International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will welcome 61 promising emerging film producers from 26 countries to the 16th edition of Rotterdam Lab. Rotterdam Lab is organised by IFFR’s co-production market CineMart in close collaboration with various partner organisations involved in the training of beginning producers, as well as funding bodies.
Rotterdam Lab is a five-day training workshop for emerging producers designed to provide the means to create and expand their international network and boost their confidence and skills to navigate the world of international finance, sales and distribution and markets. Another important aim of Rotterdam Lab is to support its participants setting up or adapting their companies within the quickly changing media – landscape. The participants are nominated by the 29 CineMart partners. This year, Rotterdam Lab welcomes Arab Cinema Center (Egypt), Docskool (Nepal) and Singapore Film Commission as new partners.
The Rotterdam Lab programme includes panel discussions on topics such as co-production, development, post-production and film financing, presentations and networking opportunities. Participants take part in ‘speed dating’ sessions, during which they have time to personally meet with industry delegates and receive advice on their individual projects. Rotterdam Lab kicks off on Sunday January 30th with a coaching session by Ido Abram of EYE Film Institute Netherlands on pitching film projects, followed by a ‘Practice your Pitch’ session. Pitching experts include Esther van Driesum, Daan Gielis, Ellis Driessen, Helge Albers, Michael Henrichs and Xavier -Henry Rachid. Themes in the programme include film financing, co-producing between European and non- European states and managing international private equity. Additionally The Rotterdam Lab programme includes the session ‘Challenges of Western distribution for non US / non Domestic arthouse films’ by Guillaume de Seille (Arizona Productions) and the session ‘Survival Kit: from Development to Archiving’ hosted by EP2C (Belgium).
By allowing producers to present their companies and projects, receive feedback on how to proceed, and expand their network in an effective way, Rotterdam Lab contributes to IFFR’s ambition of nurturing emerging talent. Furthermore Rotterdam Lab has developed into a valuable tool to strengthen CineMart's international network of independent producers.
For four decades, IFFR has proudly developed and presented auteur cinema by helping filmmakers reach the broadest possible audiences. The festival is known around the world for its individual, innovative programming, with particular attention to talented new filmmakers. Quality films from all over the world are presented in Rotterdam to a large, international audience with the aim of inspiring and broadening horizons.
IFFR is one of the biggest cultural events in the Netherlands, and one of the biggest audience-oriented film festivals in the world. The 45th IFFR will take place from Wednesday 27 January to Sunday 7 February 2016. For twelve days, the latest feature films, documentaries, short films, exhibitions, performances, talkshows and debates make Rotterdam an exciting, global capital city of film. Official ticket sales and more information, see IFFR.com.
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