IFFR Pro announces CineMart 2025 lineup

International Film Festival Rotterdam

Netherlands

The 42nd edition of CineMart, part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Pro Days, has revealed a bold and diverse lineup of projects to be showcased from February 2–5, 2025, in the Netherlands. A total of 20 film projects and four immersive media projects have been selected for the co-production market, which connects filmmakers with industry professionals seeking innovative and timely stories.

This year's selection spans genres and themes, including war, authoritarian regimes, queer narratives, strong female characters, and explorations of colonial legacies. Among the highlights is "Something Strange Happened to Me" by Ukrainian filmmaker Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, which delves into the psychological toll of war. Similarly, Daniel Mann’s "The Uganda Project" revisits a little-known colonial history involving a potential Jewish homeland in Uganda.

African directors take center stage with South Africa’s "Eziko" by Babalwa Baartman and Jenna Cato Bass, and Kenya’s "Enkop" by Angela Wanjiku Wamai, both offering unique perspectives on identity and displacement. Latin America is represented by Ana Elena Tejera’s "Corte Culebra", exploring Panama’s history of American occupation.

Four CineMart projects, including Tejera’s "Corte Culebra" and Kamila Andini’s "Four Seasons in Java", are backed by the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF). The 25th anniversary of the Rotterdam Lab is also marked with significant representation, with ten alumni participating in project teams.

Notable contributors include Cheryl Dunye, whose dystopian "Black Is Blue" combines AI-driven narratives with queer themes, and Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair’s "Meat", a folk horror rooted in Ireland's Great Famine.

CineMart’s Darkroom strand, dedicated to works-in-progress, has doubled its size this year to feature 12 projects, including immersive media. Among the immersive lineup are "The Dreams of Time" by Jeissy Trompiz and "Strata" by Lilian Hess, exploring themes of time and memory through cutting-edge storytelling techniques.

Running from January 31 to February 5, 2025, IFFR Pro Days will host panel discussions, networking events, and awards ceremonies, including the Eurimages New Lab Awards. CineMart remains a vital hub for connecting innovative filmmakers with financing and co-production opportunities, reflecting IFFR’s ongoing commitment to global cinema.

CineMart's 2025 lineup underscores its reputation as a beacon of bold and diverse storytelling, offering a platform for filmmakers to bring their visionary projects to life.

Complete List of CineMart 2025 Feature Selections

1. "100 Thousand Turkish Liras" / Nazlı Elif Durlu / Turkey, Germany
   Produced by: istos film, Achtung Panda!
2. "Adiós, amor" / Zaida Carmona / Spain
   Produced by: DEBUT Films, CANADA
3. "Black Is Blue" / Cheryl Dunye / United States, Germany, Greece
   Produced by: BLACK IS BLUE LLC, Jingletown Films, Jürgen Brüning Filmproduktion, Sima Films, Pinch Me Films, Chrysallis Productions
4. "Cape of Pleasures" / Marcelo Gomes, Cao Guimarães / Brazil, Uruguay
   Produced by: Cinco em Ponto, Misti Filmes, Criatura Cine
5. "Corte Culebra" / Ana Elena Tejera / France, Panama
   Produced by: Mestizo Cinema, Fulgurance
6. "Enkop (The Soil)" / Angela Wanjiku Wamai / Kenya, Netherlands
   Produced by: LBx Africa, PRPL
7. "Eziko" / Babalwa Baartman, Jenna Cato Bass / South Africa
   Produced by: Sanusi Films, Miss K Productions
8. "Faust" / Jazmín López / Germany, Argentina
   Produced by: Schuldenberg Films
9. "Four Seasons in Java" / Kamila Andini / Indonesia, Singapore
   Produced by: Forka Films, Giraffe Pictures
10. "How Melissa Blew a Fuse" / Una Gunjak / Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia
    Produced by: SSCA / pro.ba, Nukleus Film, Bas Celik Film House
11. "Inbetween Worlds" / Diana Cam Van Nguyen / Czech Republic, Slovakia
    Produced by: 13ka, nutprodukcia
12. "Marseille" / Yim Brakel / Netherlands
    Produced by: Labyrint Film
13. "Meat" / Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair / Ireland
    Produced by: Fantastic Films
14. "Sentinel" / Carl Joseph E. Papa / Philippines
    Produced by: Project 8 Projects
15. "Something Strange Happened to Me" / Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk / Ukraine
    Produced by: Mellivora Production
16. "The March of the Sunflowers" / Erik Ricco / Brazil
    Produced by: Cup Filmes, Coala Filmes, Tubz Studio
17. "The Price of Gold" / Eugen Jebeleanu / Romania
    Produced by: microFILM
18. "The Uganda Project" / Daniel Mann / France, UK
    Produced by: Acqua Alta, La Bete, Laila UK
19. "Strange Root" / Lam Li Shuen, Mark Chua / Singapore, Indonesia
    Produced by: 13 Little Pictures, Emoumie Pictures, Palari Films
20. "Unidentified Actress" / Ashim Ahluwalia / India, Germany
    Produced by: Future East Film, Rapid Eye Movies

Complete List of CineMart 2025 Immersive Selections

1. "The Dreams of Time" / Jeissy Trompiz / Venezuela, Brazil
   Produced by: Alamar Films, Migranta Films
2. "Hyperdam" / Floris van Laethem / Netherlands
   Produced by: Dutch Digital Collectibles
3. "One Charming Night" / Robin Coops / Netherlands
   Produced by: Studio Biarritz, Coops & Co
4. "Strata" / Lilian Hess / Luxembourg
   Produced by: a_BAHN