The First, the Last (Les Premiers, les Derniers)

Les Premiers, les Derniers (The First, the Last) is a 2016 Belgian-French co-production that Bouli Lanners wrote, directed and acted in. A blend of drama and comedy shot in French, it is known in Germany as Das Ende ist erst der Anfang.

Alongside Lanners, the cast features Albert Dupontel, Suzanne Clément, David Murgia, Philippe Rebbot, Serge Riaboukine, Aurore Broutin and Renaud Rutten, with seasoned names such as Michael Lonsdale, Lionel Abelanski and Max von Sydow also on the bill.

The film was selected for the Panorama programme of the 66th Berlin Film Festival, where it earned the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Europa Cinemas Label. It then took eight nominations at the seventh Magritte ceremony, the Belgian national film awards held in 2017, and won five. Among them were Best Film and Lanners's Best Director award.