International Film Festival Rotterdam

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International Film Festival Rotterdam
The festival logo
Location	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Official website

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands ^[1] at the end of January. It is one of the larger film festivals in Europe, arguably in the Big Five, alongside Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno. The festival uses a tiger as its mascot.

Festival

The festival office in Rotterdam

The film festival is not only famous for the unique variety of international films (it's hard to find such a diverse festival). It is also famous for being a visitor-friendly one. No red carpets for the filmmakers and directors, but mingling with the crowd is the motto. No screenings with guests only, but 90% of the tickets (or more) are sold to the regular crowd (who queue for a long time to be able to get in). In the evening the afterparties of the festival attract loads of cultural lovers from all over the Netherlands and abroad.

The film screenings are without trailers or other commercials.

The IFFR Exploding Cinema festival sidebar has been one of the most prominent showcases of emerging digital film and video. Programming has included experimental animation, web-based entertainment forms, and music video. onedotzero has been invited to be part of this event since 1997 with screening programmes and speaking on panels.

History

Rutger Wolfson Director of the Film Festival Rotterdam

The first festival -- then called 'Film International' -- was organized in June 1972 under the inspired leadership of Hubert Bals. From the beginning, the festival has profiled itself as a promotor of alternative, innovative and non-commercial films, with an emphasis on the Far East and developing countries. Despite financial difficulties in the mid-1980s, the festival has grown steadily, reaching 367,000 visitors in 2007.

After the festival founder's sudden death in 1988, a fund was initiated and named after him (Hubert Bals fund), used for supporting filmmakers from developing countries.

The non-competitive character of the festival changed in 1995, when the VPRO Tiger Awards were introduced -- three yearly prizes for young filmmakers making their first or second film. The next year, Simon Field, formerly Cinema Director at the London Institute of Contemporary Arts, became director of the festival. In 2004 Sandra den Hamer took over as director of the festival, and since 1 September 2007, the leadership is in the hands of Rutger Wolfson.

Festival Screening locations

The Pathé cinema at Schouwburgplein

The Pathé cinema at Schouwburgplein is one of the biggest cinemas in the country and boasts the largest screen in the Netherlands. The modern edifice – located between the Schouwburg and De Doelen – is dramatically lit by night, dominating the square.

De Doelen

De Doelen is the Central Box office during the festival

Cinerama

Cinerama is a magnificent old cinema with 7 theaters and more than 1000 seats. You can wait for your film at the well-stocked reading table or enjoy a nice drink in the comfortable lounge.

WORM

Worm is the main venue for the Starting from Scratch activities with film screenings, performances, installations, the Metamkine workshop, the Scratching from Start party and meeting point for activities in the lab of WORM.filmwerkplaats

Old Luxor Theater

The Old Luxor Theater dates back to 1917 and is a “Grand Dame” amongst Rotterdam theaters. It has been thoroughly renovated multiple times, but retains an atmosphere that lends a special touch to the cinematic experience.

De Rotterdamse Schouwburg

The Rotterdam Schouwburg is located in the heart of Rotterdam, on the famous Schouwburgplein. It is one of the main performing arts centers of the city, offering a wide range of critically acclaimed dance, opera and theatrical performances.

VPRO Tiger Award winners

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: International Film Festival Rotterdam

• International Film Festival Rotterdam (official website)
• New Arrivals
• Hubert Bals Fund

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