International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will turn Rotterdam into the world’s independent film capital for the 43rd time from 22 January until 2 February 2014. As a prelude to the European elections of 2014, in its multi-strand Signal ‘The State of Europe’, IFFR offers a series of reflections on Europe and a platform for discussion on its future with films, talks and debates. On this occasion, Thomas Bellinck´s exhibition ‘Domo de Europa Historio en Ekzilo’ travels from Brussels to Rotterdam. 

Festival director Rutger Wolfson: “The historical project of the European unification has lost much of its luster. Peace and prosperity, the two main forces that have driven Europe, are still relevant today but feel worn out. Politicians seem unable to convey a convincing alternative future perspective and many citizens are angry, disillusioned or have lost interest completely.

Film can make European identity and ideas visible and recognizable for large audiences. It offers numerous starting points to freshly explore European culture, at a safe distance from any top-down political agenda, either pro or con Europe. With three thematic film programs, IFFR explores different topics relevant in Europe today, such as immigration, (cultural) identity and personal living conditions. Together they give an insight into what unites and what divides Europe. In doing so IFFR aims look for answers and future perspectives, together with film makers and the audience, there where politics seem to fail.”

State of Europe: Grand Tour

The films in State of Europe: Grand Tour take you on a journey of cinematic Europe, showing its diversity, traditions, past, present and future. Parts of the grand puzzle that is Europe, many of the films in this sidebar are highlights of European cinema from the past year. Grand Tour includes award winning Sacro GRA by Gianfranco Rosi. This first ever documentary to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival depicts life along the Grande Raccordo Anulare, the ring-road highway that circles Rome. The series is curated by IFFR programmer Gerwin Tamsma.

State of Europe: My Own Private Europe

My Own Private Europe aims to rediscover Europe through highly personal and sometimes very intimate points of view, showing how filmmakers experience living in today's Europe. These films, brought together by IFFR programmer Evgeny Gusyatinski, try to capture the personal notion of "a European identity”. The Portuguese first-person essay What Now? Remind Me by Joaquim Pinto is a great example. The film shows a year in Pinto’s life, struggling with treatment for HIV and hepatitis C, creating a sensitive portrait of his work and a unique snapshot Europe.

State of Europe: EU-29

Europe has become a Union of no less than 28 states, but not every person fits in these states or feels at home. Not everyone is welcome or expected to stay. Many people - and as a consequence many films - don't really belong to the EU-28. For them an imaginary 29th state was created by IFFR programmer Gertjan Zuilhof: a country of immigration and moving cinema. This sidebar includes Claire Simon’s Gare du Nord, a love story between a young Algerian sociologist and an elegant French history professor set against the backdrop of this bustling Paris train station, meeting point for the French, the immigrants, the emigrants, and the travellers from all over the world.

‘Domo de Europa Historio en Ekzilo’ exhibition

The exhibition ‘Domo de Europa Historio en Ekzilo’ travels to Rotterdam. In this exhibition, artist Thomas Bellinck shows us how we will look back on Europe in fifity years time. Set in a private museum in 2063, the exhibition looks back on life in the then former European Union. It was a remarkable era, characterised by Integration and Harmonisation, blessed by the Long Peace, overshadowed by the Great Recession. Back when national borders were blurred and people everywhere used a single currency called the ‘euro’. Back when Brussels, not Warsaw, lay at the beating heart of the old continent. Produced by KVS (Royal Flemish Theatre), ‘Domo de Europa Historio en Ekzilo’ was on show in Brussels earlier this year.

´The State of Europe´ is supported by the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and SNS Reaal Fund.