The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the opening and closing films for its 54th edition, which will take place from January 30 to February 9, 2025. The highly anticipated festival will kick off with Fabula, a dark comedy by Dutch director Michiel ten Horn, and conclude with the epic historical drama This City Is a Battlefield, directed by Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya.

Opening and Closing Films

Fabula is a co-production between the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, following Jos, a small-town criminal whose life unravels after a disastrous drug deal. Combining elements of comedy, fantasy, and crime, the film stars Fedja van Huêt, Anniek Pheifer, and Georg Friedrich, among others. Michiel ten Horn, acclaimed for The Deflowering of Eva van End, continues to establish himself as a talent to watch in Europe.

Meanwhile, This City Is a Battlefield transports audiences to 1946 Indonesia, during the country’s fight for independence. With a cast led by Chicco Jerikho and Ariel Tatum, the film explores life under colonial occupation in Jakarta, blending kinetic action sequences with profound human drama. Supported by the Hubert Bals Fund, the project marks Mouly Surya’s artistic evolution as she adapts Mochtar Lubis’ novel A Road with No End.

Competition Juries

This edition’s Tiger Competition jury, dedicated to discovering international new talent, includes notable figures like Yuki Aditya, Soheila Golestani, and Peter Strickland. The main prize awards €40,000, while two special awards will recognize exceptional artistic achievement with €10,000 each.

For the Tiger Short Competition, jurors Angela Haardt, Frank Sweeney, and Yaoting Zhang will evaluate short films, offering €5,000 prizes.

The Big Screen Competition, promoting local distribution of quality cinema, features jurors such as Bero Beyer, Jia Zhao, and Dewi Reijs. The winner will receive €15,000, with an additional incentive for the Dutch distributor acquiring the film’s rights.

Vanja Kaludjercic, Festival Director, highlighted the diversity and talent of the selected filmmakers: “We celebrate two auteurs with unique approaches that bridge the gap between the popular and the personal, showcasing the impact of cinema as a cultural and artistic medium.”

IFFR 2025 promises to be a vibrant showcase for international cinema, reaffirming its commitment to cinematic innovation and diversity.