Hannes Verhoustraete (born April 15, 1964) is a Belgian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his award-winning films such as The Memory of a Killer (2003), The Misfortunates (2009), and Lucie (2017).
Verhoustraete was born in Antwerp, Belgium, to a family of theater and film enthusiasts. He studied at the RITS School of Arts in Brussels, and graduated in 1988 with a degree in film directing.
Verhoustraete began his directing career with short films and television series in the 1990s. His first feature film, The Memory of a Killer, was released in 2003 and was a critical and commercial success. The film won the Best Flemish Film award at the 2004 Brussels International Film Festival and received several other awards.
In 2009, Verhoustraete released his second feature The Misfortunates, a comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family. The film was a critical success, winning the Grand Cinema Award at the 2010 Ghent International Film Festival and several other awards.
In 2011, Verhoustraete directed his third feature, The Fifth Season. The film was a psychological drama about a family dealing with the death of a loved one. It won the Grand Prix at the 2012 Antwerp International Film Festival and several other awards.
In 2017, Verhoustraete released his fourth feature Lucie, a coming-of-age drama about a teenager struggling to find her place in the world. The film was a critical success, winning the Best Screenplay award at the 2017 Brussels International Film Festival and several other awards.
Verhoustraete is currently developing his fifth feature film, a drama set in the world of fashion, and is also producing and writing several television projects. He continues to be one of the leading directors in the Belgian film industry, and his work has been celebrated and recognized both domestically and internationally.
