22/01/2014 - The initiative will take place within the framework of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, on January 26

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (January 26 – February 2) and distribution and international sales companies Fortissimo Films, TrustNordisk Film Sales and Doc & Film International have joined forces to launch IFFR Live!, a brand new initiative that aims to support the circulation of European films in the digital era. The launching summit will take place at Rotterdam’s De Doelen on January 26.

IFFR Live! will present a live audience experience event which will be initiated at next year’s edition of the festival. Through IFFR Live!, 7 European films, which will be premiered in attendance of cast and crew, will be screened simultaneously at selected theatres all over Europe, accompanied by a live stream of the introduction or Q&A that will take place in Rotterdam. This way, distributors will have the opportunity to release the films during or shortly after IFFR, either in theatres or on VOD or television. 

IFFR’s Rutger Wolfson, Fortissimo’s Nelleke Driessen, TrustNordisk’s Susan Wendt and Doc & Film International’s Daniela Elstner will introduce IFFR Live! at the summit, chaired by Screen International editor Michael Gubbins.

The summit will also feature a discussion about the present and future of film distribution and the viability of these groundbreaking initiatives, born in order to address the challenges of the digital era. Keynote speakers UK Film Council former Head of Distribution and Exhibition Peter Buckingham and Kyteman ex-manager Niels Aalberts, among others, will be among those present.