IFFR 2023 Media Outreach and Inclusion Scheme coverage
29 March 2023
Having a plurality of experiences and perspectives is what makes the festival special. For our recent festival edition this January of 2023 we launched our Media Outreach and Inclusion Scheme, which aims to welcome new and diverse voices to report on the festival by removing barriers to journalists and media makers from communities who are underrepresented in the festival's press community. Keep reading to see the results of this exploration from our eight participants.
Amarsanaa Battulga
Twitter: @Amarsanaa__
Originally from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and now based in Shanghai, Amarsanaa (or Amu) Battulga is a graduate student specialising in Chinese cinema, currently researching and doing a PhD in comparative literature and associate editor of ChinaNauts – a magazine focusing on analysis of contemporary China from a global understanding.
During our recent festival edition, Battulga produced two interviews, one with Hong Heng Fai, director of Kissing the Ground You Walked On and the crew of Gagaland, one of which can be found in the article below. Battulga also curated film tips including film titles from our 2023 programme.
This film still is taken from the title Kissing the Ground You Walked On . Follow the link below to read the interview with Battulga and the director.
‘’I wanted to make a full-length feature film that would express my views about the stage and my feelings as an actor. That’s where the idea for Kissing first germinated.’’
Making movies in Macau: Q&A with Hong Heng Fai, director of ‘Kissing the Ground You Walked On’
Hong Heng Fai is a Macanese actor-turned-director whose feature debut just screened at IFFR. In this interview, this filmmaker discusses with Battulga how his acting experience influences his filmmaking and the current state of the Macanese film industry. Follow the link to read this interview via The China Project website.
10 most anticipated Chinese movies of 2023
With the COVID-zero policy out of the picture, 2023 promises to be a busy year for Chinese cinema. Battulga curated this list including titles from the IFFR 2023 programme such as Gagaland. Follow the link to read this interview via The China Project website.
Dmitry Elagin
Instagram: @d_jhe_d
Dmitry Elagin is a professional cinema critic with a specialist degree in cinema theory from the Russian Institute of Cinematography. He started his career in 2020 and now works for Russian magazine, Snob. He has recently relocated due to the war and is currently based in Germany. He is also an accredited journalist for the Cannes Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival.
During our recent festival edition, Elagin produced four film reviews including Showing Up , One Win , My Little Nighttime Secret , and WICKED GAMES: Rimini Sparta and a curated selection of film tips.
*Please note, these articles are Russian language coverage*
This film still is taken from the title One Win). Follow the link below to read Elagin’s review.
Film review, ‘One Win’ — Korean sports drama with Song Kang-ho
Song Kang-ho coaches a team of volleyball players, leading the underdogs to victory. Read Elagin’s review of this title from our 2023 programme.
A diptych of an Austrian classic about unhappy adults, parents and children. Read Elagin’s review of this title from our 2023 programme.
Film review, ‘My Little Nighttime Secret’ — an autobiographical picture by Natalia Meshchaninova
IFFR features the premiere of a new film by Natalia Meshchaninova, dissecting the structure of a dysfunctional family. Read Elagin’s review of this title from our 2023 programme.
Film review, ‘Showing Up’ — drama on the language of feelings with Michelle Williams.
The premiere of a new film by Kelly Reichardt, a participant in the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival, took place at IFFR. Read Elagin’s review of this title from our 2023 programme.
IFFR is a workshop for future world-class stars; Christopher Nolan, Lav Diaz, Todd Haynes, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and many others. At the request of The Blueprint, film critic, Elagin spoke about the most impressive debuts of the show.
This film still is taken from the title Gagaland, one of the top 10 debuts chosen by Elagin in the article above, ‘Best Debuts at IFFR’. Follow the link for more film tips.
Elliot Zepeda
Communications and Media student at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
During our recent festival edition, Zepeda conducted interviews with students, volunteers, and journalists at IFFR and published an online article on the Erasmus Magazine website.
This film still is taken from the title Lu Over the Wall , one of the film tips provided by the interviewees. Follow the link below for more film tips via the Erasmus Magazine website.
“It was like the Romeo and Juliet story but with amazing 90s style animation with a touch of Studio Ghibli.’’
From obscure taxi rides to interviewing directors; these students volunteer at the film festival
Students share their experiences as volunteers and journalists at IFFR.
Karim El Oteify
Instagram @karimoteify
YouTube @karimeloteify
LinkedIn @karimeloteify
Karim El Oteify is an entrepreneur, content creator, facilitator, and community organiser. based in Rotterdam. Currently, he is the External Consultant on Community Engagement and DE&I with Techleapnl. He is also the communications advisor for ErasmusX.
During our recent festival edition, Oteify produced three YouTube videos/vlogs on his experience at IFFR, film tips, and a discussion on the film industry in Rotterdam.
This film still is taken from the title The Blue Caftan , one of the film tips provided by the interviewees. Follow the link below for more film tips via the Erasmus Magazine website.
I Watched the BEST movie at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Netherlands (IFFR)
Vlog about Oteify’s experience at IFFR and a film review of the title, The Blue Caftan.
My Experience Attending International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) as an International
Vlog on Oteify’s experience at IFFR as a participant of the Media Outreach and Inclusion Scheme, and discussion on the history of IFFR.
The cinema & art culture in Rotterdam, the Netherlands is thriving - Here’s why…
Vlog produced at de Doelen during IFFR, Oteify discusses the arts and culture industry in Rotterdam.
Laura Zalenga
Instagram @laurazalenga
A [self-] portrait-artist from Germany living in Rotterdam, Laura Zalenga and her work is known for its clear visual language, the power of telling stories and visualising emotions. She gives talks about photography and the healing power of self-portraiture. She also teaches workshops and courses about conceptualising, creativity, and identifying locations in every surrounding. During the festival, Zalenga produced a photography series and a blog on IFFR.com.
‘’When I watch a movie here it is purely for. The sake of enjoying cinema. As a filmmaker we can easily forget the fun of it, and after all, that was why I always wanted to make films.’’
Showing a glimpse into the humans who are IFFR. Visitors, filmmakers, volunteers, organisers, press, and the media-team. Here they are asked about their experience at IFFR and photographed by Zalenga.
Mayra Nassef
Instagram @mayrahasablog
Website https://mayramovieandotherstuffdiary.weebly.com/
Currently a student of media and communications, Mayra Nassef also hosts a website and blog where she posts film reviews which can be found above, as well as her Instagram. During our recent edition of IFFR, Nassef produced a blog on her website with highlights and reviews of eleven films from our 2023 programme.
This film still is taken from the title The Whale (United States - 2022 - Darren Aronofsky), one of the films reviewed by Nassef in her blog. Follow the link below for more film tips.
In this online article found on Nassef’s film review blog, she highlights and reviews a number of films from the IFFR 2023 programme such as, The Whale starring Brendan Fraser’s exceptional performance as a man living with obesity in a remote house in Idaho. And the opening film of IFFR 2023, Munch ; a multi-layered essay on Edvard Munch’s life and art, a surprising mix of classical cinema and formal experiment.
Tabassum Islam Susmi
Instagram @susmiislam
Tabassum Islam Susmi is a graduate from Erasmus with a Joint Masters in Global Markets and Local Creativities (GLOCAL). She works as a marketing and communication professional in print media and digital marketing industry. During our recent edition of IFFR, she wrote two online articles, including a review of the Bengali production Pett kata shaw.
*Please note this article is Bengali language content*
This film still is taken from the title Pett kata shaw .
An Excited Audience see ‘Pett kata shaw’ at the Rotterdam Film Festival
Film review of the film Pett kata shaw and coverage of its premiere at IFFR 2023.
The Rotterdam Film Festival started in the midst of Tigers
Susmi details the IFFR 2023 opening and the stories from filmmakers she spoke to.
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Read more about the Media Outreach and Inclusion Scheme, eligibility, what we offer, and how to apply. Applications for our upcoming edition in 2024 will open late 2023.
