Rotterdam, 7 February 2016 

The 45th edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) closed this weekend with an exclusive screening of The Childhood of a Leader accompanied by a live symphonic score. This year’s festival attracted 305,000 visits and screened 477 films. IFFR welcomed 299 directors and 1,914 film professionals from more than fifty countries. 

“We are proud of this wonderful edition, with so many fantastic filmmakers that enriched us with their cinematic visions, bringing films that inspire, seduce and provoke. The Opening Night in Royal attendance was a beautiful start of twelve days of cinematic splendour. The Closing Night was no less magnificent: an exceptional collaboration by passionate partners, bringing film and music together in a unique way. A festival really comes to life through its audiences, and again they were here! The screenings were very well-attended and so were the many events, masterclasses and exhibitions throughout the city”, said debuting festival director Bero Beyer. 

A large number of special guests visited IFFR, including actor Udo Kier (Altes Geld), artist Laurie Anderson (Heart of a Dog) and filmmakers Whit Stillman (Love & Friendship), Miguel Gomes (Arabian Nights), Ben Wheatley (High-Rise), Hany Abu-Assad (The Idol), Elisabeth Subrin (A Woman, a Part), Nabil Ayouch (Much Loved) and Boudewijn Koole (Beyond Sleep). On the Closing Night, the festival welcomed director Brady Corbet, actors Liam Cunningham, Stacy Martin and Tom Sweet (The Childhood of a Leader) on the red carpet. Her Majesty Queen Máxima attended the official opening of this year’s IFFR. 

IFFR Unleashed, through which festival films will be distributed worldwide on VOD platforms, went live this year and attracted a great deal of attention during the CineMart international co-production market. IFFR Unleashed is the successor of Tiger Release and is aimed at reaching larger audiences online. 

IFFR.com/unleashed

The IFFR Live event, in which five films screen simultaneously in Rotterdam and in over 45 cinemas across Europe, had its sophomore edition with increased attendance and more participating venues. For the first time, all films were also broadcast on television by KPN, online via Festival Scope and in cinemas outside of Europe. 

live.iffr.com

This year, IFFR was attended by more than 1,900 guests from the international film industry. CineMart offered a platform to 25 new projects and welcomed 720 guests. The festival screened 13 films supported by the Hubert Bals Fund, 2 of which received a nomination for the Hivos Tiger Awards Competition. Rotterdam Lab hosted a five-day industry programme for 64 selected producers from all around the world. 

Visits

305,000 visits

Films

252 feature films, including 47 world premieres, 33 international premieres and 17 European premieres225 short and mid-length films, including 59 world premieres, 40 international premieres and 13 European premieres 

Guests

1,914 guests from the film industry, 299 filmmakers from more than 50 countries