Scottsdale International Film Festival 2008

Ben is different. Mildly autistic, his life is full of strange rituals. He lives in his own world, which is located, half the time, online, in the galaxy of computer games. In the real, tangible of technical school, life for Ben is a daily hell, with two bullies who make his a thoroughly miserable existence. Fuelled by his signature video game and inspired by Scarlite, his mystery girl on the web, Ben devises a cunning plan to change his life and that of his tormentors. Nic Balthazar's debut feature has had an unusual gestation. The project began as a novel that Balthazar wrote in a bid to increase literacy among Belgian kids. The novel, a bestseller, spawned a hit play. Now the play has given birth to a film: "They asked me to write a book for young people who didn't read. I said it was a brilliant idea because I was a writer who didn't write!" ~ Montreal Film Festival

AWARDS: Montréal World Film Festival – Grand Prix des Amériques / Most Popular Film / Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. Sedona International Film Festival – Audience Award Best Foreign Feature Film / Director's Choice Award Best Foreign Feature Film