IFFR Pro

23/05/2026

Jury Prize in Cannes for Hubert Bals Fund- and IFFR Pro-supported Elephants in the Fog 🇳🇵🏆

Our congratulations to Nepalese filmmaker Abinash Bikram Shah, whose HBF-supported debut feature Elephants in the Fog won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.

"A work of shattering visual beauty and q***r political ferocity," wrote Cédric Succivalli for the International Cinephile Society on the film set in Nepal's transgender community.

The film was backed by the Hubert Bals Fund with Development Support (2021) and HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support (2023), as well as through IFFR Pro and the Netherlands Film Festival's BoostNL development programme (2022–3).

Co-producer Tatiana Leite of Bubbles Project (Brazil) – a Rotterdam Lab 2015 alum and familiar face as a CineMart mentor – brings yet another IFFR connection.

06/05/2026

04/02/2026

IFFR Pro Awards 2026 🏆

​The Pro Awards winners have just been announced, presented to projects across the 2026 CineMart, Darkroom, Lightroom and Safe Harbour lineups!
4DR Studios Awards:

Best Immersive Project in Development:
✧ Chemin des Bâtards by Leon Rogissart (Belgium, Netherlands)
Best Immersive Work-in-Progress:
✧ Cléo by Coco Chen (Taiwan)

ArteKino International Award:
✧ The Poet's Son by Nicolas Graux (.graux) (Belgium, France, Germany)
(with a special shoutout from the jury for Worse Together by Luis De Filippis )

Eurimages New Lab Awards:
Innovation Award:
✧ Daughters of the Sea by Martika Ramirez Escobar (.escobar) (Philippines, Spain)
Outreach Award:
✧ LFD Hope by Joshua Loftin (United Kingdom, Hungary)

Filmmore Awards:
✧ The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs by Èlia Gasull Balada () and Matteo Norzi (Peru, United States, Spain, Chile)
✧ Pale Faces by Chantel Clark () (Netherlands, South Africa)

HBF Empowerment Award:
✧ Marina by Laís Santos Araújo (.santos.araujo) and Pethrus Tibúrcio (.t) (Brazil)

HBF x PUBLIKUM Audience Outreach Award:
✧ Coumba by Mamadou Dia (Senegal, France)
New Impulse Award:
✧ Hidden Journey by Noura Adil () (Sudan)

VIPO Award:
✧ Neon Phantom by Leonardo Martinelli () (Brazil)

Read more via: https://iffr.com/en/blog-iffr-pro-awards-2026

21/01/2026

Meet the Rotterdam Lab 2026 producers and creators 🟢 ⚪ 🧪

We're proud to introduce to you the 83 emerging producers and creators from over 45 countries coming to IFFR for this edition's Rotterdam Lab.

Across five inspiring days of panels, roundtables and networking events, participants have the chance to sharpen their producing skills and knowledge, exchange ideas and build lasting international connections in a vibrant, supportive environment.

For the first time, Rotterdam Lab welcomes 20 creators for a new and parallel strand tailored for writers and directors to deepen their understanding of production and the business of film and TV.

Read more via: https://iffr.com/en/iffr-pro/talent-development/rotterdam-lab/rotterdam-lab-participants-2026

12/12/2025

Lightroom immersive market announces nine works 🕯️

Nine projects have been selected for the first edition of Lightroom: IFFR's new industry platform for immersive storytelling, taking place during the IFFR Pro Days at IFFR 2026.

Lightroom brings together all XR, VR and interactive projects previously presented as works-in-progress and works-in-development in CineMart and Darkroom, and, together with a symposium, creates one unified space for immersive work.

The selected projects are:
In-development:
🇧🇪🇳🇱 Chemin des Bâtards, dir. Leon Rogissart
🇱🇺🇫🇷 Les Gens de la Pluie, dir. Nicolas Blies & Stéphane Hueber-Blies (aka Bliesbro)
🇨🇭 Hiatus, dir. Laurent Novac, z1 Studio
🇨🇦 Lueurs Intérieures, dir. Bianca Shonee Arroyo-Kreimes & Philippe Lambert
🇳🇱 Mine Land, dir. & prod. Katja Verheul

Works-in-progress:
🇹🇼 Cléo, dir. Coco Chen
🇩🇪🇳🇱 The Demise of the ISS Leonardo, dir. Davide Maria Emanuel Cocchiara
🇮🇹🇯🇵🇳🇱 Jarkov, dir. Maya Watanabe
🇯🇵 NOX, dir. Rio Nakada

Read more about them here: https://iffr.com/en/blog-lightroom-selection-2026

10/12/2025

Rotterdam Lab open-call selections 🧪

Our workshop for emerging producers, Rotterdam Lab, has announced the names of five producers who will join the cohort of 70+ producers at IFFR 2026, following an open-call for participation.

The Creative Europe-backed call aims to maximise the plurality of voices, backgrounds and experiences in the Rotterdam Lab cohort, giving particular attention to countries and regions not yet served by existing partner organisations.

The selected producers are:

🇵🇸 May Jabareen (Palestine)
🇱🇧 Hiba Louis (Lebanon)
🇦🇷 Iván Moscovich (Argentina)
🇨🇿 Natália Pavlove (Czech Republic)
🇰🇪 Audrey Restetuta Tanya (Kenya)

Read all about them here: https://iffr.com/en/blog-rotterdam-lab-2026-open-call-selection

09/12/2025

CineMart launches Safe Harbour programme for stateless and at-risk filmmakers 🌐

Safe Harbour is IFFR's new market programme intended to uplift projects in development from emerging filmmakers who have experienced displacement or forced migration and who face limited access to professional networks, funding pathways and development opportunities.

For this pilot edition, four early-stage projects by writers, directors and artists who are at risk and/or stateless have been selected to participate in the 43rd edition of IFFR’s co-production market CineMart:

✧ The Beer Girl In Yangon, dir. Sein Lyan Tun (Myanmar)

✧ Hidden Journey, dir. Noura Adil (Sudan)

✧ Last Trip, dir. Ziad Kalthoum (Syria)

✧ Shall We Meet Again?, dir. Amjad Sokkar and Woroud Alqassas (Palestine/Gaza)

The programme has been developed in collaboration with the International Emerging Film Talent Fund (IEFTF), the Athens-based philanthropic organisation dedicated to strengthening film ecosystems across the Global South, who led global outreach with extensive research and interviews.

Read about Safe Harbour, and more details of the IFFR Pro programme for 2026, here: https://iffr.com/en/blog-cinemart-safe-harbour

27/11/2025

CineMart selections unveiled for 2026 ✨

We're thrilled to announce the 21 feature projects selected for CineMart, IFFR's co-production market, running Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4 February during IFFR 2026 – together with the 10 projects for our work-in-progress platform Darkroom.

Discovery and established filmmaking meet in this year's selection. The lineup tackles urgent global themes – war and displacement, climate change and the struggle to define and preserve identities in turbulent times – all with bold cinematic creativity and forays into sci-fi, horror and musical.

Two new initiatives launch this year, reinforcing CineMart's connections across the festival ecosystem: the inaugural CineMart x HBF lineup features six projects from Hubert Bals Fund Development recipients, whilst the new Lightroom programme, developed with IFFR's Art Directions, creates a dedicated platform for immersive media projects.

CineMart:
🇪🇸 Adarna by Lois Patiño (.patino), Spain. Produced by: Elástica Films ( ), Matriuska Producciones ( )
🇳🇱🇨🇭 after the night, the night by Naomi Pacifique (), Netherlands, Switzerland. Produced by: Grom Productions (.productions), Lemming Film (), GoldenEgg production ()
🇪🇬🇫🇷 Animals by Morad Mostafa (.mostafaa), Egypt, France. Produced by: Bonanza Films (), Wrong Films ()
🇱🇧🇫🇷 Beirut Baby by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Lebanon, France. Produced by: Abbout Productions, Haut et Court
🇮🇳🇫🇷 Birdwoman by Lipika Singh Darai (), India, France. Produced by: Salt For Sugar Films ()
🇸🇳🇫🇷 Coumba by Mamadou Dia, Senegal, France. Produced by: Maayo, Les films du Bilboquet
🇵🇭🇪🇸 Daughters of the Sea by Martika Ramirez Escobar (.escobar), The Philippines, Spain. Produced by: This Side Up (), Arkeofilms, Alba Sotorra Cinema Productions ()
🇧🇷🇺🇾 Golden Balls by Lillah Halla, Brazil, Uruguay. Produced by: Manjericão Filmes, Cimarrón Cine, Arissas ()
🇸🇬🇻🇳 Hearing by Lê Bảo (), Singapore, Vietnam. Produced by: E&W Films, Sensory Ocean Films
🇨🇳 Kingdom of the Insomniacs by Kang Bo, China. Produced by: Rediance ()
🇩🇰 LUX by Thomas Elley, Denmark. Produced by: Frau Film ()
🇧🇷 Neon Phantom by Leonardo Martinelli (), Brazil. Produced by: Duas Mariola Filmes ()
🇵🇭 Noodles, Our Love was Instant and Forever by Whammy Alcazaren (), Philippines. Produced by: Daluyong Studios (), Two Fold ()
🇳🇱🇿🇦 Pale Faces by Chantel Clark (), The Netherlands, South Africa. Produced by: BALDR Film (), Cadence ()
🇮🇳 Portuguese Man O' War by Ridham Janve, India. Produced by: Bombay Berlin Film Productions, The Film Cafe
🇯🇵 Shumari by Toshihiko Tanaka ( ), Japan. Produced by: ColorBird (), No Saint. & Bloom ()
🇬🇧🇺🇸 The Dispute by Andrea Ellsworth () and Kasey Elise Walker (), United Kingdom, United States of America. Produced by: Felix Culpa (), Watermark Media (), and Gilga ()
🇧🇪🇫🇷🇩🇪 The Poet's Son by Nicolas Graux (.graux), Belgium, France, Germany. Produced by: Tarantula (), Petit à Petit Production, Yellow Blackbird, Clin d'Œil
🇬🇪🇳🇱 Vika by Tamar Shavgulidze (), Georgia, The Netherlands. Produced by: Nushi Film GEO (), GoGoFilm (.eu)
🇳🇿🇬🇧🇬🇷 When the Goats Came by Arthur Gay (.elias.gay), New Zealand, United Kingdom, Greece. Produced by: In Two Minds Productions, Exa Films (), Ossian International
🇨🇦🇨🇭 Worse Together by Luis De Filippis (), Canada, Switzerland. Produced by: JA Productions Inc., Cloud Fog Haze Pictures
CineMart x HBF Selection

🇮🇳🇫🇷 Birdwoman by Lipika Singh Darai (), India, France. Produced by: Salt For Sugar Films ()
🇸🇳🇫🇷 Coumba by Mamadou Dia, Senegal, France. Produced by: Maayo, Les Films du Bilboquet
🇵🇭🇪🇸 Daughters of the Sea by Martika Ramirez Escobar (.escobar), Philippines, Spain. Produced by: This Side Up (), Arkeofilms, Alba Sotorra Cinema Productions ()
🇧🇷🇺🇾 Golden Balls by Lillah Halla, Brazil, Uruguay. Produced by: Manjericão Filmes, Cimarrón Cine, Arissas ()
🇧🇷 Neon Phantom by Leonardo Martinelli (), Brazil. Produced by: Duas Mariola Filmes ()
🇬🇪🇳🇱 Vika by Tamar Shavgulidze (), Georgia, Netherlands. Produced by: Nushi Film GEO (), GoGoFilm (.eu)
Darkroom:
🇨🇷🇵🇪🇵🇦🇨🇱 Amor es el monstruo by Neto Villalobos Brenes (), Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Chile. Produced by: La Sucia Centroamericana (), Cine Infinito (), Expansiva Cine (), Clara Films ()
🇳🇱🇬🇷 Get Up Stand Up by Mari Sanders (.j.sanders), Netherlands, Greece. Produced by: The Film Kitchen (), Neda Film (.gr)
🇮🇹🇨🇭 Làstima by Mario Piredda, Italy, Switzerland. Produced by: Articolture () and DOK MOBILE ()
🇬🇧🇭🇺 LFD Hope by Joshua Loftin (.helping), United Kingdom, Hungary. Produced by: Sea Fox Films, Lorenz Films, Gallivant Film (), Good Kids Productions ()
🇧🇷 Marina by Laís Santos Araújo (.santos.araujo) and Pethrus Tibúrcio (.t), Brazil. Produced by: Aguda Cinema (), Carnaval Filmes ()
🇫🇷🇰🇷 Sea, Star, Woman by Jeunghae Yim (), France, Korea. Produced by: 5à7 Films (), Seesaw Pictures ()
🇳🇱🇧🇪 Sugar by Amira Duynhouwer (.duynhouwer), Netherlands, Belgium. Produced by: Studio Ruba (), Mirage Film ()
🇵🇪🇺🇸🇪🇸🇨🇱 The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs by Èlia Gasull Balada (), Matteo Norzi (), Peru, United States, Spain, Chile. Produced by: Shipibo Conibo Center (), Desfase Films (), Funicular Films (), Pista B (.b.prod)
🇪🇸🇧🇪 The Outside by Víctor Moreno (), Spain, Belgium. Produced by: KV Films (), Womack Studios (.studios), Transit Transat
🇬🇷🇳🇱 Uchronia: Parallel Histories of Q***r Revolt by Fil Ieropoulos (), Greece, Netherlands. Produced by: FYTA Films, GROM Productions ()

Read more via: https://iffr.com/en/blog-cinemart-selection-2026

29/10/2025

Accreditations now open 📣

Film industry professionals, journalists and students, apply now for your IFFR 2026 accreditation!

An IFFR Pro or Art Directions accreditation invites you to explore the complete IFFR 2026 selection with a full industry programme of panels, conversations and daily networking receptions.

This year, we’re also happy to offer our new IFFR Art Directions accreditation, designed for artists, filmmakers, producers, curators and professionals working at the intersection of visual arts, immersive media and cinema.

Apply by November 26 for the Early Tiger rate via: https://iffr.com/en/iffr-2025-accreditation

23/10/2025

Carlos Pardo Ros on Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes and IFFR Pro🎙️

With Spanish producer-filmmaker Carlos Pardo Ros’s recent work on Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes, directed by Gabriel Azorín, gaining attention across the festival circuit, we had the chance to hear him share his thoughts on collective filmmaking. In the interview, he drew a parallel between his idea of collective filmmaking and the spirit of IFFR Pro, describing the festival’s industry platforms as spaces where collaboration, dialogue and shared authorship can truly shape a film’s journey.
As a participant in Rotterdam Lab 2023 and with Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes later showcased in IFFR Pro’s Darkroom 2025, Pardo Ros reflected on how initiatives like these offer platforms for collaboration and creative exchange across borders.

“Our understanding of cinema is collective, with a less hierarchical approach. That’s why we look for spaces that correspond to our philosophy, and IFFR is one of them.”

Read the full interview via: https://iffr.com/en/blog-interview-carlos-pardo-ros

13/10/2025

Submit your projects for Darkroom! 🌠

Submissions are now open for our work-in-progress platform Darkroom.

Previously selected CineMart titles, Hubert Bals Fund-supported projects, or Rotterdam Lab alumni can apply with their feature films or immersive works-in-progress by 19 October 2025 (23.59 CEST).

(Concept still: Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes by Gabriel Azorín, Darkroom 2025)

Submit via: https://iffr.com/en/iffr-pro/darkroom