{"id":175407,"date":"2025-01-30T13:31:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T12:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=175407"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:40","slug":"iffr-2025-you-might-find-yourself-casually-having-a-drink-next-to-an-oscar-winning-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/01\/30\/iffr-2025-you-might-find-yourself-casually-having-a-drink-next-to-an-oscar-winning-director\/","title":{"rendered":"IFFR 2025: \u2018You might find yourself casually having a drink next to an Oscar-winning director\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) opening on Thursday approaches, five cinephiles share their tips and recommendations. “I love zooming out of one screening and going to another one.”<\/p>\n

Breaking down barriers<\/h2>
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Kirstin Feberwee is a familiar face at the IFFR.<\/span><\/p>

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Kirstin Feberwee is a culture program maker for Studium Generale.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI have attended the IFFR every year since my student days. A couple of years ago, I watched 24 films in ten days!<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019m looking forward to the most is the festival\u2019s vibe: it\u2019s full of like-minded people. It\u2019s not just about sitting down in Cinerama or Kino to watch films; the atmosphere transforms. Strangers start talking even without knowing each other. The parties happening at night are also a must-go. One year, I ended up dancing with the head of the university! That\u2019s the magic of IFFR; it breaks down barriers. Everyone feels like equals, and you might find yourself casually having a drink next to an Oscar-winning director \u2013 it would feel normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatching a film at a festival feels different, being among the first to see a film gives it a special energy. At the IFFR you get to rate each film, which makes you feel like your opinion really matters. Sometimes, a festival favourite can find its way to cinemas just because of its popularity there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I select the films I want to watch, I check all the films that are set to premiere later in cinemas, and I eliminate them. If I watch them all now, I\u2019ll have nothing left to watch at the cinema later in the year!\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Kirstin\u2019s film recommendation: Rains over Babel<\/em><\/a>, <\/strong>by Gala del Sol. \u201cI\u2019m really curious about this film. It\u2019s Dante\u2019s Inferno<\/em> but happening in a queer nightclub!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirstin\u2019s tip for the festival: \u201cJust go watch a random film, it could be the best surprise of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Discover new filmmakers<\/h2>
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Fraser Robinson goes to the cinema two or three times a week.\n<\/span><\/p>

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Fraser Robinson is a lecturer for the department of Media and Communication.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI go to the cinema two or three times a week, and at home I mostly watch older films on DVD. Once I\u2019m finished with a DVD, I drop it off in my neighborhood\u2019s sharing box.<\/p>\n

\u201cI watch a lot of films at IFFR; sometimes I\u2019ll squeeze in three in one night. Everything is within a five-minute reach, so I\u2019ll simply cycle back and forth between Kino and Path\u00e9. I love zooming out of one screening and going to another one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mainly enjoy going to the IFFR Pro<\/a> sessions, where professionals discuss the film industry. It\u2019s interesting for my research and teaching. This year, I\u2019m planning to attend a discussion on diversity<\/a> and another one on editing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIFFR has a great selection, it brings films from other parts of Europe and Asia and has a playful approach to experimental cinema. It\u2019s the kind of place where I know I\u2019ll discover filmmakers I\u2019d never have the chance to see otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, IFFR has a program about VHS<\/a>, and I\u2019m really excited about it. For someone who grew up with video stores, I know it\u2019s going to bring back nostalgia.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Fraser\u2019s film recommendation: Blazing Fists<\/em><\/a> by Miike Takashi. \u201cIf Miike Takashi is making it, it\u2019s going to be good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fraser\u2019s tip for the festival: \u201cIf you have any desire for a career in the film industry, use the festival as an opportunity. Go to as many events and talks as you can and express your interest. There is nothing wrong with asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Work in the cinema industry<\/h2>
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Lilla Demecs wants to work in the cinema industry.<\/span><\/p>

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Lilla Demecs is volunteering at the IFFR and completing her master in Media and Creative Industries.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI will be volunteering as an assistant location manager at Cinerama. My job is to make sure everything runs smoothly: ensuring the ticket scanners are in the right place, checking the sound, and making sure everything is perfectly coordinated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI chose to volunteer because I want to work in the cinema industry, and this feels like a good opportunity to get some practical work. If I make a good impression, I might be able to come back next year, and who knows, I might make nice connections.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to Cate Blanchett\u2019s talk<\/a>. The tickets sold out immediately, but I\u2019m hoping I\u2019ll be able to sneak in. I\u2019m skipping a whole week of class for the festival, but honestly, I think it\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Lilla\u2019s film recommendation: The Brutalist<\/em><\/a> by Brady Corbet. \u201cIt\u2019s happening in Budapest and it\u2019s about a Hungarian architect. As I\u2019m Hungarian myself, it\u2019s enough to convince me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lilla\u2019s tip for the festival: \u201cDo your research before booking tickets. Make a list of which films you really want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Celebrate all kinds of art<\/h2>
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Maria Spyrelli requests publicity material for the festival.<\/span><\/p>

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Maria Spyrelli is a communication intern at the IFFR and is completing her master in Media and Creative Industries.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started my internship, one of my tasks was to request publicity material for the films \u2013 things like posters and trailers. So far, 110 films have sent in their posters for the festival, and our volunteers have been putting them up in cinemas all over the city. Every time I see a poster, I immediately want to watch the film. It\u2019s a bit of a problem when you\u2019re surrounded by posters all day!<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to watch this short film called Yuck!<\/em><\/a> from a French director. It\u2019s part of the education program<\/a>, so I\u2019ll probably be surrounded by kids. But I loved the trailer, so who cares?<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing I\u2019ve noticed is that people tend to stay in the city center during the festival, which is a shame. This year in Rotterdam West, the Katoenhuis will host an immersive art exhibition in partnership with IFFR. This is the fun of the festival; not everything is about film, it\u2019s a celebration of all kinds of art.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Maria\u2019s film recommendation: All We Imagine as Light<\/em><\/a> by Payal Kapadia. \u201cIt\u2019s a film showing how female friendships can be a force of survival, rebellion, and healing, I bet it\u2019s going to be very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maria\u2019s tip for the festival: \u201cThey are more than five hundred titles, it can be overwhelming. Take advantage of the website\u2019s filters; they are really useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Rethink how we live<\/h2>
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Roderik attended the IFFR for the first time fifteen years ago.<\/span><\/p>

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Roderik is an assistant professor in the department of Media & Communication.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see films that speak about concerns in our daily lives and have a clear message about our society. It\u2019s even better when they\u2019re set outside of Europe; I like seeing perspectives that are completely different from my own. I think I\u2019ll find that with films like Macai<\/em><\/a>, a Malaysian production, and \u00a1Caigan las rosas blancas!<\/em><\/a>, a road trip film set in Argentina. It\u2019s okay if a film is mainstream, as long as it makes me rethink how we live I\u2019m satisfied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I attended IFFR was about fifteen years ago; it was to interview an industry professional for my master\u2019s thesis. We met in a fancy rooftop bar where a lot of cinema professionals hang out, and I felt like an outsider. But when I talked to these professionals, I realised IFFR also brings together a community of local and international industry professionals. There was a lot to find out, and my six-months thesis turned into a four-years PhD.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Roderik\u2019s film recommendation: Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra<\/em><\/a> by Hanung Bramantyo. \u201cIt\u2019s not about sex, I think it\u2019s a film about the complexities of patriarchal culture. I\u2019m just really curious about this in the context of Indonesia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roderik\u2019s tip for the festival: \u201cIFFR is more than a festival where you could watch a curated selection of acclaimed films. Check out the art installations in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

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