Labo BXL : atelier partagé
In a tall building in Brussels shared by various creative organisations and non-profits, there is a space dedicatedto analogue filmmaking, where film strips hang to dry, tea is being brewed and a community project has taken shape. Projectors, editing tables and other machines sit side by side in the rooms, most of which have been rescued and repurposed. This is Labo BXL, a space dedicated to analogue production with a focus on research, project development, and training curious artists while experimenting with all sorts of old and new analogue techniques.
text and photos: Ben Money-Kyrle (12/08/2026)
Rather than calling themselves a collective, Els Van Riel & Jen Debauche, two members of Labo BXL, describe it as an “atelier partagé” - a shared laboratory. This distinction matters to them, as they are not attempting to be a production company, a school or even a traditional collective.
The laboratory is a space where equipment and knowledge are brought together from different sources to allow people to work alongside others rather than receive a production service. As Van Riel emphasises, “we don’t take from the lab, we bring to the lab.” The key element here is that the group is a non-profit organisation, and the members offer their knowledge to interested participants to share a passion for analogue ways of working in a cultural and creative environment where digital methods and artificial intelligence have taken over.
Let’s share a chemical bathroom
Labo BXL emerged from a small number of enthusiastic filmmakers in the early 2000s who decided to bring all their kit together in one space, namely Sébastien Koeppel, Khristine Gillard, Catherine Libert, Hélène Bernard and Jen Debauche. Previously, they had been developing and working in private spaces, such as makeshift darkrooms with low-budget setups, using what was available to them. Debauche notes, “we were developing in our bathrooms, and we said to each other - should we not just bring everything together under one roof ?” This was the start of labo, in the previous location of Recyclart. They built up a functioning lab which, over time, became a structured environment shaped by the creatives that joined the team.
It currently operates as a small, volunteer-run lab, supported by a core team of about ten active members. In the mid-2010s, it became a non-profit with a more structured approach to the day-to-day running of the lab, organised by this team of artists with monthly meetings and a shared calendar. They have a membership system through a small annual fee, which helps support the running of the lab.
Within the idea of “atelier partagé”, the resources are collectively looked after and the shared funding pot supports thematerial costs that come with any film lab ; notably the chemistry involved in the analogue process and other consumables. There is an understanding between the members that everyone brings what they can to help sustain thelab, and that can be as much in materials as in knowledge - they can rely on each other for advice and support in their technical and conceptual projects. As they explain, much of the collaboration happens informally, often through affinityand a shared love for the craft.
"We were developing in our bathrooms, and we said to each other - should we not just bring everything together under one roof ?"
Where filmmaking meets painting
In a more technical aspect, the lab holds the equipment needed to cover most stages of the filmmaking process. Numerous cameras along with tripods and lenses, are available for capturing footage. The Lomotanks, chemical baths and drying racks are found in the darkrooms, which require careful handling and attention to timing. In the upstairssection, there are Steenbeck tables where the editing takes place, as well as contact printers that allow the production of copies, such as the Takita and the Bell & Howell, and an optical printer.
During the interview, Debauche and Van Riel point out an interesting parallel between analogue filmmaking and the fine arts. Just like painting or sculpting, working with analogue film is a tactile and often unpredictable process. Experimenting with unusual use of chemistry, results can differ from the expected outcome.
Shared tools, shared knowledge
An attractive aspect of Labo BXL is its programme of workshops, including initiation workshops organised for interested participants by members of the lab, as well as specialised workshops for existing members, for which they invite external artists to share their filmmaking expertise.
For those interested in exploring the world of analogue cinematography, the workshops are an entry point; they provide hands-on experience over a three-day course, with guidance and support from contemporary filmmakers. Theworkshops start with a day of shooting and developing footage with Bolex cameras (16mm). Prior technical knowledge is not a necessary requirement. The aim is also to show that it’s possible to create with very little. Places in the initiationworkshops are highly sought out and the capacity is very limited; spaces are booked out almost immediately.
"You are always welcome to come in for a chat to discuss your ideas, even if nothing comes of it."
The lab is well equipped and offers a strong environment for experimentation. However, one of the key factors that came from this interview is the origin of the lab, and how it started with a very minimal setup and a few creatives joining forces. One of Labo BXL’s missions is to encourage filmmakers and prove that it is possible to start your own version of the lab or your own collective of creatives with very few resources – with water supply, a drain and a Lomotank to develop you’re already well on your way. This lab is also part of a broader international network of artist-run film labs, connected through shared values : filmlab.org. Knowledge and resources are shared freely. It’s a network that operates through a commitment to the exchange of resources and knowledge, attempting to reclaim how film production is approached.
At the same time, the lab operates within clear limitations. With the number of interested applicants for each initiation workshop, the limited space of the laboratory and the voluntary nature of its organisation, Debauche and Van Riel mention the tensions that have arisen over the years. “We were no longer creating for ourselves”, Debauche notes, reflecting on the need to set boundaries. A structure and rules were introduced to ensure that the lab can keep functioning and support those who bring it to life.
The future of Labo BXL depends on questions of sustainability and funding. While there is a desire to expand, this ambition is tempered by the realities of limited resources. Rather than pursuing growth for its own sake, the focusappears to remain on maintaining a space where experimentation can continue under workable conditions, and where analogue filmmaking is kept alive through shared knowledge and practice.
Want to know more about analog film and Labo BXL?
Be sure to participate in our analog film workshops during Div.fuse or keep an eye on the Labo BXL website for their own activities.