IFFR 2023 closes after full comeback

Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot wins the Audience Award.

The world premiere of All India Rank by Varun Grover brought the 52nd edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) to a close. The public returned to IFFR for a full in-person edition for the first time since 2020. The festival presented 455 films, including 207 world premieres, complemented with a variety of multi-disciplinary programmes including Art Directions, IFFR Talks and more. 2,195 film professionals from 92 different countries, including 316 filmmakers, gathered in Rotterdam for the IFFR Pro programme. 

The festival announces two final awards that complement its lineup of winners announced on Friday 3 February. Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot wins the Audience Award. The Youth Jury Award, selected by a panel of young film lovers aged between 16 and 20, goes to Something You Said Last Night by Luis De Filippis. 

Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic: “What an emotional and rewarding experience it was to finally see IFFR back in full splendour – reuniting audiences and filmmakers from far and wide in packed venues. Some of these programmes and projects have been in the making, for not one or two but three years. It’s absolutely wonderful we were able to share it with the world. In addition to cinematic cultures IFFR has been supporting for decades, we also looked deeper into regions that are often overlooked or underrepresented. By doing so we continue expanding and diversifying our core. IFFR 2023 was a true celebration of the power of cinema and everything it can be.”

Managing director Marjan van der Haar: “The evidence from this edition shows there was a real hunger for IFFR. Not only were loyal audiences delighted to see us again, but our return gave us the chance to reach those who’d never experienced the festival before. We brought our education programme to a fantastic number of children and students both in person during the festival but also year-round online.” 

Head of IFFR Pro Inke Van Loocke: “The number of outstanding projects, emerging talents and breakthrough filmmakers that travelled from all across the world to be with us in Rotterdam proves what a vital space we continue to create for the film industry. With so many debut filmmakers who entrusted us with their work, the work of our team in providing a space for mentorship and exchange was more valuable than ever.”

 Still from the film Dalva

Facts and figures

Visits

• 252,000

Films

• 242 feature films (97 world premieres, 31 international premieres and 18 European premieres, 52 Dutch premieres)
• 213 short and mid-length films (110 world premieres, 21 international premieres, 3 European premieres, 30 Dutch premieres)
• 15 Talks open to the public
• 23 films on demand (21 features and 2 short compilations)
• 63 out of 194 films eligible for the Audience Award scored an audience rating of four out of five or higher

Art Directions

• 6 art installations
• 7 sound//vision performances
• 5 immersive media projects

Guests

• 2,481 guests from the film industry

including

• 316 filmmakers
• 680 CineMart guests
• 286 journalists (95 Dutch journalists and 191 international journalists)

Education year-round

• 26,257 in-personvisits by school children, students and teachers
• 241,655 school children reached online

Further facts and figures will be made available in the Annual Report published later this year.

IFFR 2024

The 53rd edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam will take place from 25 January to 4 February 2024.