{"id":211903,"date":"2025-10-23T15:30:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T13:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/?p=211903"},"modified":"2025-10-24T14:25:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T12:25:53","slug":"blog-iffr-first-world-premieres-iffr-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iffr.com\/en\/blog-iffr-first-world-premieres-iffr-2026","title":{"rendered":"First wave of world premieres announced for IFFR 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled its first wave of world premieres for its upcoming 55th edition, taking place from 29 January \u2013 8 February 2026. The nine <\/strong>titles span the festival\u2019s Bright Future and Harbour programming strands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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IFFR\u2019s Bright Future selection of feature-length debuts is characterised by original subject matter and an individual style, representing the cutting edge of contemporary filmmaking \u2013 with each title having either its world, international or European premiere. Echoing Rotterdam\u2019s port city identity, Harbour offers a safe haven to the full range of contemporary cinema that the festival champions. The Harbour strand\u2019s first wave of selected titles digs into themes of self-discovery, societal norms and the human condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first wave of the programme features returning IFFR alumni, including Juja Dobrachkous whose film Bebia, \u00e0 mon seul d\u00e9sir<\/strong> <\/em>had its world premiere in 2021\u2019s Tiger Competition line-up and will now return with Accept Our Sincere Apologies<\/a><\/strong>; and Gustavo Vinagre returns with <\/em>The Passion According to GHB<\/a><\/strong>, <\/strong> co-directed by Vinicius Couto, <\/em>following his shorts <\/em>Film For Blind Poet <\/strong>and Nova Dubai<\/strong> <\/em>which previously featured at the festival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Film still: Krakatoa<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Artemio Narro also returns, following the world premieres of I Stay with You<\/strong> (2015) and ColOZio <\/strong>(2019), with Art Is Dark and Full of Horrors<\/a> <\/strong>for the 2026 edition, meanwhile Hanung Bramantyo is presenting The Hole, 309 Days to the Bloodiest Tragedy<\/a><\/strong> which comes after his IFFR debut this year in the Big Screen Competition with <\/em>Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra<\/strong>, and Carlos Casas returns with Krakatoa<\/a><\/strong>, <\/em>following previous IFFR festival selections for titles including Aral<\/strong> <\/strong><\/em>and Cemetery<\/strong>,<\/em> while Erol Minta\u015f will make his IFFR debut with Earth Song<\/a><\/strong>.

<\/em>The emerging filmmakers whose debut features can be discovered for the first time in Rotterdam include P. R. Monencillo Patindol with <\/em>i grew an inch when my father died<\/a>; <\/strong>Nolitha Refilwe Mkulisi with Let Them Be Seen<\/a><\/strong> and Semmalar Annam with Mayilaa<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vanja Kaludjercic, Festival Director at IFFR, said: \u201cWe\u2019re excited to reveal the first wave of programming across Bright Future and Harbour, and to be showcasing a range of titles that reflect the very heart of IFFR\u2019s DNA. Our festival is built on an ethos of discovery and celebrating both bold emerging voices, alongside returning distinctive filmmakers, who each are shaping cinema in unique and powerful ways. These films set the tone for the diversity of programming we\u2019ll have at IFFR 2026, from unconventional horror thrillers and misfit comedies to narratives exploring the complexities of belonging \u2013 all serving different communities and audience curiosities. Every one of these filmmakers deserve to reach the largest possible audience and have a platform to be heard, and it\u2019s a privilege to provide that space for them. We hope every member of our audience will find a story that speaks directly to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Film still: Mayilaa<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Previous titles in Bright Future from the most recent edition of IFFR include: Debut, or Objects of the Field of Debris as Currently Catalogued<\/strong>, <\/em>which went on to additional global festivals, including a screening at Museum of Modern Art for Doc Fortnight and The Shipwrecked Triptych<\/strong>, <\/em>which was<\/em> selected for CPH:DOX, S\u00e3o Paulo and Museum of the Moving Image\u2019s First Look festival. Further titles included Your Touch Makes Others Invisible<\/strong>; The Crowd<\/strong>, which won awards in Istanbul and Seattle and was also selected for S\u00e3o Paulo; and La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cort\u00e9s<\/strong>,<\/em> which went on to win a Goya award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standout titles from last edition\u2019s Harbour include The Things You Kill<\/strong>, which went on to become Canada\u2019s Academy Award entry for \u2018Best International Feature Film and won the directing award at Sundance; <\/em>and the strand also featured world premieres of the latest films by Toyoda Toshiaki, Alexander Kluge, Michael Almereyda and Courtney Stephens along with Lois Patino, whose film Ariel<\/strong> recently screened during BFI London Film Festival. Additional highlights included The Last Song for You<\/strong>, <\/em>which scooped seven Hong Kong Film Awards and <\/em>Dead Lover<\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complete programme for IFFR\u2019s 55th edition will be launched on the 16 December 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\t

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Bright Future first titles<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n