Oscars: "A weekend of wonder for the Flemish film"

Paolo Sorrentino's 'La Grande Bellezza' was the big favourite for this award. 'Broken Circle' director Felix Van Groeningen didn't seem too down in the dumps: "I was really a little disappointed. It's a shame there is no silver or bronze. Then we would have won."

The Fleming readily admitted his master in Paolo Sorrentino: "We had to recognise our superior in 'La Grande Bellezza'.

Felix Van Groeningen remains very positive about the entire Oscar experience: "'The Broken Circle Breakdown' has conquered the world. We may win in a couple of years. That's my hope and my belief."

Flemish Culture Minister Joke Schauvliege: "'The Broken Circle Breakdown' has completed an extremely successful itinerary. After landing the César award in Paris last Friday, this has been a weekend of wonder for the Flemish film."

Another movie in which Belgium had a stake failed to pick up a prize. The Belgian-French-Luxembourg co-production, 'Ernest et Celestine', an animation film, was pipped at the post too by Disney's 'Frozen'.

Belgium can take heart from the Oscar for the animation short 'Mr. Humblot', a Franco-Luxembourg production that was inspired by the work of Belgian artist Stéphane Halleux.

Nicole Van Goethem's Oscar for animation short 'A Greek Tragedy' in 1987 remains the only Belgian Oscar winner.