The 53rd edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR, 25 January-4 February 2024) will kick off with Jonathan Ogilvie's semi-autobiographical, post-punk, coming-of-age comedy Head South. “For over half a century, IFFR has stood as a haven for diverse voices – a convergence where artists share perspectives. Our programme celebrates the resilience and creativity of global filmmakers, a testament to cinema's power to transcend borders. From Indian to Japanese epics, a Kazakh thriller, Finnish Freudian reinterpretations, Dominican sci-fi and underground Iranian cinema, this selection invites you to dive in and immerse yourself,” says the IFFR’s festival director, Vanja Kaludjercic.

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The 2024 IFFR Tiger Competition, a platform for emerging film talent featuring 14 titles, will have its winners selected by a jury comprising Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, Nadia Turincev, Herman Yau and Billy Woodberry. The selection explores identity, personal transformation, and the interplay between individuals and their environments. Moses [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Jenni Luhta, Lauri Luhta
scheda film] by Jenni and Lauri Luhta reinterprets historical and mythical figures, with Jenni portraying Sigmund Freud and Lauri stepping into the shoes of Moses while dealing with the birth of monotheism. In The Rim [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], Alberto Gracia crafts a deeply personal homage to his adolescence in Ferrol, Spain, intertwining the city's identity with his own life story. Yves Netzhammer's Journey of Shadows [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] presents a surreal journey that uncovers a dystopian universe, while Swimming Home [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Justin Anderson explores the undercurrents of family dynamics and unresolved traumas through surreal and darkly comic lenses. Me, Maryam, the Children and 26 Others [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Farshad Hashemi
scheda film] by Farshad Hashemi tells a poignant story of change and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of filmmaking.

The Big Screen Competition tackles the topics of choice, identity and society. Aire: Just Breathe by Leticia Tonos projects a dystopian future where human existence and ethical choices intertwine with technology. Ville Suhonen’s Children of War and Peace [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] delves into the manipulation of children's roles in society, reflecting on the impact of nationalist education and state control. Trust [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Daniele Luchetti
scheda film] by Daniele Luchetti addresses the complexities of relationships and the consequences of choices on personal identity, while Ulaa Salim’s Eternal [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ulaa Salim
scheda film] homes in on the repercussions of prioritising one’s career over love, offering a poignant look at life's alternative paths. Milk Teeth [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Mona Cathleen Otterbach
intervista: Sophia Bösch
scheda film] by Sophia Bösch presents a modern fairy tale that focuses on motherhood and belonging, highlighting the struggles inherent in integration and personal independence, and Rodrigo Areias’ The Worst Man in London [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] offers a historical perspective on artistic freedom and moral ambiguity.

The Harbour section, meanwhile, showcases a diverse selection that digs into themes of self-discovery, societal norms and the human condition. From the surreal western journey of sound artists Lolo and Sosaku in Lolo & Sosaku The Western Archive by Sergio Caballero to the introspective Future Me by Vincent Boy Kars, these films explore personal and collective identities in unique settings. Romania’s Maia – Portrait with Hands embarks on a cultural and historical journey, while Billy Woodberry’s Mário offers a biographical look at a revolutionary figure. The exploration continues with Stefanie Kolk’s Milk [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Stefanie Kolk
scheda film], a poignant narrative of grief and resilience, and Memory Dealers by Mila van der Linden, a dystopian tale with political undertones. Each movie, whether it's the thrilling NL-Alert, the reflective The Waste Land, the provocative Trauma Porn Club, the dystopian Venus or the mediaeval horror Witte Wieven, presents a distinct perspective on navigating life's complexities.

The immersive experiences merge technology, nature and human perception, challenging viewers to reconsider their place in the world in the Art Directions section. The Assembly transforms communication into a VR symphony of sounds and rhythms, fostering a unique sense of community. Asunder critically examines the role of AI in environmental management, playfully critiquing technology's dominance in solving global challenges. Meanwhile, Naima Joris: 'O' blends live music with captivating microscopic imagery of plankton, highlighting the interconnectivity of life. In addition, the festival will close with the European premiere of M Raihan Halim’s La Luna, which promises to leave audiences deep in reflection yet entertained, as it cleverly juxtaposes religious orthodoxy with liberal ideals in the tale of a Malaysian village disrupted by an upscale lingerie store.

The two feature competition line-ups are as follows:

Tiger Competition

The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire - Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich (USA)
Flathead - Jaydon Martin (Australia)
Grey Bees - Dmytro Moiseiev (Ukraine)
Kiss Wagon - Midhun Murali (India)
Me, Maryam, the Children and 26 Others [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Farshad Hashemi
scheda film] - Farshad Hashemi (Iran/Germany/Czech Republic)
Moses [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Jenni Luhta, Lauri Luhta
scheda film] - Jenni Luhta, Lauri Luhta (Finland)
The Rim [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Alberto Gracia (Spain)
Formosa Beach [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Julia De Simone
scheda film] - Julia De Simone (Brazil/Portugal)
Rei - Tanaka Toshihiko (Japan)
Journey of Shadows [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Yves Netzhammer (Switzerland)
She Fell to Earth - Susie Au (Hong Kong)
sr - Lea Hartlaub (Germany)
Swimming Home [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Justin Anderson (UK)
Under a Blue Sun [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Daniel Mann (France/Israel)

Big Screen Competition

Aire: Just Breathe - Leticia Tonos Paniagua (Dominican Republic/Spain)
Children of War and Peace [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Ville Suhonen (Finland)
Trust [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Daniele Luchetti
scheda film] - Daniele Luchetti (Italy)
Eternal [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ulaa Salim
scheda film] - Ulaa Salim (Denmark/Iceland/Norway)
Milk Teeth [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Mona Cathleen Otterbach
intervista: Sophia Bösch
scheda film] - Sophia Bösch (Germany/Switzerland)
The Old Bachelor - Oktay Baraheni (Iran)
Portrait of a Certain Orient [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Marcelo Gomes
scheda film] - Marcelo Gomes (Brazil/Italy/Lebanon)
Seven Seas Seven Hills - Ram (India)
Steppenwolf - Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan)
Tenement - Inrasothythep Neth, Sokyou Chea (Cambodia)
The Worst Man in London [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Rodrigo Areias (Portugal)
Yohanna [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Robby Ertanto (Indonesia/UK/Italy)