IFFR Reveals New Cultural Partnerships Across the City

IFFR has unveiled new, extended and returning cultural partnerships across the city of Rotterdam, for the upcoming 55th edition of the festival. For 2026, IFFR is joining forces with Fenix, Rotterdam’s new art museum dedicated to migration, as well as strategically developing its collaboration with existing partners including the venue at the heart of the festival, de Doelen.

The Art Directions programme, which explores cinema beyond the boundaries of traditional theatres, welcomes two new partnerships with Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and Nieuwe Instituut, and returns to Katoenhuis, Rotterdam’s hub for immersive media, which became the central venue last year.  For 2026, Art Directions also continues its partnerships with BRUTUS and V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media. 

From film screenings and creative activities to a children’s corner and Filmclub events, there will be a full programme to explore at Plein at Fenix between 6 – 8 February. In keeping with Plein’s commitment to ‘open space’ and making all communities welcome, most IFFR activities are free to attend, with a ticket required for Babyfilmclub and Kids Only workshop, plus a small payment for materials at the embroidery workshop.

Also on display at Fenix between 6 – 8 February will be the IFFR Art Directions installation My Sweet Elora, which reveals the hidden stories that have lain dormant within a family for generations. Through film and photography, Luuk van Raamsdonk breaks open inherited patterns and makes visible what has long remained unspoken.

For the upcoming edition, de Doelen will continue as the festival’s central ‘heart’ where film industry and audiences come together, forming the ‘democratic space’ that has long been essential to IFFR’s identity.  De Doelen is  regarded internationally as the home of IFFR Pro – the festival’s programme for film industry professionals, hosting 2500+ filmmaker, industry and media guests each year for CineMart and the professional programme.

In 2026, de Doelen and IFFR are embarking on a new strategic alliance, which includes developing a film and music programme for the autumn season to be revealed later in 2026, signalling a new chapter in the collaboration between the organisations.

Opening Night will return to de Doelen’s Grote Zaal kicking off with João Nicolau’s romantic and witty fable Providence and the Guitar, followed by a festive party. In further activity, a free exhibition will be hosted in de Doelen Studio 2, with One Drawing a Day: A Retrospective Exhibition of Auto Cartoons by Gertjan Zuilhof on display for the duration of the festival. The retrospective is held in memory of Gertjan Zuilhof (1955–2025)  who worked as a film programmer for IFFR for more than 25 years. 

Clare Stewart, Managing Director at IFFR, said: “Festivals are integral to the fabric of a city’s identity, as they play a pivotal role in place making and bringing communities together – and this remains a driving force behind how we shape and realise IFFR. For our 2026 edition, we return to a range of beloved venues across our vibrant city, evolving partnerships and developing new ones with prominent cultural spaces. These collaborations are vital in creating an immersive, Rotterdam-wide experience for audiences and ensuring IFFR continues to be a celebration for the city and for our international guests.” 

Across the city of Rotterdam, further IFFR activity will be held at spaces including: 

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: In collaboration with Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, IFFR presents the Kijkmodule in the main hall of Rotterdam Central Station, featuring Raftsmen and Canoeists by Jonathas de Andrade. These movies were selected together with artist Mandy El‑Sayegh. Her first Dutch solo exhibition Figure, Field, Grid is on view at the Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
• Brutus: IFFR and Brutus will once again collaborate on bringing a performance back into the festival. For this year, IFFR will present Alterity, the first immersive installation performance by multi-instrumentalist and media archeologist Jacco Gardner (2026, Netherlands, World Premiere). 
• Katoenhuis: For the second year running, Katoenhuis will be the main venue and partner for Art Directions, hosting installations, immersive media and for the first time – the industry extension of the programme, Lightroom, which will unite projects in development and works-in-progress together with a symposium.
• Nieuwe Instituut: The venue will host the Art Directions installation Homecoming by Mark Dorf, which reimagines Homer’s Odyssey. 
• V2_The Lab for the Unstable Media: As part of IFFR 2026, Elsemarijn Bruys will present a newly developed side-specific installation Reflection 2.0 at V2_. The immersive and cinematic work invites you into a reflected world that places yourself at the center.
• WORM: The sound//vision showcase at WORM also returns, offering a series of live audio-visual performances that merge music with film, celluloid, and light – fully co-curated by IFFR and WORM.

Alongside the partnerships with Fenix, de Doelen, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Nieuwe Instituut, Brutus, Katoenhuis, V2_The Lab for the Unstable Media and WORM, as with previous editions, IFFR 2026 will also take place at venues including: Pathé Schouwburgplein, Theater Rotterdam, Cinerama, Oude Luxor, KINO, LantarenVenster, Nieuwe Luxor, Stationshal Rotterdam Centraal and Podium Islemunda. Plus new for this year are Roodkapje and Muziekwerf which will host kids and family activities. 

Contact: press@IFFR.com