International Film Festival Rotterdam

IFFR Live returns in 2016 with five films in more than forty cinemas. Five films that will have their premieres during the 45th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will simultaneously screen in more than forty cinemas worldwide, in addition to live online audiences.

Like last year, filmmakers will be present at the premieres in Rotterdam. All viewers, whether in a cinema in the Netherlands, England, Italy, Poland, Canada or elsewhere in the world, can take part in the Q&A session after the film on Twitter, allowing them to sample the festival atmosphere wherever they are. Every Q&A will be further enhanced by additional live elements, such as music.

The second edition of IFFR Live will take place from 29 to 31 January. The following titles will be screened in Rotterdamse Schouwburg, Grote Zaal:

Friday 29 January, 20:00 CET: As I Open My Eyes

Saturday 30 January, 16:00 CET: The Model

Saturday 30 January, 20:00 CET: Prejudice

Sunday 31 January, 16:00 CET: La novia

Sunday 31 January, 20:00 CET: The Garbage Helicopter

AS I OPEN MY EYES – Leyla Bouzid – France, Tunisia, Belgium, United Arab Emirates

Leyla Bouzid’s impressive debut film is set in the summer of 2010, on the eve of Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution. Farah is a rebellious eighteen-year-old. Her over-protective mother wants her to study medicine, but fearless Farah prefers to sing with an underground band. When Farah disappears one day, it looks like she has run away again. But is that really the case? Winner of the BNL Audience Award and Best European Film at the Venice Film Festival.

THE MODEL – Mads Matthiesen – Denmark

When up-and-coming model Emma gets an opportunity to make her dream reality and become an international top model, she swaps home and life in Denmark for fashion capital Paris. Here, she meets attractive photographer Shane White at a photo shoot, and falls in love. But their relationship quickly becomes a dangerous obsession for Emma.

PREJUDICE – Antoine Cuypers – Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands

Challenging psychological drama in which the carefully nurtured harmony within a family is shattered one lovely summer evening. Cédric, who is generally shut away in a world of his own, responds recalcitrantly to the happy news of his sister’s pregnancy. Strong debut with great ensemble acting led by Nathalie Baye as the dominant mother.

LA NOVIA – Paula Ortiz – Spain, Germany

Based on the famous play Bodas de sangre/Blood Wedding by Federico García Lorca, La novia tells the story of a passionate love triangle. A bride leaves her groom, unable any longer to withstand the surging desires of her lover, Leonardo.

THE GARBAGE HELICOPTER – Jonas Selberg Augustsén – Sweden, Qatar

A comic road movie set against the background of contemporary Sweden. A strong debut, shot in black-and-white, in the style of the early films by Jim Jarmusch and Aki Kaurismäki.

IFFR Live is a collaboration between IFFR, Fortissimo Films, TrustNordisk, Doc & Film International and Les Films du Losange and Bob Film Sweden AB. IFFR Live extends the reach of festival films as far as possible by making use of new technology and new media.

Alongside the screenings in the cinemas, thanks to a partnership with KPN the films can be seen simultaneously on Kanaal 37 by subscribers to KPN Interactive TV in the Netherlands. These subscribers will also be able to take part in the interactive Q&A immediately following the films from the comfort of their own homes. The films are also available online on the VoD platform Filmin (Spain) and in other territories through a cooperation with Festival Scope.

For four decades now, IFFR has developed and proudly presented auteur cinema by helping filmmakers reach the broadest possible audiences. The festival has an international reputation for its idiosyncratic, innovative programming, with a special eye for talented filmmakers starting out on their careers. High-quality films from all over the world are presented to a large international public in Rotterdam, with the aim of inspiring and expanding horizons.

IFFR is one of the biggest cultural events in the Netherlands and one of the biggest audience-based film festivals in the world. The 45th IFFR takes place this year from Wednesday 27 January to Sunday 7 February 2016. With the latest feature films, documentaries, short films, exhibitions, performances, talkshows and debates, for twelve days Rotterdam is a scintillating, global film capital. Official ticket sales start on Friday, 22 January. For more information, see IFFR.com.