New festival director Vanja Kaludjercic

Vanja Kaludjercic has been appointed the new IFFR festival director. Beginning in her new role in February 2020, she will lead the organisation into the future and act as the artistic voice of the festival.

Kaludjercic brings a wealth of industry experience, both international and within the Dutch film landscape – currently the director of acquisitions at MUBI, and with previous roles at Les Arcs European Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Netherlands Film Festival (NFF) and even IFFR itself, where she used her industry knowledge to reshape IFFR Talks & Masterclasses from 2016 to 2018. Kaludjercic has also recently served as a jury member at Berlinale, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), CPH:DOX and many more festivals around the globe. We are excited to welcome her to the IFFR team. She will be present at the upcoming 49th edition, and officially begin in her new role in 2020, in time for our 50th edition.

“I look forward to extending the festival’s long-standing reputation for supporting and spearheading the careers of young and upcoming filmmakers worldwide.” shares Vanja Kaludjercic. “I admire the festival’s renown for close ties between industry and public, and its extensive support for filmmakers – including the Tiger Competition and Bright Future Competition, as well as the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) programme. I am excited to join the team and I look forward to leading IFFR’s artistic developments in the years to come.”

“We are very much looking forward to working with this strong team of female directors, consisting of Vanja Kaludjercic and Marjan van der Haar,” adds chairman of the IFFR supervisory board, Pieter Broertjes. “Their combined experience and vision guarantees new and dynamic perspectives for IFFR’s coming years. The board is certain the festival will maintain its position as a leading light in the independent cinema landscape.”

“Vanja’s established voice and bold ideas are sure to benefit IFFR’s ambitions and the festival’s ability to bridge new talent and independent films with wider audiences,” shares managing director Marjan van der Haar. “Her appreciation of the international landscape is extensive and she is well aware of the challenges that independent artistic films and filmmakers are facing. I strongly believe that together, we can make a difference and strengthen the position of the festival as a global platform for talent.”