Cato Kusters wins Promise of the Year with the support of BNP Paribas Fortis

12.02.2026

During the Ensor Debate, the Ensor for Promise of the Year was awarded to Cato Kusters. And she lived up to that promise that very same evening: during the Ensor Gala, she also won the Ensor for Best Director and Best Screenplay (together with Angelo Tijssens) for 'Julian'.

With her feature debut 'Julian', Cato Kusters has established herself as an exceptionally strong new voice in Flemish cinema. Starting from an original and powerful premise – a love that wants to transcend boundaries – the film develops into a deeply human portrait of love, loss and resilience.

As a director, Kusters demonstrates a keen sense of form and a clear, personal vision. By allowing the present and memories to flow into each other, she builds a cinematic world that feels like a memory: fragile and honest. Without slogans, but with empathy and humanity, 'Julian' also places itself emphatically in a broader social context.

For her artistic daring, narrative power and the social relevance of her work: a worthy winner. 

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