{"id":211309,"date":"2022-10-27T16:56:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T14:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/?p=211309"},"modified":"2025-10-03T17:40:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T15:40:12","slug":"iffr-plans-full-return-to-cinemas-and-announces-first-titles-for-2023-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/iffr-plans-full-return-to-cinemas-and-announces-first-titles-for-2023-edition","title":{"rendered":"IFFR plans full return to cinemas and announces first titles for 2023 edition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Clockwise, stills from the films:\u00a0Whispering Mountains<\/strong>,\u00a0Almost Entirely a Slight Disaster<\/strong>,\u00a0Amiko<\/strong>,\u00a0Shimoni<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bright Future and Limelight titles first to be announced as plans take shape for 52nd edition.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announces the first titles\u00a0for its next full in-person edition from 25 January to 5 February 2023.\u00a0The festival is set to welcome audiences with a complete programme of features, shorts, focus programmes, installations, performances and more. Industry, press and education activities will once again take place throughout Rotterdam with the heart of the festival at \u2018de Doelen\u2019. Bright Future and Limelight are the first programme sections to have confirmed titles in the lineup.\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bright Future\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first titles in the\u00a0Bright\u00a0Future\u00a0programme, dedicated to young and emerging film talent, are announced. A\u00a0supernatural\u00a0virus spreads across Sri Lanka in Jagath Manuwarna\u2019s powerfully satirical debut feature\u00a0Whispering Mountains<\/strong>, which has its world premiere in Rotterdam. Likewise Umut Subasi world premieres his Istanbul-set deadpan dramedy\u00a0Almost Entirely a Slight Disaster<\/strong>. A rural Kenyan village gives the name to Angela Wanjiku Wamai\u2019s gripping debut\u00a0Shimoni<\/strong>, which screens in Europe for the first time following its TIFF premiere.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about Bright Future\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limelight<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Limelight lineup of avant-premieres and cinematic highlights from the year\u2019s festival circuit will include Pierre F\u00f6ldes\u2019 beguiling animated take on Haruki Murakami\u2019s short stories\u00a0Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman<\/strong>, as well as Alice Diop\u2019s courtroom drama\u00a0Saint Omer<\/strong>. Two couples defy the authorities in Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi\u2019s\u00a0No Bears<\/strong>, which will screen at the festival while its director remains imprisoned in Iran.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about Limelight\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Saint_Omer_Film_Still_1.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still from the film\u00a0Saint Omer<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFFR Pro<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 40th edition of IFFR\u2019s co-production market CineMart will take place from Sunday 29 January to Wednesday 1 February, with one-to-one meetings and informal networking taking place in person for the first time since 2020. Reality Check, IFFR’s platform to reflect on and discuss current issues in the film industry, also returns.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pro Hub team welcomes industry guests and filmmakers to join panels, workshops and mentor meetings \u2013 providing an informal networking environment for the whole filmmaking community.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 40 IFFR Pro partners from across the globe annually nominate up-and-coming producers to attend Rotterdam Lab, where they broaden their networks and develop their skills and knowledge for international co-production. New participants for 2023 will be joined by selected graduates from the last two online editions who are invited to Rotterdam to celebrate their achievements and share their recent experiences.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other talent activities include hosting the second part of\u00a0Creative Producer Indaba<\/a>, a scheme for the professional development of emerging African producers. Selected filmmakers and projects\u00a0participating on BoostNL<\/a>\u00a0will also complete their bespoke programme.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blind_Willow_Sleeping_Woman_Film_Still_1.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still from the film\u00a0Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFFR Media Outreach & Inclusion Scheme<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Journalists and media makers from communities who are underrepresented in the festival’s press community are invited to apply for the IFFR Media Outreach & Inclusion Scheme. The scheme aims to welcome new and diverse voices to report on the festival by providing complementary accreditations and more.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full details can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full IFFR 2023 lineup, accreditations and more<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Follow all our updates on IFFR.com for details of upcoming programme announcements \u2013 including Tiger Competition, Big Screen Competition, Ammodo Tiger Short Competition, Harbour, Art Directions, Cinema Regained, Focus programmes, the remaining Limelight and Bright Future selections, Short & Mid-length and more. The full IFFR 2022 lineup will be announced during a press conference on Monday December 19. More information regarding accreditations will follow shortly.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First confirmations in full:<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bright Future<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n