Profile: General/artistic director and board IFFR

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has been fostering independent cinema since 1972. Films, ranging from features to short films and video installations, stimulate and free our minds. Films move, confront, rouse and entertain us and are therefore vital for an open and diverse society. Every year IFFR demonstrates that there is a wide audience for free-spirited artistic films.

IFFR is one of the largest audience and industry-driven film festivals in the world. With the annual festival and year-round activities, IFFR provides a platform for filmmakers to present their work to a broad and diverse public. IFFR also stimulates, coaches, finances, distributes and supports both upcoming and established filmmakers through the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), CineMart and Rotterdam Lab.

Throughout the year, we offer tailor-made programmes for primary, secondary and tertiary education. The combination of educational activities, an audience-oriented festival and a meeting place for film professionals is what makes IFFR strong, beloved and relevant. IFFR is looking forward to its 50th anniversary in 2021.

Organisation and finances

IFFR is guided by a supervisory board and the organisation IFFR operates with a two-headed board of directors consisting of the general/artistic director and the managing director.

The organisation has a team of more than 40 employees who work year-round. In the run-up to the festival this number rises to 120 employees, spread across various departments such as programming, distribution, finance, marketing, communication and PR, education, development, IT and innovation, and IFFR Pro (aimed at international film professionals). During the festival, the organisation is supported by an additional 200 flexible/temporary employees as well as over 950 enthusiastic volunteers.

IFFR is subsidised by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the municipality of Rotterdam. The main sponsors as well as many other partners, companies and suppliers contribute to the realisation and success of IFFR. The current annual budget amounts to more than 9 million euros. IFFR calls on contributions from several funds to finance its special programmes and festival events. IFFR is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).

The directors

The general/artistic director and the managing director are jointly responsible and supervise all activities of the IFFR organisation. Employees carrying out artistic and content-related activities operate under the guidance of the general/artistic director, while employees carrying out business-related activities are guided by the managing director. The two directors work closely together as a team and foster a constructive and collaborative relationship.

The directors are responsible as a team for company policies and finances. Safeguarding the continuity and growth of sponsorships, partnerships and subsidies is a combined effort of both directors. The team of directors is accountable to the supervisory board.

The general/artistic director

• Represents the organisation, positioning and profiling of IFFR nationally and internationally as a figurehead and the face of the festival.
• Fits the IFFR style: artistic, socially engaged, open-minded, progressive, cinephile and audacious.
• Leads the team of programmers and, in consultation with them, decides on the contents of the programme, including the annual special programmes.
• Can rely on an extensive, relevant and warm professional international film industry network.
• Has, and can adequately formulate and express, a clear vision on cinema.
• Knowledge of and expertise in the international film and media landscape and has an insight into future developments.
• Gives direction with strong and compelling purpose. Has a clear view on how to position IFFR among the international competition.
• Is a team player. Inspires, connects and gives space to professionals. Is easily approachable for colleagues. Is curious and open to other opinions.
• Lives in the Netherlands or is willing to move to the Netherlands, preferably Rotterdam. Is prepared to travel and has an excellent written and spoken command of the English language.

Skills

• Communicative
• Strategic
• Collaborative
• Creative, innovative, flexible
• Skilled negotiator
• Representative (stage presence)
• Mediating skills
• Ambitious

The procedure

The selection committee consists of three supervisory board members and the managing director. The first round of interviews will be held by the selection committee in autumn 2019. Subsequently, a second round of interviews will be held by the advisory committee, which consists of a selected number of employees. The position of general/artistic director of IFFR is open to international applications.

IFFR strives to appoint the new general/artistic director in December 2019. It will be much appreciated if the appointed director is present at the 49th edition of the festival in January 2020.

IFFR has hired an external consultant to coordinate the recruitment and selection procedure. All applicants are asked to contact Elisabeth Dielesen of Cultuur+Ondernemen. She can be reached at +31 6 29 00 02 31.

Applications, consisting of a CV and motivation letter, should be sent to elisabeth@cultuur-ondernemen.nl before 13 September 2019.