Emperors of Nothing offers a unique insight into the prison at Forest, beginning in 2016, just after the historic prison staff strike at the Brussels prison, and after several condemnations of Belgium by the European Court of Human Rights because of prison conditions. This intimate portrait ends in November 2022, the day Forest closed and moved to the new mega-prison in Haren. Made during a period of change, stagnation and expectation, the film depicts life “behind bars” through personal and candid depictions of prisoners and guards.

After the film there will be a discussion in collaboration with Avansa MZW, where Davy D’hondt (Mediator at Moderator vzw), Wouter Vanclooster (coordinator Back on Track – vzw Orangehuis) and Petra Colpaert (director Detentionhuis Kortrijk) will discuss alternatives to forms of detention, post-detention processes and recovery.