CineMart, Rotterdam Lab and More: IFFR 2024 Industry Programme Highlights

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), one of the largest and most influential film festivals in the world, will return for its 53rd edition from 25 January to 4 February 2024. The festival will present a diverse selection of films, art and media works, as well as a rich industry programme for attending film professionals.

The industry programme will start on Friday 26 January with the opening of the Pro Hub, the central meeting point for filmmakers and industry delegates. The Pro Hub will host mentoring sessions, one-on-one meetings and the IFFR Pro Dialogues, a series of panel discussions on current and relevant topics in the film industry.

One of the main events of the industry programme is the CineMart, the oldest and most renowned co-production market in the world. The CineMart will run from Sunday 28 January to Wednesday 31 January and will feature around 20 selected projects from emerging and established filmmakers. The project teams will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to potential co-producers, financiers, sales agents and distributors. The CineMart will also include the Spotlight presentations, where the project teams will introduce their projects to a wider audience on Monday 29 January.

Another highlight of the industry programme is the Pro Darkroom, a new initiative that was launched in 2023. The Pro Darkroom will showcase a curated selection of work-in-progress projects from around the world on Tuesday 30 January. The screenings will be followed by feedback sessions with industry experts and decision makers. The Pro Darkroom will culminate with the IFFR Pro Awards ceremony in the evening, where several prizes will be awarded to the most promising projects.

The industry programme will also feature several talent development programmes, such as the Rotterdam Lab, BoostNL and Creative Producer Indaba. The Rotterdam Lab is a five-day workshop for emerging producers from different regions and backgrounds. The workshop will provide training, networking and coaching opportunities for the participants. The Rotterdam Lab will welcome more than 70 producers selected by partner organisations, as well as five extra participants chosen through an open call. BoostNL is a tailor-made programme for projects in advanced stages of development and production. The programme will offer individual guidance, script consultancy and market access to the selected projects. Creative Producer Indaba is a year-long programme for African producers, aimed at enhancing their skills, expanding their networks and facilitating international co-productions.

The festival will announce its programme lineup and competition titles on Monday 18 December 2023 at 11.00 a.m. CET during a press conference. The ticket booking for accredited guests will open on Thursday 11 January 2024 at 10.00 a.m. CET. For more information, visit the festival’s official website.