://seefilmla.org/2015/05/08/seefest-2015-awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref> at the [[South East European Film Festival]] in Los Angeles.
In 2015, he directed two episodes of the Babel Express television documentary collection,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moisdudoc.be/images/outils-a-telecharger/BROCHURE_COPRODOCU_RTBF-2013-2014.pdf|title=Coproductions RTBF|last=|first=|date=|website=www.moisdudoc.be|access-date=2019-01-08|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145555/https://www.moisdudoc.be/images/outils-a-telecharger/BROCHURE_COPRODOCU_RTBF-2013-2014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> broadcast on [[Arte|ARTE]] and [[RTBF]].
The following year, he collaborated on the documentary trilogy ''Archibelge!,'' a television series questioning the ugliness of architecture in Belgium. Drawing up "an absurd and surreal panorama of Belgian architecture<ref>{{cite web|title=Archibelge|url=https://www.moustique.be/14273/archibelge|website=Moustique.be|language=fr|date=2015-10-19|access-date=2019-01-08|publication-date=}}</ref>", this trilogy was broadcast on the Belgian national channels [[RTBF]] and CANVAS "tells our country through its architecture, its urban planning and through the eyes of those who live there<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://focus.levif.be/culture/tele/a-la-tele-ce-soir-archibelge/article-review-428389.html|title=À la télé ce soir: Archibelge|last=télé|first=Julien Broquet Journaliste musique et|date=2015-10-22|website=focus.levif.be|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>". Magis directed the first episode, entitled "Brussels, or the quest for identity", and questioned the complex roots of the urban and architectural problems in Brussels.<ref>{{Cite web|language=fr|title=Archibelge passe l'architecture belge au peigne fin - Le Soir|publisher=Le Soir|url=https://www.lesoir.be/art/1027301/article/economie/immo/2015-10-27/archibelge-passe-l-architecture-belge-au-peigne-fin/|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>
His first short fiction film, May Day, co-directed with Fedrik De Beul, was released in 2017. This film plunges the viewer into the heart of a job strangely put up for auction. Broadcast on [[RTBF]], BeTV, CANVAS, [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[TV5Monde|TV5 Monde]], May Day is rewarded at many international festivals. It is also shortlisted for the [[Academy Awards|Oscars]] 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/12/18/twee-belgische-kortfilms-in-de-running-voor-een-oscar/|title=Twee Belgische kortfilms in de running voor een Oscar|last=NWS|first=VRT|date=2018-12-18|website=vrtnws.be|language=nl|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
* 2004 : ''Le Secret des Dieux'' (short [[Mockumentary|mockumetary]]) * 2013 : ''Ion'' (documentary) * 2014 : ''Les Fleurs de l'ombre'' (documentary) * 2015 : ''Babel Express'' (documentary TV series) * 2015 : ''Archibelge-Bruxelles'' (documentary TV series) * 2017 : ''May Day'', co-directed with Fedrik De Beul (short fiction film)
== Awards ==
* Overall Grand Prix at the Festival International du film indépendant de Bruxelles for ''Le Secret des Dieux''<ref>{{cite web|title=FESTIVAL DU FILM INDEPENDANT à Bruxelles {{!}} MédIADiffusion|url=http://www.mediadiffusion.eu/palmares/belgique/festival-du-film-independant-bruxelles|website=www.mediadiffusion.eu|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200644/http://www.mediadiffusion.eu/palmares/belgique/festival-du-film-independant-bruxelles|url-status=dead}}</ref>''.'' * Grand Prix and Audience Award at the Festival du Court–Métrage HEC, Jouy-en-Josas (France) for ''Le Secret des Dieux''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audiovisuel.cfwb.be/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=fileadmin/sites/avm/upload/avm_super_editor/avm_editor/Publications/Telechargement_pdf/Bilan_CCA/Bilan_2005/Bilan05AnnexePromDiff.pdf&hash=116e63271e6de68ddd2d9bb26fc84747af72b988|title=Palmarès 2013|last=|first=|date=|website=www.audiovisuel.cfwb.be|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200702/http://www.audiovisuel.cfwb.be/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=fileadmin%2Fsites%2Favm%2Fupload%2Favm_super_editor%2Favm_editor%2FPublications%2FTelechargement_pdf%2FBilan_CCA%2FBilan_2005%2FBilan05AnnexePromDiff.pdf&hash=116e63271e6de68ddd2d9bb26fc84747af72b988|archive-date=2019-01-08|url-status=dead|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>''.'' * Authors’ Prize of the SACD-SCAM at Festival Media 10/10, Namur, 2004<ref>{{cite web|title=Média 10-10|url=http://www.media10-10.be/?rub=page&id=6|website=www.media10-10.be|access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref> * Prix des Lycéens (ex-aequo) at Festival du Film de Saint-Benoît de la Réunion, 2005<ref>{{cite web|title=Prix du Court|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/node/445063|last=OK|website=Clicanoo.re|language=fr|access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref> * Screenplay Award at Festival « Le Court en dit Long », Paris, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rétrospective au CDL 2013 - AGENDA|url=https://www.cwb.fr/agenda/retrospective-au-cdl-2013|last=Paris|first=C. W. B.|website=CWB Paris|access-date=2019-01-08|date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200649/https://www.cwb.fr/agenda/retrospective-au-cdl-2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Award for Best First Professional Film at the Documentary Film Festival « Traces de Vies » pour ''Ion'', Clermont-Ferrand/Vic-le-Comte, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tdv.itsra.net/IMG/pdf/palmares_vlTDV2013.pdf|title=Palmarès 2013|last=|first=|date=|website=www.tdv.itsra.net|access-date=2019-01-08|archive-date=2018-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922062203/http://www.tdv.itsra.net/IMG/pdf/palmares_vlTDV2013.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Jury Award and Audience Award at the Festival International du Film Documentaire "Aux écrans du réel" for ''Ion'', Le Mans, 2013. * Grand Prix at the Festival du Film Cinéma et Sciences - A Nous de Voir, Oullins, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Les triomphes du cinéma belge 2014|url=https://www.cinevox.be/fr/les-triomphes-du-cinema-belge-2014/|website=Cinevox|language=fr-FR|date=2015-02-12|access-date=2019-01-08|publication-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Festival A Nous de Voir - Episode #6 - Le concours|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQePWGFXVAA|last=A Nous de Voir Cinéma et Sciences| website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref> * Grand Prix Best Documentary at the International Disability Film Festival "Breaking down barriers" for ''Ion'', Moscou, 2016. * Special Mention at Prix SCAM Audiovisuel - Discovery for ''Ion,'' Paris, 2015. * Best Documentary Award (ex-aequo) at the [[South East European Film Festival]] for « Les Fleurs de l'Ombre » (« Flowers in the Shadows »), Los Angeles, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=SEEfest 2015 Awards|url=https://seefilmla.org/2015/05/08/seefest-2015-awards/|last=Mijojlic {{!}}|first=Vera|website=SEEfest {{!}} South East European Film Festival|language=en-US|date=2015-05-09|access-date=2019-01-08|publication-date=|archive-date=2019-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108203709/https://seefilmla.org/2015/05/08/seefest-2015-awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Grand Prix Best Short Film at the WIFF - Warsaw International Film Festival for ''May Day'', Warsaw 2017. * Special Jury Award at the Asiana International Short Film Festival for ''May Day'', Seoul 2017. * Jury Award, Audience Award, Best Actor Award and Special Mention of the Press at the Leuven International Short Film Festival (Flemish competition), for ''May Day'', Leuven 2017. * Best Screenplay Award & Prix des festivals Connexion-Auverge-Rhône-Alpes at the Festival du Film Court de Villeurbanne for ''May Da''y, 2017. * Best Foreign Language Short Film at the NYC Short Film Festival, New-York for ''May Day'', 2018. * Jury Award and Audience Award at the International Film Festival "Courts d'un soir" for ''May Day'', Montréal, 2018. * Prix de la Nuit du court métrage engagé for ''May Day'' at the Festival International du Film d'Aubagne, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palmarès du Festival Music & Cinema - Aubagne 2018|url=https://www.mefi.tv/thematiques/culture/2351-palmares-du-festival-music-cinema-aubagne-2018|last=Rédaction|website=www.mefi.tv|language=fr-fr|access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref> * Best Narrative Short Fiction Award for ''May Day'' at the São Paulo Film Festival 2018 <ref>{{cite web|title=WINNERS {{!}} VENCEDORES 2018|url=http://www.saopaulofilmfestival.com.br/winners-vencedores-2018/|website=SPFF|language=pt-BR|access-date=2019-01-08|date=}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://screen.brussels/fr/professional/olivier-magis ScreenBrussels] *{{IMDb name}}
{{ACArt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magis, Olivier}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Belgian documentary film directors]] [[Category:Belgian directors]] [[Category:People from the City of Brussels]] [[Category:Belgian filmmakers]]