© Laisa Maria

46th International Film Festival Rotterdam

25 January - 5 February 2017

Rotterdam, 28 October 2016

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and VR Days Europe are pleased to announce their first cooperative venture. In a rapidly changing media landscape in which film and technology are increasingly converging, both parties hope this will stimulate new forms of visual experience. One of the ways in which IFFR and VR Days Europe will seek to achieve this is by finding sustainable business models for VR film and storytelling.

During the second edition of VR Days Europe, from 3 to 6 November 2016 in Amsterdam, filmmakers will be asked to submit their VR projects to IFFR’s co-production market, CineMart. A jury made up of VR, film and technology experts will select three projects which will then be given the opportunity to present themselves to international professionals at CineMart 2017. Supported by these technology and film professionals, they will be able to explore the possibilities for the finance and distribution of these projects. An additional aim is to find potential partners for the selected projects. 

Janneke Staarink, IFFR’s managing director: “Virtual Reality is developing rapidly. The cooperation with VR Days Europe gives us as a festival the opportunity to deepen our knowledge of the genre, and combine this with the many years of experience of creating film projects and project finance IFFR’s CineMart has at its fingertips. We can learn a great deal from one another’s expertise and models. Through this cross-pollination and exchange of knowledge, we hope to be able, together, to help the sector to progress.” 

Benjamin de Wit, festival director of VR Days Europe: “IFFR’s CineMart played a pioneering role with its co-production market, setting an example for film festivals all over the world. At the moment the industry is facing massive changes; existing distribution and finance models are no longer adequate. In cooperation with VR Days Europe, CineMart is facilitating progress. New makers can be brought into contact with the traditional film industry, and together we can make the future.”

Benjamin de Wit and Marit van den Elshout will talk about the collaboration at the Schrijfpaleis VR Special on Friday 4 November in VondelCS; makers worldwide will then be called upon to submit their VR film projects for the 34th edition of IFFR’s CineMart. For further information and to submit a project, go to the website.

- End of press release -

For four decades, IFFR has proudly developed and presented auteur cinema by helping filmmakers reach the widest possible audiences. IFFR is one of the biggest cultural events in the Netherlands and one of the biggest audience film festivals in the world. The festival offers a programme of carefully selected feature films, documentaries, short films and media art. IFFR supports adventurous new talent in many ways, including through its co-production market CineMart, the Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Lab and the recently introduced BoostNL initiative. 

The 46th IFFR will take place from Wednesday 25 January through Sunday 5 February 2017.The 34th CineMart co-production market will be held from Sunday 29 January through Wednesday 1 February as part of the IFFR Pro Days (Saturday 28 January through Friday 3 February 2017). For further information on CineMart, see IFFR.com/CineMart. 

The second edition of VR Days Europe (previously Dutch VR Days) is on the international calendar from 3 to 6 November. VR Days Europe is one of the biggest virtual reality events in Europe. The programme consists of four days completely dedicated to the latest developments in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. A four-day festival featuring top-level Dutch and international VR specialists, designers, artists and demonstrations. There will be expert sessions, lectures, workshops, demo days and an experiment exploring the theatrical boundaries of live opera and VR. The event is open to both professionals and consumers.