45th International Film Festival Rotterdam

27 January - 7 February 2016

Rotterdam, 24 January 2015

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. 

(partner organisation, participant, company, country):

3Puertos, Mariana Tejos, Inefable producciones, Chile

3Puertos, Virginia Bogliolo, tarikofilm, Uruguay

ACE / Ateliers du Cinéma Européen, Zora Jaurova, MPhilms, Slovakia

ACE / Ateliers du Cinéma Européen, Sophie Venner, Vennerfilm, United Kingdom

Arab Cinema Center, Aya Al Blouchi, Seat 26 Productions, Egypt

Arab Cinema Center, Hani Osama,  The Producers, Egypt

South African Indies, Antoinette Engel, Tezeta Productions, South Africa

South African Indies, Carmen Sangion, Sangsang Entertainment, South Africa

South African Indies, Palesa Mazamisa, Dai Dai Agency, South Africa

South African Indies, Zuko Nodada, Ingomso Film Skills and Youth Development, South Africa

South African Indies, Zwelesizwe Ntuli, Junaid Ahmed Productions, South Africa

Catalan Films, Josep Pi Reyes, Astrolabi Films, Spain

Catalan Films, Marta Cruañas, Lastor Media, Spain

Danish Film Insitute, Lina Flint, Nordisk Film / SPRING,   Denmark

Docskool, Rigzin Kalon, Ladhak Films, India

Durban FilmMart, Nathan Magoola, Independent Producer,  Uganda

EAVE, Jean-Laurent Csinidis, Films de Force Majeure, France

EAVE, Marina Gumzi, NOSOROGI, Slovenia

Film un Medien Stiftung NRW, Mareike Wegener, Petrolio Film, Germany

Film und Medien Stiftung NRW, Lutz Heineking, eitelsonnenschein, Germany

Film Vast, Alexandra Lind, Dropping Frames, Sweden

Finnish Film Foundation, Jussi Eerola, Elokuvayhtiö Testifilmi,   Finland

Finnish Film Foundation, Max Malka, Dionysos Films Oy, Finland

Flanders Image/VAF , Bert Lesaffer, Animal Tank, Belgium

Flanders Image/VAF, Brecht Van Elslande, Animal Tank, Belgium

Gunajuato Film Festival, Edgar Nito, Pirotecnia Films, Mexico

Gunajuato Film Festival, Mauro Mueller, Fidelio Films, Mexico

Independent Filmmaker Project, Jon Coplon, Stayblack Productions, Italy

Independent Filmmaker Project, Katie Stern, Washington Square Films, USA

Irish Film Board, Michela Orlandi, Savage Productions, Ireland

Irish Film Board, Deirdre Levins, Fantastic Films, Ireland

Israel Film Fund, Efrat Cohen, Gaudeamus Productions, Israel

Israel Film Fund, Tony Copti, Fresco Films, Israel

Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Luis Singer, StickUp Filmproduktion, Germany

Netherlands Film Fund, Aydin Dehzad, Kaliber Film, the Netherlands

Netherlands Film Fund, Bas Broertjes, Kaliber Film, the Netherlands

Netherlands Film Fund, Guusje van Deuren, The Rogues, the Netherlands

Netherlands Film Fund, Nathalie van de Burg, Pupkin Film, the Netherlands

Netherlands Film Fund, Steven Rubinstein Malamud, Ijswater films, the Netherlands

Proimages Colombia, David Herrera, Fahrenheit, Colombia

Proimages Colombia, Iván Sierra, Big Sur Películas, Colombia

Proimages Colombia, Luis Villegas, PAVOREAL Colectivo Audiovisual, Colombia

Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Culture, Letícia Friedrich, Boulevard Filmes, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat of Culture, Thiago Yamachita da Costa, Estúdio Giz, Brazil

Scottish Film Talent Network, Beth Allan,The Forest of Black, United Kingdom

Scottish Film Talent Network, David Jack,  Independent Producer, United Kingdom

Scottish Film Talent Network, Nicholas Crum, Blazing Griffin, United Kingdom

Singapore Film Commission, Kenneth HU, Addiction Design, Singapore

Singapore Film Commission, Suat Yen LIM, Oak3 Films Pte Ltd, Singapore

Skillset, Brian J. Falconer, Out of Orbit, United Kingdom

Skillset, Chi Thai, Independent Producer,  United Kingdom

Skillset, Giannina La Salvia, ToyBox Films, United Kingdom

Skillset, Rebecca Mills, Baby Wren Films, United Kingdom

Sundance, Alex Scharfman, Parts & Labor Films, USA

Sundance, Kyle Martin, Electric Chinoland, USA

Swedish Film Institute, Emil Larsson, Dansk Skalle, Sweden

Telefilm Canada, Allison White, Away Films, Canada

Telefilm Canada, Galilé Marion-Gauvin, Productions Unité Centrale, Canada

Telefilm Canada, Jessica Adams, JA Productions, Canada

Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival, Bruno Mourral, Muska Films, Haiti

Wallonie Bruxelle Images, Benjamin Stiénon, Popiul Belgium

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.