IFFR is hosting an online panel discussion with HBF-supported filmmakers Arun Karthick, Alex Piperno and Shahrbanoo Sadat

50th International Film Festival Rotterdam

1 – 7 February | 2 – 6 June 2021

Rotterdam, 11 June 2020

It’s as important as ever for the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) to stay in touch with its community of filmmakers. That’s why IFFR is hosting an online panel discussion during Marché du Film in Cannes with HBF-supported filmmakers Alex Piperno, Arun Karthick and Shahrbanoo Sadat to hear from them first-hand about the challenges they face. The festival also reveals its HBF Spring selection and releases new HBF-supported films on streaming platform IFFR Unleashed, including Nafi’s Father by Mamadou Dia and The Fever by Maya Da-Rin.

Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic: “For over 30 years, the Hubert Bals Fund has had a pivotal role in funding independent cinema from all over the world. While in these tough times we are figuring out the future of our festival, we are glad our funding arm HBF functions steadily as ever and allows us to continue to fulfill one of our core missions.”

On Thursday 25 June at 14:00 hours CEST, Jay Weissberg of Variety will interview Arun Karthick (Nasir), Shahrbanoo Sadat (Wolf and Sheep, The Orphanage) and Alex Piperno (Chico ventana también quisiera tener un submarino). The event will be streamed live and is an opportunity to check in with HBF-supported filmmakers and put their needs on the agenda. At the end, the floor will be opened to viewers’ questions.

Sign up here

From 380 applications, 11 projects were selected for a €9,000 HBF Script & Development grant in two categories: Voices, for experienced filmmakers, and Bright Future, for filmmakers early in their careers.

Fay Breeman, manager of the HBF: “At a time when many film shoots are temporarily postponed, it feels extra important to support filmmakers working on new plans in development. Our selection includes two feature debuts, by Ali Cherri from Sudan and Ng'endo Mukii from Kenya. Directors like Shahrbanoo Sadat (Afghanistan) and José Luis Torres Leiva (Chile) have received HBF funding before, and we are proud to support exciting new steps in their careers.”

Two additional projects were selected for the NFF+HBF Co-production Scheme, a joint initiative by the HBF and the Netherlands Film Fund (NFF). Two grants of €50,000 are awarded to two projects with Dutch co-production partners.

HBF is thankful for the engagement of the Tiger Film Mecenaat and the Netherlands Film Fund who make these funding schemes possible.

Bright Future

¿Quién mató a Narciso?, Marcelo Martinessi Benza, Paraguay

The Dam, Ali Cherri, Sudan/France/Serbia

The Goat Sunday, Ng'endo Mukii, Kenya/South Africa

Monólogo Colectivo, Jessica Sarah Rinland, Argentina

The Settlement, Mohamed Rashad, Egypt/France

Usud, Stefan Maleševic, Serbia/Netherlands/Luxembourg

Voices

Cuando las nubes esconden la sombra, José Luis Torres Leiva, Chile

If I Was Alive, André Novais Oliveira, Brazil

Kabul Jan, Shahrbanoo Sadat, Germany/Afghanistan

People of Solitude, Tariq Teguia, Algeria/France

Việt and Nam, Truong Minh Quý, Vietnam/Philippines

Arnold is a Model Student, Sorayos Prapapan, Thailand(Dutch co-producer: Volya Films)

Baby, Marcelo Caetano, Brazil (Dutch co-producer: Circe Films)

Still: The Fever by Maya Da-Rin

With IFFR Unleashed, IFFR continues to give a platform to HBF-supported films after their festival tours and cinema releases. In this special collection, you’ll find new additions such as Nafi’s Father by Mamadou Dia, The Fever by Maya Da-Rin and the 2014 restoration of Mysterious Object at Noon by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Other available films include De jueves a domingo by Dominga Sotomayor, A Corner of Heaven by Zhang Miaoyan and El viento sabe que vuelvo a casa by José Luis Torres Leiva, whose latest project has been selected for the HBF spring selection.

Check out the collection here