IFFR

NFF+HBF backs features by Theo Montoya and Kasım Ördek 🇳🇱🌎 Dutch co-productions by Colombian filmmaker Theo Montoya and Turkish filmmaker Kasım Ördek have each been awarded €75,000 by the Hubert Bals Fund together with the Netherlands Film Fund (@nederlandsfilmfonds ). ✧ Theo Montoya (@theomontoya69 )’s Falso positivo (False Positive) reconstructs the “false positives” scandal, in which civilians were killed and falsely presented as guerrillas killed in combat during the 2009 Democratic Security Policy operation. Co-produced by Baldr Film (@baldrfilm ). ✧ Goodbye for Now is the debut feature from Turkish filmmaker Kasım Ördek (@kasimordek ), set in the underbelly of Istanbul and following two friends who survive through petty theft until a sudden disappearance and a desertion force them into a race against time. Co-produced by The Film Kitchen (@thefilmkitchennl ). Read more via the link in bio.

Dakendagen x IFFR: Repo Man 👅 On Friday 5 June as part of the Rotterdamse Dakendagen (@dakendagen010 ), we’re screening the classic absurd science fiction comedy Repo Man (1984), preceded by Rotterdam filmmaker Chris de Krijger’s Gedoetjes (2026). Join us for these films under the stars on the roof of the Mobypark Delftsestraat parking garage (known for the red BMW hanging off the side)! ✧ Repo Man by Alex Cox: While nihilistic punk Otto is being trained as a ‘repo man’ (repossessing cars) in Los Angeles, he gets hold of a stunning Chevrolet Malibu ’64 – with supernatural powers. ✧ Gedoetjes by Chris de Krijger: (@chrisdekrijger ): A collection of absurd and comical scenes celebrates the bumbling Homo sapiens in all its splendour – and ridiculousness. Get your tickets via the link in bio.

Release Egyptian filmmaker Omar Salah Marei now! 📣 The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Omar Salah Marei, our colleague, who has been forcibly disappeared by security forces in plain clothes since the evening of 11 May 2026. Four days after his arrest, his whereabouts remain unknown, no authority has claimed responsibility for his detention, and no reason has been given for it. Most critically, Omar has serious pre-existing medical conditions that require uninterrupted daily care, and there is no indication whatsoever that he is receiving any. Read more via @filmmakersatrisk

IFFR Filmclub x NNR x Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Inn a State of Siege 🇧🇦 On 28 May, we join forces with Netwerk Nieuw Rotterdam (NNR) (@netwerknieuwrotterdam ), and Bibliotheek Rotterdam (@bibliotheekrotterdam ), to host a Filmclub evening focusing on the theme of peace. We'll screen Inn a State of Siege (2026) by Qali Nur, who will be present for the Q&A. The Holiday Inn was a crucial site during the Siege of Sarajevo 1992–1995. Situated along "Sniper Alley", it housed international journalists. But what of the hotel staff? This revealing documentary gathers accounts from three men who braved daily danger to keep the hotel running. Register for free via the link in bio.

IFFR is looking for interns! 📣 Each year, IFFR welcomes new and established filmmakers from all over the world. The festival offers a platform for independent film, talks, exhibitions, performances and art installations, parties and more. For the upcoming edition, we’re looking for interns in several departments. Do you want to gain hands-on experience at one of the largest festivals in the Netherlands? Then read more about our vacancies and apply via the link in bio.

HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support celebrates successful pilot and launches second edition at Cannes 🇧🇷 We're thrilled to announce that IFFR's Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), together with Brazilian partners Projeto Paradiso (@projetoparadiso ), RioFilme (@_riofilme ), Spcine (@spcine_ ) and Embratur (@embraturbrasil ), will continue the HBF+Brazil: Co-development Support initiative following a successful pilot round. The initiative has proven to be a concrete example of how public and private partners can work together to support filmmakers at one of the most decisive and vulnerable stages of the creative process. In 2025, the pilot saw 10 Brazilian fiction film projects each receive grants of €10,000. To mark the announcement, the initiative's partners will host a panel discussion at the Marché du Film in Cannes on Monday 18 May, 17.30 – 19.00. Read more via the link in bio.

Cannes 2026: five IFFR-backed films in selection ⛵ We're proud to see five films supported by our Hubert Bals Fund and CineMart heading to Cannes. The features by filmmakers from Greece, Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda and Yemen span reconciliation after genocide, 90s family nostalgia, a women-only petrol station, teenage mermaids and wild elephants. 💗 Seis meses en el edificio rosa con azul dir. Bruno Santamaría Razo (@brunosantarazo ) – HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support 2024 (Semaine de la Critique) ⛽ The Station dir. Sara Ishaq (@saraishaq.film ) – HBF Development 2018, CineMart 2020, NFF+HBF 2021, HBF+Europe 2022 (Semaine de la Critique) 🧜‍♀️ Titanic Ocean dir. Konstantina Kotzamani – CineMart 2019 (Un Certain Regard) ⚖️ Ben'imana dir. Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo – HBF Development 2022 (Un Certain Regard) 🐘 Elephants in the Fog dir. Abinash Bikram Shah (@abinashbikramshah ) – HBF Development 2021, HBF+Europe 2023, BoostNL 2023 (Un Certain Regard) Plus IFFR and HBF alumni Theo Montoya, Dominga Sotomayor, Lisandro Alonso and Gessica Généus feature across the selections next to numerous Rotterdam Lab graduate producers. Read about them all in our bio link.

Film and media submissions are now open! Do you want to submit your film or Art Directions project for IFFR 2027? Check the deadlines. 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬 (𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟔𝟒 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬): ✧ Early fee: until 15 June 2026, 17.00 CEST ✧ Standard fee: until 31 August 2026, 17.00 CEST ✧ Late fee: until 15 September 2026, 17.00 CEST 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐝-𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬 (𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟒 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬): ✧ Early fee: until 15 June 2026, 17.00 CEST ✧ Standard fee: until 31 August 2026, 17.00 CEST ✧ Late fee: until 15 September 2026, 17.00 CEST 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝//𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: ✧ Final submission deadline: 7 August 2026 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚: ✧ Final submission deadline: 14 August 2026 Read more about eligibility criteria and submit via the link in bio. Film still: Cinemartyrs (IFFR 2026) by Sari Lluch Dalena

IFFR films in cinemas in May 🍿 Did you miss these films during the festival? Now’s your chance to catch them in Dutch cinemas: ✧ Treat Her Like a Lady by Paloma Aguilera Valdebenito (@paloma_aguilera_v ): Can eviction be revamped as a family holiday? A colourful tale of one woman's resilience. ✧ A Useful Ghost (year) by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (@ratchapoom ): A possessed vacuum cleaner becomes a national hero in an explosively political comic fantasy. ✧ Los domingos (year) by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (@alaudaruizdeazua ): A teenager’s decision to become a cloistered nun causes bewilderment and havoc in the family. Read more via the link in bio.

Rotterdamse Vrijheidsmaaltijden x IFFR 🍲 🕊️ On Tuesday 5 May, IFFR teams up with Pauluskerk (@pauluskerkrotterdam ) and Pathé Schouwburgplein to celebrate Liberation Day with lunch, a warm bowl of soup, and three short films from Rotterdam: ✧ Jackpot (2026) by Abid Chand (@abidchand ): A winning lottery ticket is worthless without valid identification to claim the prize, as this poignant fable about the misfortune of undocumented people shows. ✧ Vluchtval (2022) by Laura Stek (@laurastek ): Short documentary about 90-year-old poet Jana Beranová and 27-year-old freerunner Abdallah Marega leaving everything behind. ✧ This Is Your Captain Speaking (2026) by Nienke Deutz (@nienke_deutz ) and Digna van der Put: A group of neighbours living in the same building in Delfshaven explore the personal implications of having the ability to fly. A special thanks to Vfonds (@vfonds ) for supporting this event. Register for free via the link in bio.

Vacancy: Project Manager Hubert Bals Fund 🌍 At IFFR, the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) supports groundbreaking films from regions with limited or no access to film funding infrastructure, as well as threats to the freedom of artistic expression. As Project Manager, you’ll keep our funding schemes running smoothly and lead the operational delivery of our core funding programmes. Are you a sharp, organised project manager who thrives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments? Then you might be the perfect match! Read more about the position and apply via the link in bio.

Displacement Film Fund T-shirt launches worldwide for UNIQLO's PEACE FOR ALL project We’re proud to announce that the Displacement Film Fund – which celebrated its first world premieres at IFFR 2026 and is managed by our Hubert Bals Fund – is featured in UNIQLO's latest PEACE FOR ALL collection, all on sale worldwide from Friday 19 June. Rens Muis of Rotterdam design agency 75B, long-term IFFR collaborators behind festival campaigns since 2009, created the design: hand-drawn film cameras that double as projectors, displaying five words on peace from the first cohort of supported filmmakers – freedom, trust, humanity, respect and dignity. The filmmakers – Maryna Er Gorbach, Mo Harawe, Hasan Kattan, Mohammad Rasoulof and Shahrbanoo Sadat – are celebrated on the back. All profits from sales of this T-shirt go directly to the DFF, supporting filmmakers to create short films in future funding rounds. Read more via the link in bio.