International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025 Announces Star-Studded Guest Line-Up
The 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has announced an impressive roster of special guests and speakers for its 2025 edition, set to take place in the Netherlands from January 30 to February 9. The programme will feature dialogues across its Big Talks and Tiger Talks series, along with sessions during the RTM Day and the industry-focused IFFR Pro Days.
Big Talks will highlight individual creatives and their practices, featuring globally acclaimed filmmakers such as Costa Gavras, Miike Takashi, Cate Blanchett, Cheryl Dunye, Albertina Carri, and Alex Ross Perry. Notable participants in Tiger Talks include Mohammad Rasoulof, Timoteus Anggawan Kusno, Sergii Masloboishchykov, and Katja Raganelli, discussing topics like authoritarianism, archives in film, and gender in cinema.
Festival Director Vanja Kaludjercic expressed IFFR’s commitment to creating a platform for dialogue: “We spotlight leading and emerging creators with fresh perspectives and unique expertise, giving audiences a chance to discover new ideas.” Miike Takashi’s participation is particularly significant, given the pivotal role IFFR played in propelling his career internationally.
During the RTM Day, which is dedicated to Rotterdam on January 31, the programme will highlight local artists and filmmakers with talks such as a discussion on city reimagining and the creative process behind "Drie dagen vis" by Peter Hoogendoorn.
The IFFR Pro Days, running from January 31 to February 5, will include the IFFR Pro Dialogues, addressing challenges such as creative and political repression. New Meet the Expert sessions will offer insights from professionals like producers Alex Boden and Bianca Balbuena and script consultant Claire Dobbin.
A diverse selection of international filmmakers will also present their works at IFFR 2025, including Payal Kapadia ("All We Imagine as Light"), Uberto Pasolini ("The Return"), Albert Serra ("Tardes de soledad"), and Wang Bing ("Youth: Trilogy"). Artists in Focus include Sergii Masloboishchykov, who will premiere "Yasa," and Jessica Sarah Rinland, who will lead discussions on the boundaries of representation in photography and film.
Additionally, Amie Siegel will present her works "Panorama" and "Bloodlines" as part of the Art Directions programme, while Saeed Nouri will showcase rare excerpts from Iranian cinema alongside his premiere of "Tehran, An Unfinished History."
As one of Europe’s most dynamic film festivals, IFFR continues to provide a vital platform for cultural exchange and a meeting point for global filmmakers, critics, and audiences alike.