Dutch film festival programmer invites Iran films

A Dutch programmer has expressed optimism in Iran’s presence for the upcoming International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands.

As programmer of the IFFR and currently a guest in the 35th Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF) in the Iranian capital city of Tehran, Bianca Taal said of the FIFF, “It is a great opportunity to meet with people to know about films that may not be screened here yet, but are coming up so we can hopefully have Iranian films in the world premiere at the next Rotterdam Festival.”

She is at the 35th FIFF event, which runs from April 21-28, to select films from among recent Iranian productions for the Dutch festival.

“Being adventurous, so to say, is something we cherish very much at the (Dutch) festival,” Taal said, adding that they have at least one or two Iranian feature films in the festival.

The Dutch event lays strong emphasis on emerging talent; the competition is for first or second time filmmakers and there is a separate section dedicated to the “cinema of discovery” that is about filmmakers who dare to push boundaries, tell stories in a new way, experiment with form and storytelling.

Taal has been to the Fajr festival twice, saying this year’s event has markedly improved since three years ago.

“The festival location has changed and the (film) market looks much bigger and livelier. The program looks very exciting so I am curious to discover films that are being screened,” Taal said, adding Iranian cinema is famous worldwide.

The 35th Fajr International Film Festival is hosting some 177 filmmakers, directors, and producers, representing 92 Iranian and international film companies and distribution networks.

AI/AI