Ultimas 2022.

After a forced but very appreciated online edition in 2021, this year culture lovers were once again able to meet physically. Some 600 enthusiastic guests went to deSingel in Antwerp for the handing over of the Flemish Culture Awards: the Ultimas.  

A large screen was installed on the stage with eight mobile screens below. Each laureate gave a performance accompanied by an explanatory film shown on the big screen and/or mobile screens. This allowed viewers to enter the world of the laureates.

Twelve laureates and a winner of the audience award became the happy owners of the renewed Ultima award: Tintin’s Jungle. This award was created by artist Daan Gielis. Besides the highly coveted award, the laureates also received a nice cash prize.

The Ultima for General Cultural Merit was posthumously awarded to theatre icon Reinhilde Decleir, who died in April. Reinhilde, like the other laureates, was told beforehand that she was being awarded for her career. During the show, she received a beautiful tribute from her theatre company, Tutti Fratelli, among others.

The Ultimas could not take place without a musical act either. Portland gave the best of itself twice and let everyone dream away for a while.

Like last year, the show was presented with panache by hosts Sofie Lemaire and Thomas Vanderveken.

Award shows are always a challenge, but Sylvester’s experienced team made it an engaging and surprising live show that was broadcast on Radio 1 and VRT.NU. The hour and a half literally flew by, culminating in the emotional tribute to Reinhilde Decleir.