IFFR Pro Dialogue: Festivals as Gatekeepers and Tastemakers – Who Holds the Keys?

IFFRs annual debate where programmers, curators and filmmakers come together to discuss current and relevant topics around film festivals, taking a moment to think about the role of festivals in today’s industry.

This year it will focus in particular on the role of festivals as gatekeepers or tastemakers, asking whether festivals in 2025 can still claim such a role; whether they should have that role; and whether their position is waning, as certain distributors and platforms make decisions to either withhold their titles or leverage them for more prominent positions.

The panel will also look at the success of festivals as a launchpad for new talent; how selections get made; whether films from the Global South are effectively represented at major European and North American festivals; and how much festivals may shape the filmmaking process.

Moderated by Patrick Frater with Maori Karmael Holmes (filmmaker, writer, curator and founder of Black Star Film Festival), Tatiana Leite (producer and programmer), Enoka Ayemba (curator focusing on cinematic cultures in Africa), Stefan Ivančić (filmmaker, producer and programmer at Locarno IFF), Paolo Bertolin (film critic and programmer, Venice IFF, artistic director of New Zealand IFF) and Mehret Mandefro, producer, writer and media-entrepreuner (group leader of the Creative Producer Indaba, a co-founder of Realness Institute and co-founder of Truth Aid Media).

All the Pro Dialogues are freely accessible to accredited badge-holders – no pre-booking necessary.

Film still: Kiss by Varun Grover, IFFR 2025 Cinema Regained