The Fifth Estate opens Film Fest Gent

Triggering our age of high-stakes secrecy, explosive news leaks and the trafficking of classified information, WikiLeaks forever changed the game. Now, in a dramatic thriller based on real events, 'The Fifth Estate' reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization.

'The Fifth Estate' is directed by Bill Condon, who previously directed the - critically acclaimed film 'Dreamgirls' as well as 'Kinsey' and two 'Twilight' films. German actor Daniel Brühl ('Good Bye Lenin', 'Inglorious Basterds') plays Daniel Domscheit-Berg, Assange's former right-hand man through whose eyes the history of WikiLeaks is revealed.

Other roles are played by Carice van Houten, as a member of the Icelandic parliament who acts as the spokeswoman for the controversial internet activist, with Laura Linney and Stanley Tucci playing American government officials. Supporting roles are played by Anthony Mackie, Alicia Vikander, David Thewlis, Dan Stevens and Moritz Bleibtreu. The music was composed by Carter Burwell, the regular composer for Joel and Ethan Coen.

Benedict Cumberbatch ('Parade’s End', 'Sherlock', 'Star Trek Into Darkness') received universal praise from the international press for his portrayal of Julian Assange. According to The Daily Telegraph, Benedict Cumberbatch “is inspiredly cast, serving up a technically ingenious performance which may be his juiciest ever. Where a lot of biopics content themselves with either passable impersonation or a kind of party-trick caricature, he seizes the chance to show us both an instantly recognisable Assange and a psychologically detailed one.”

“Film Fest Gent has several good reasons to open its anniversary edition with 'The Fifth Estate',” says Artistic Director Patrick Duynslaegher.

“It is a highly topical thriller about a controversial figure who stirs up public opinion. 'The Fifth Estate' is a film which reflects on contemporary and highly controversial themes: whistleblowers, internet activism, information leaks, government censorship, state security and virtual espionage.”

“There is also the acclaimed performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, an actor whose career Film Fest Gent has followed closely, from the opening film two years ago, 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', to the prestigious mini series 'Parade’s End', which premiered at the festival last year.”

This DreamWorks Pictures project was supported by the Belgian tax shelter and was filmed on location in Belgium over a period of 38 days. Amongst other locations, the film crew shot in Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, Hoeilaart, Sint-Niklaas and Ghent. Ghent stood in for various British locations: for example, filming took place in the former Winter Circus at Lammerstraat.”

'The Fifth Estate' is a DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment presentation in association with Participant Media.. Flemish producer Hilde De Laere ('The Memory of a Killer' and 'The Loft') is one of the co-producers. In the Benelux, the film is distributed by Entertainment One. The film will be released on the 4th of December.

Would you like to watch 'The Fifth Estate' at Capitole on the opening night of the festival? Tickets are available at www.filmfestival.be

The 40th Film Fest Gent runs from 8 to 19 October at Kinepolis Gent, Studio Skoop, Sphinx, Capitole, Bijloke, KASKcinema, Caermersklooster Provincial Cultural Centre and 't Kuipke. Tickets and info are available on www.filmfestival.be.

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