Get ready for a cinematic journey like no other! The International Film Festival Rotterdam is set to kick off with a bang, and we're here to give you an exclusive sneak peek at the incredible lineup. A celebration of global cinema, this festival promises to ignite your passion for storytelling and leave you wanting more.
The 55th edition, running from January 29th to February 8th, will open with a world premiere that's sure to captivate audiences. 'Providence and the Guitar', directed by João Nicolau, is a Portuguese masterpiece that blends the present with echoes of the past. Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic describes it as a witty and generous film, and we can't wait to see how it unfolds.
Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's short novel, the film follows the lives of Leon and Elvira, two performers navigating the challenges of their stage careers. What's even more exciting is the acting debut of Salvador Sobral, a beloved Portuguese musician and Eurovision winner, who brings his talent to the big screen for the first time.
But here's where it gets controversial... The festival will close with a crime comedy, 'Bazaar (Murder in the Building)', directed by Rémi Bezançon. This film stars an ensemble cast, including Laetitia Casta, Gilles Lellouche, and Guillaume Gallienne. Kaludjercic praises it for its style, intelligence, and sense of fun, but will it live up to the expectations of cinephiles? You'll have to attend to find out!
'Bazaar' follows an intriguing story of an enthusiastic Hitchcock scholar who believes their neighbor has committed a heinous crime. With their thriller novelist husband, they embark on a risky and absurd investigation, uncovering secrets and revealing truths.
Kaludjercic sums up the essence of this year's festival: "The 2026 edition unites diverse voices, featuring both new and returning artists. Their works explore themes of belonging, reinvention, humor, fear, and the beauty of human resilience in a changing world."
Let's dive into the competitions that will showcase the best of international cinema:
Tiger Competition
- "La belle année" - Directed by Angelica Ruffier (Sweden, Norway)
- "A Fading Man" - Directed by Welf Reinhart (Germany)
- "The Gymnast" - Directed by Charlotte Glynn (United States)
- "A Messy Tribute to Motherly Love" - Directed by Dan Geesin (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium)
- "My Semba" - Directed by Hugo Salvaterra (Angola)
- "Nangong Cheng" - Directed by Shao Pan (China)
- "O Profeta" - Directed by Ique Langa (Mozambique, South Africa, Qatar)
- "Roid" - Directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon (Bangladesh)
- "Supporting Role" - Directed by Ana Urushadze (Georgia, Estonia, Turkey, Switzerland, United States)
- "Unerasable!" - Directed by Socrates Saint-Wulfstan Drakos (Belgium, Thailand, Sweden)
- "Variations on a Theme" - Directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar (South Africa, Netherlands, Qatar)
- "Yellow Cake" - Directed by Tiago Melo (Brazil)
Big Screen Competition
- "2m²" - Directed by Volkan Üce (Belgium, Germany, Turkey)
- "The Arab" - Directed by Malek Bensmail (Algeria, France, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Belgium)
- "Butterfly" - Directed by Itonje Søimer Guttormsen (Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany)
- "Cyclone" - Directed by Philip Yung (Hong Kong)
- "The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford" - Directed by Sean Dunn (United Kingdom)
- "Home" - Directed by Marijana Janković (Denmark, Serbia)
- "Master" - Directed by Rezwan Shahriar Sumit (Bangladesh)
- "Moonglow" - Directed by Isabel Sandoval (Philippines, Taiwan, Japan)
- "Now I Met Her" - Directed by Xiao Luxi (China)
- "Projecto Global" - Directed by Ivo M. Ferreira (Portugal, Luxembourg)
- "Talking to a Stranger" - Directed by Adrián García Bogliano (Mexico)
- "Tell Me What You Feel" - Directed by Łukasz Ronduda (Poland)
Tiger Short Competition
- "A donde nos lleva la fe de José Gerónimo" - Directed by Juliano Kunert (Dominican Republic)
- "Acid City" - Directed by Jack Wedge and Will Freudenheim (United States)
- "The Apple Doesn't Fall..." - Directed by Dean Wei (China)
- "Body, Remember..." - Directed by Matthew Berka (United Kingdom)
- "Cul-De-Sac!" - Directed by Clyde Gates and Gabriel Sanson (Belgium, France)
- "Deep Cobalt" - Directed by Petna Ndaliko Katondolo (Congo, Democratic Republic, United States)
- "Dissonance" - Directed by Jordan Strafer (Germany), world premiere (festival)
- "Domestic Demon" - Directed by Anahid Yahjian (United States, Portugal)
- "Futuros luminosos" - Directed by Ismael García Ramírez (Colombia)
- "Golden Island" - Directed by Arief Budiman (Indonesia, Singapore)
- "Home Is Where the Heart Is" - Directed by Timothée Engasser (France)
- "I Am a River" - Directed by Heidi Piiroinen (Finland, France)
- "Last Shot" - Directed by Parham Rahimzadeh (Netherlands)
- "Like Moths to Light" - Directed by Gala Hernández López (Spain, Italy, France)
- "Mirror Martyr Mirror Moon" - Directed by Jesse Jones (Ireland)
- "The Next World" - Directed by Grau Del Grau (United States)
- "Objet d'énigme" - Directed by Chiara Caterina (Italy, Belgium)
- "Orla" - Directed by Marie Lukáčová (Czech Republic, Slovakia)
- "Relucesco" - Directed by Shannon Lynn Harris (Canada)
- "The Second Skin" - Directed by Mariia Lapidus (United States, Mexico)
- "Smriti~" - Directed by Shahi A J (India)
- "The Tragic Movement of the Spheres" - Directed by Simon Rieth (France)
Additionally, the Displacement Film Fund will support the following films:
- "Allies in Exile" - Directed by Hasan Kattan (United Kingdom)
- "Rotation" - Directed by Maryna Er Gorbach (Ukraine, Turkey)
- "Sense of Water" - Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran, Germany)
- "Super Afghan Gym" - Directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat (Germany)
- "Whispers of a Burning Scent" - Directed by Mo Harawe (Somalia, Austria, Germany)
Are you ready to embark on this cinematic adventure? The International Film Festival Rotterdam promises an unforgettable experience. Don't miss out on the chance to witness these incredible films and join the discussion. Which films are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments, and share your thoughts on the diverse range of stories and talents on display!
