founded in 2010, the académie andré delvaux was established at the request of the francophone film producers association (upff) and pro spère, to unite the five branches of the film industry, including actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers. the académie aims to recognize excellence in belgian cinematic achievements in order to have a belgian counterpart to the césar awards of france. after the cancellation of the joseph plateau awards ceremony, which was absorbed into the flanders international film festival ghent in 2007, a national film award was missing in belgium. this led the académie andré delvaux to establish the magritte award.