{"id":211389,"date":"2024-10-24T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/?p=211389"},"modified":"2025-10-16T12:47:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T10:47:47","slug":"international-film-festival-rotterdam-unveils-first-selections-for-2025-editions-film-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/international-film-festival-rotterdam-unveils-first-selections-for-2025-editions-film-programme","title":{"rendered":"International Film Festival Rotterdam unveils first selections for 2025 edition’s film programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

13 World Premieres Revealed Across \u2018Bright Future\u2019 and \u2018Harbour\u2019 Strands.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Rotterdam \u2013 24 October 2024<\/strong> \u2013<\/strong> International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the first wave of programming selections for its upcoming 54th edition of the festival, taking place from 30 January \u2013 9 February 2025. These 13 titles span the\u00a0Bright Future<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Harbour\u00a0<\/strong>programming strands and will each have their world premiere at IFFR.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFFR\u2019s Bright Future<\/strong> selection of feature-length debuts is characterised by original subject matter and an individual style, representing the cutting edge of contemporary filmmaking – with each title having either its world, international or European premiere. Echoing Rotterdam\u2019s port city identity, Harbour <\/strong>offers a safe haven to the full range of contemporary cinema that the festival champions. The Harbour<\/strong> strand\u2019s first wave of selected titles digs into themes of self-discovery, societal norms and the human condition.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous titles in Bright Future<\/strong> from the most recent edition of IFFR include breakouts King Baby<\/em>, distributed by Circle Collective, 78 Days<\/em>, which has gained both awards and critical acclaim following its IFFR debut, Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust<\/em>, picked up by Anonymous Content and New Europe Content after premiering in the festival, and a Few Mornings, an Evening<\/em> which released theatrically in the Netherlands in May.  <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standout titles from last edition\u2019s Harbour<\/strong> include 8 Views of Lake Biwa<\/em>, which was selected by Estonia as an Academy Awards contender; Amanda Kramer\u2019s So Unreal<\/em>; Hayat<\/em> from Zeki Demirkubuz which went on to become Turkey\u2019s Academy Award entry for \u2018Best International Feature Film\u2019; and IFFR\u2019s 2024 Opening Film, Head South<\/em> from director Jonathan Ogilvie. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first wave of the programme features returning IFFR alumni, including Daniel Hoesl, a former Tiger Award Winner for micro-budget experimental feature Soldate Jeannette<\/em> with his newest work Un gran casino<\/em>; Hubert Bals Fund awardee Pelin Esmer, who returns to the festival with a world premiere of And The Rest Will Follow<\/em>; Christina Friedrich presenting The Night Is Dark and Brighter than the Day<\/em>, which comes after her IFFR debut this year with ZONE<\/em>; and avant-garde trailblazer Alexander Kluge returns, after the world premiere of Cosmic Miniatures<\/em> in the most recent edition of the festival, with Primitive Diversity<\/em> for the 2025 instalment. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vanja Kaludjercic, Festival Director at IFFR, said: \u201cOne of the biggest joys of curating IFFR is working with our team of programmers to create a line-up that showcases the breadth of cinematic experiences and a multitude of perspectives \u2013 and our first selection of titles demonstrates our commitment to this ambition. We can also see each year what a vital launch platform this is for titles which go on following their IFFR debut to commercial and critical success \u2013 and continue to champion and celebrate the progress of the projects we shared earlier this year in our 2024 edition. Across Bright Future and Harbour, we already have some incredible emerging and established voices, and an amazing blend of genres and human stories, that we know our avid and curious audiences are going to love discovering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complete programme for IFFR\u2019s 54th edition will be launched on the 17th December 2024. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first selections across Bright Future and Harbour are as follows:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BRIGHT FUTURE<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 GIRL INFINITE <\/strong>(World Premiere)
Director: Lilly Hu
United States, Latvia, Singapore<\/em>
Two teenage girls, Yin Jia and Tong Tong, live together in this colour-drenched vision of Changsha, China. When Tong Tong drifts away and falls in with a drug dealer, Yin Jia\u2019s love for her means she\u2019ll risk everything to keep Tong Tong by her side.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAMP D’\u00c9T\u00c9 <\/strong>(World Premiere)
Director: Mateo Ybarra
Switzerland, France<\/em>
In Switzerland, the Scout Movement is not a nostalgic fantasy but a vibrant social reality. This bubbly documentary captures the communal cycle of activities during a 14-day camp for youth. No reality TV-style contrived scenes here, this is a moving, joyful glimpse into life-changing experiences.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LATER IN THE CLEARING<\/strong> (World Premiere)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director: M\u00e1rton Tark\u00f6vi<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hungary, Spain<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a small Hungarian town painter P\u00e9ter Moln\u00e1r leads filmmaker M\u00e1rton Tark\u00f6vi on a journey through meadows, clearings and Moln\u00e1r\u2019s drawings. The viewer joins them, as they discuss art, time and life itself. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INVISIBLE FLAME<\/strong> (World Premiere)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director: Oskar Weimar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenya<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When fish begin to vanish, community members are quick to blame Dani, the elderly woman rumoured to be a witch. Daisy, a fisherman\u2019s daughter, must decide whether to stand by her friend or heed the warnings of those around her.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

YOUR TOUCH MAKES OTHERS INVISIBLE<\/strong> (World Premiere)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director: Rajee Samarasinghe<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka, United States<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As many as 100,000 people, predominantly members of the minority Tamil community, are estimated to have disappeared during the 26-year-long Sri Lankan Civil War. Through a unique synthesis of interviews, news clips and re-enactments this docufiction feature reflects on this harrowing history as families search for loved ones that disappeared without a trace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HARBOUR<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW<\/strong> (World Premiere)
Director: Pelin Esmer
Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania<\/em>
Dreamy housekeeper Aliye spends her days between hotel rooms, escaping into the lives of the guests. But after a brief encounter with a famous filmmaker, Aliye decides that she has a story to tell, which leads to an entanglement of lives and fictions. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEAD DOG<\/strong> (World Premiere)
Director: Sarah Francis
Lebanon<\/em>
Walid and Aida, husband and wife, are reunited after Walid\u2019s many years spent living abroad. Answers to long-hidden secrets are sought in Sarah Francis\u2019 dissection of an estranged marriage.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FINDING RAMLEE<\/strong> (World Premiere)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director: Megat Sharizal<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaysia<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An endearing retro dramedy set in swinging seventies Kuala Lumpur. Destitute and deep in debt, Zakaria is offered a lifeline by his loan shark: impersonate the Malaysian screen icon P. Ramlee in order to entertain his homebound, time-warped sister.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NO DEJES A LOS NI\u00d1OS SOLOS<\/strong> (World Premiere)
Director: Emilio Portes
Mexico<\/em>
A mother moves into a new house with her two children. One night she must leave the siblings home alone. What begins as a blast of carefree play soon turns into a claustrophobic horror story. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRIMITIVE DIVERSITY<\/strong> (World Premiere)
Director: Alexander Kluge
Germany<\/em>
Filmmaker Alexander Kluge loves to use the expression \u2018primitive diversity\u2019 in relation to the origins of his art: the first films that were made, their genres, motives and moods. With the development of AI, Kluge asks, what could its primitive diversity look like?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE NIGHT IS DARK AND BRIGHTER THAN THE DAY<\/strong> (World Premiere)
Director: Christina Friedrich
Germany<\/em>
Filmmaker Christina Friedrich asks 33 primary school children about their fears, taking us on a long night-journey through a magic world of their creation. What can the \u2018real world\u2019 learn from the games and rituals of children? <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UN GRAN CASINO<\/strong> (World Premiere)
Director: Daniel Hoesl
Austria<\/em>
The largest casino in Europe but is it just a big mess? Daniel Hoesl presents Un gran casino as an angry musing on a building, an Italian village and all that is done in the name of the unfettered creation of wealth.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact:<\/strong> IFFR@ddaglobal.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

International Film Festival Rotterdam\u2019s (IFFR) upcoming 54th edition of the festival will take place from 30 January \u2013 9 February 2025, with the full programme being launched on 17th December 2024. With each edition, IFFR presents a leading international film festival and year-round programme and actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent through its co-production market CineMart, its Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Lab and other industry activities.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFFR seeks to expand, enrich and challenge people\u2019s views of the world and each other through film and audiovisual arts. IFFR\u2019s programme deepens appreciation of cinema in all its forms, broadens and diversifies audiences, and creates opportunities for independent filmmakers and artists from around the globe.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through IFFR\u2019s visionary programming and forward-looking initiatives, we create a haven for the plurality of voices, audiovisual formats and diverse storytelling. We are an essential destination for film professionals and film lovers. We support filmmakers and artists with funding and development opportunities and advance the impact of their work in the world. We are accessible to everyone. Through screenings, talks, exhibitions, education, professional initiatives and funding schemes we bring people from all backgrounds together, enabling discovery, recognition dialogue, learning and development. We look where others don\u2019t and we open a space for ideas, pushing creative boundaries that have the power to transform.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFFR is supported by partners including OCW, Gemeente Rotterdam, Creative Europe Media, NL Film Fonds, droom en daad, Fonds 21, de Volkskrant and VriendenLoterij. Details on accreditation for IFFR 2025 can be found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

A list with articles<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t