Talks & Masterclasses
Every year, IFFR invites renowned or emerging filmmakers to discuss their work within its socio-political, economic or cultural context. Join Barry Jenkins, Bong Joon Ho, Claire Denis and Sandra Hüller as they inspire, provoke, reveal – and engage in conversation with their audience. Select the Talk or Masterclass, click the play button and start watching right away – for free and without logging in!
IFFR 2025
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Big Talk: Alex Ross Perry & Peter Strickland
Two of the most uncompromising artists working in independent cinema today, reflect on their inspirations and creative journeys. -
Big Talk: Cate Blanchett & Guy Maddin
Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin discuss creative collaboration, film festivals, short films, and much more. -
Big Talk: Cheryl Dunye & Albertina Carri
Award-winning trailblazers Albertina Carri and Cheryl Dunye reflect on their vast experiences in radical queer filmmaking. -
Big Talk: Miike Takashi & Saka Misako
Miike Takashi delves into his philosophy on the art and craft of filmmaking. -
Big Talk: Steffen Haars & Joseph Kahn
Dive into the varied oeuvres and unlikely career paths of filmmakers Joseph Kahn and Steffen Haars. -
Robby Müller Award: Lol Crawley
Recipient of the sixth Robby Müller Award, Lol Crawley BSC discusses his extensive oeuvre. -
Tiger Talk: The History of Pre-revolutionary Iranian Cinema
Saeed Nouri (Tehran, An Unfinished History, 2025) shares rare excerpts from 1940s-60s Iranian popular cinema.
IFFR 2024
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Talk: Anne Fontaine
A talk with Anne Fontaine about Bólero, Ravel, music and telling stories through different genres. -
Talk: Bill Plympton
A masterclass on the career and techniques of Bill Plympton, reigning king of independent animation. -
Talk: Billy Woodberry
Billy Woodberry discusses his involvement in the L.A. Rebellion and his new film Mário. -
Talk: Debbie Harry & Amanda Kramer
Debbie Harry and Amanda Kramer Talk about music, cinema and their collaboration on So Unreal. -
Talk: Grimm Vandekerckhove
A Talk from Belgian cinematographer Grimm Vandekerckhove, recipient of the fifth annual Robby Müller Award. -
Talk: Manetti Bros.
The Manetti Bros. review their trajectory, contextualising their work in relation to Italian popular cinema. -
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Talk: Sandra Hüller
Sandra Hüller will discuss her unique career, approach to acting and collaborations with different directors. -
IFFR 2023
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IFFR x De Balie: Mayday! May day! Mayday!
Filmmaker Yonri Revolt joins experts to discuss one of the longest strikes of the 21st century. -
Panel: International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk
ICFR update on the increasing persecution and imprisonment of filmmakers, focusing on Turkey and Iran. -
Talk: Albert Serra
Spanish artist/filmmaker Albert Serra discusses his career, his connection to IFFR and Pacifiction. -
Talk: arc
Multimedia and performance project arc expands upon their work, their process and various influences. -
Talk: Critics’ Choice
Filmmakers join this year’s Young Film Critics team to discuss film criticism and related topics. -
Talk: Get in the Game
The relationship between the filmmaker and the producer is discussed and explored. -
Talk: Girls on Film
Live recording of the successful Girls on Film podcast, featuring special guests. -
Talk: Hélène Louvart
Cinematographer and Robby Müller Award recipient Hélène Louvart discusses her projects and collaborations with Benjamin Bergery. -
Talk: Intimacy
Actress Joy Delima, filmmaker Jonnah Bron and an intimacy coach discuss sensuality and security in filmmaking. -
Talk: Semiconductor
UK duo Ruth Jarman and Joe Gerhardt discuss their unique process of translating scientific data into art. -
Talk: Stanya Kahn
A career-spanning discussion with interdisciplinary artist Stanya Kahn, with the focus on her moving-image work. -
Talk: Steve McQueen
Acclaimed filmmaker and artist Steve McQueen discusses Sunshine State, showing at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. -
Talk: Yuasa Masaaki
A wide-ranging conversation with the Japanese anime master on his vivid, wildly inventive work.
IFFR 2022
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Big Talk: Amanda Kramer
American filmmaker Amanda Kramer on her eccentric oeuvre, distinctive visual language and breaking with conventional genres. -
Big Talk: Joachim Trier & Renate Reinsve
During this Big Talk, Trier and Reinsve will discuss their successful collaboration on The Worst Person in the World and much more. -
Big Talk: Mathieu Amalric
Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic and Mathieu Amalric will discuss the latter’s rich career on either side of the camera. -
Big Talk: Rachel Lang
Rachel Lang is a filmmaker and an officer in the French army. She talks about army life and its depiction in her latest film. -
Big Talk: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Thai cameraman Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, who won this year’s Robby Müller Award, speaks to moderator Joris Bulstra (NSC).
IFFR 2021
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Big Talk: Benoît Jacquot & Charlotte Gainsbourg
In-depth conversation with Benoît Jacquot, director of Suzanna Andler, and the film’s star, Charlotte Gainsbourg. -
Big Talk: Dea Kulumbegashvili & Nicolás Jaar
Chilean composer Nicolás Jaar discusses their unique collaboration on Beginning with debut Georgian filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili. -
Big Talk: Dominik Graf
Legendary genre revolutionary Dominik Graf will discuss his vast career with a special emphasis on his work with actors and composers. -
Big Talk: Kelly Reichardt
American filmmaker Kelly Reichardt (First Cow), winner of the Robby Müller Award 2021, talks about her films and how she makes them. -
Big Talk: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
In-depth discussion between festival director Vanja Kaludjercic and filmmaker and visual artist Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese. -
Big Talk: Mads Mikkelsen
A good conversation with Danish cinema star and top international acting talent Mads Mikkelsen, who can be seen in IFFR 2021’s opening film Riders of… -
Big Talk: Mona Fastvold
Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic talks to Mona Fastvold about her new film, The World to Come, and where she finds inspiration. -
Big Talk: Srebrenica. Never Again?
Occasioned by Quo vadis, Aida?, a panel will discuss the trauma surrounding the fall of Srebrenica. Can we learn from the past? -
Freedom Lecture: Pallavi Paul
A reflection on freedom and resistance by Indian video, performance and installation artist Pallavi Paul (The Blind Rabbit).
IFFR 2020
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Masterclass: Bong Joon Ho
Maestro Bong Joon Ho, bringing a black-and-white Parasite to IFFR, will be asked about inspiration, working methods and other secrets to his success. -
Masterclass: Diego García
An interview, illustrated by film clips, with DoP Diego García (Neon Bull, Nuestro tiempo), ahead of the presentation of the Robby Müller Award. -
Masterclass: Eduardo Serrano
The Brazilian editor of Bacurau and Swinguerra discusses with the audience the tumultuous and urgent films he is currently editing in Brazil. -
Masterclass: Howard Shore
Legendary film composer Howard Shore talks about his way of working and huge oeuvre, working with directors such as David Cronenberg and his vision on… -
Masterclass: Pedro Costa
The Portuguese director of Vitalina Varela talks to the audience about cinema, life and his unique filmmaking style. -
Masterclass: Screenwriting Rocks
Director Sarah Gavron and associate director Anu Henriques talk about the exceptional, communal way Rocks was written. -
Talk: Frameworks – Quay Brothers
In this unique, immersive installation, the Quay Brothers introduce a number of motifs, images and objects from their future film-in-the-making.
IFFR 2019
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Big Talk Roberto Minervini
Roberto Minervini, chronicler of ‘forgotten’ America, talks about making his latest film and how to become invisible. -
Frameworks Master Talk Nicole Brenez
One of only a handful of collaborators on Godard’s latest film, Nicole Brenez reconstructs the genesis of his provocative Image Book. -
Frameworks Master Talk Philippe Parreno
One of the most unique and challenging artists of our time converses with Andrea Lissoni, senior curator at Tate Modern. -
Freedom Lecture by Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland talks about the crucial question facing European democracy and her art today. -
Masterclass Alfredo Jaar
Artist, architect and filmmaker Alfredo Jaar returns to Rotterdam for the masterclass ‘Sadness Is Uninhabitable’. In collaboration with the Nederlands Fotomuseum. -
Masterclass Carlos Reygadas
Reflections by Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas on his uncompromising oeuvre, his lyrical film language and his latest work Our Time. -
Masterclass Claire Denis
Simon Field talks to versatile film auteur Denis about her remarkable film career, her signature style and her latest feature High Life. -
Masterclass Cliff Martinez
Film composer Cliff Martinez (Drive) talks in an intimate, wide-ranging conversation about how he found his characteristic sound and what inspires him. -
Masterclass Jia Zhangke
Jia Zhangke, chronicler of China’s hyper-industrialisation, talks about his approach and his most recent film Ash Is Purest White. -
Masterclass Samson Wong
A glimpse behind the VFX scenes in the production of Shadow and other films worked on by FX expert Samson Wong. -
Piet Zwart Symposium: Towards a Matenadaran of Film
Join an international ensemble of filmmakers and programmers for a day-long exploration of the challenges and opportunities of restoring a Parajanov film.
IFFR 2018
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Big Talk: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s incredibly fertile career bears the mark of an artist who, whilst being politically and socially conscious, seamlessly creates a realm beyond the one… -
Big Talk: Armando Iannucci
As a satirist, British producer-writer-director Armando Iannucci is peerless. His targets are invariably big, such as the British government in The Thick of It; the… -
Big Talk: Jan Švankmajer
Czech animator and filmmaker, Jan Švankmajer is a legend in his own right. His cutting-edge, surrealist and yet ever politically-conscious work, spans five decades and… -
Masterclass: Alfredo Jaar
For Alfredo Jaar, veteran of three Venice Biennales and winner of the MacArthur and Guggenheim awards, art and politics are intrinsically linked, even if he… -
Masterclass: Lucrecia Martel
Lucrecia Martel was educated at Avellaneda Experimental (AVEX) and the National School of Cinematographic Experimentation and Direction (ENERC) in Buenos Aires. She introduced her uncompromising… -
Masterclass: Paul Schrader
There is no dying of the light that burns within screenwriter and filmmaker Paul Schrader. His is a rage that remains constant. Looking back at…
IFFR 2017
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Masterclass Barry Jenkins
A groundbreaking film on many levels, Moonlight is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. Barry Jenkins (1979, USA) and McCraney were raised…