IFFR International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) offers a high-quality line-up of carefully selected fiction and documentary feature films, short films and media art. The festival’s focus is on recent work by talented new filmmakers. However, within the four sections, the Festival presents, there is also room for retrospectives and themed programmes. IFFR actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent through its co-production market CineMart, its Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Lab and other industry activities.
Vision
The festival encourages and stimulates both emerging and established filmmakers from all backgrounds in their artistic endeavours. It champions their films day after day since 1972, matching their work with like-minded professionals and wide audiences. It believes in the power of cinema to increase our understanding of society. it trusts its potential to infuse positive social change. It collectively expands the creative space for film citizenship and celebrates the diverse forms of cinema.
The mission of the festival is to represent the strength and impact of independent filmmaking in different ways:
Audience
The IFFR programme tackles issues of contemporary social relevance in uniquely exciting ways and shows a keen eye for cinematic innovation. We want to ensure these quality films reach an audience as wide and diverse as possible. We achieve this through several means: by organising our annual festival and events throughout the year and via our online strategy that allows for screening opportunities.
IFFR Pro
The festival also offers year-round guidance and support to all film professionals through our Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), their annual co-production market CineMart and the many forms of training offered in our Rotterdam Lab programme. All of these pillars make up IFFR Pro an important community for independent filmmakers and producers looking for finance, coaching, distribution, co-production partners and inspiration.
Education
Through their educational activities, they familiarise young audiences with the vast spectrum of film, broadening their horizons and stimulating autonomous thinking. A wide variety of events for young people of all ages and year-round support to teachers incorporating film lessons into their curricula are also organised.
The festival
With nearly 330,000 admissions and over 2,400 film professionals attending (over 320 of whom are filmmakers), IFFR is one of the largest audience and industry-driven film festivals in the world. The festival’s Official Selection includes more than 500 feature, mid-length, and short films from over 50 countries and also offering a high-quality line-up of exhibitions, performances, masterclasses and talks.