55th International Film Festival Rotterdam

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55th International Film Festival Rotterdam
55th International Film Festival Rotterdam poster.png
Promotional poster
Location Rotterdam, Netherlands
Founded1972
Awards
  • Tiger Award:
  • Audience Award:
  • Robby Müller Award:
Artistic directorVanja Kaludjercic
Festival dateOpening: 29 January 2026 (2026-01-29)
Closing: 8 February 2025 (2025-02-08)
Website IFFR
International Film Festival Rotterdam

The 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam, is the 2025 edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, which will be held from 29 January to 8 February 2026. [1] In this edition a retrospective for Egyptian film director Marwan Hamed, as one of its Focus strands in celebration of his prolific career will be featured along with European premiere of his 2025 film El Sett, a biopic of Egyptian singer and actress Umm Kulthum. [2] In its second focus strand the festival will present films from the Japanese V-Cinema. [3]

Contents

Official selection

Limelight

A programme showcasing cinematic highlights of film festival favourites and international award-winners.

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
El Sett Marwan Hamed Egypt

Bright Future

The programme highlights first-feature films from promising filmmakers. [4]

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
I Grew an Inch When My Father DiedP. R. Monencillo PatindolPhilippines
Let Them Be SeenNolitha Refilwe MkulisiSouth Africa, Germany
Mayilaa Semmalar Annam India

Harbour

The programme showcases contemporary cinema. [5]

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Accept Our Sincere ApologiesJuja DobrachkousUnited Kingdom, Italy
Art Is Dark and Full of HorrorsEl arte es oscuro y está lleno de horroresArtemio NarroMexico
Earth SongErol MintaşFinland, Germany
The Hole, 309 Days to the Bloodiest Tragedy Bolong, 309 hari sebelum tragedi berdarah Hanung Bramantyo Indonesia
Krakatoa Carlos Casas United Kingdom, Poland, France
The Passion According to GHBA Paixão Segundo GHBGustavo Vinagre, Vinicius CoutoBrazil

Focus: Marwan Hamed

This will feature Marwan Hamed's work from the past twenty years. [6]

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleProduction countrie(s)
2014 The Blue Elephant الفيل الأزرقEgypt
2019 The Blue Elephant 2 2 الفيل الأزرق
2018 Diamond Dust تُراب الماس
2009 Ibrahim Labyad إبراهيم الأبيض
2022Kira & El Ginالجن و كيرة
2017 The Originals الأصليي
2006 The Yacoubian Building يعقوبيان عمارة

Focus: V-cinema

Japan’s V-Cinema Focus will showcase a range of Toei titles: [7]

English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countrie(s)
Crime Hunter クライムハンター 怒りの銃弾 Okawa Toshimichi Japan

References

  1. Leo Barraclough (23 October 2025). "Rotterdam Festival Unveils Nine World Premieres Across Bright Future, Harbour Strands". Variety . Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  2. Georg Szalai (16 October 2025). "Rotterdam Fest Sets Marwan Hamed Retrospective, Biopic of Arab Music Icon Umm Kulthum". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  3. Georg Szalai (6 November 2025). "Rotterdam Film Fest Unveils Focus Program on Japanese V-Cinema Phenomenon". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  4. "First wave of world premieres announced for IFFR 2026". International Film Festival Rotterdam . 23 October 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  5. "In Harbour". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  6. Goodfellow, Melanie (16 October 2025). "Umm Kulthum Biopic 'El Sett' To Make European Premiere At Rotterdam As Part Of Marwan Hamed Retrospective". Deadline . Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  7. Naman Ramachandran (6 November 2025). "'Female Teacher: Forbidden Sex' Among Selections as Rotterdam Spotlights Japan's V-Cinema Movement". Variety . Retrieved 8 November 2025.