Celebrating Voices and Redefining Cinema
By Jasmine Lin | Culture | February 17, 2025
Cover Illustration: Duke of York’s Picturehouse, 2017. Jake Hills / Unsplash
Soft News Reporter Jasmine Lin explores how IFFR 2025 pushed cinematic boundaries, spotlighting bold storytelling and diverse voices. From groundbreaking premieres to thought-provoking discussions, such as Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin’s deep dive into “Rumours”, this year’s festival reaffirmed its role as a platform for innovative cinema.
The IFFR: A Platform of Innovation and Diversity
The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025 has once again proven its status as a beacon for daring cinematic voices and innovative storytelling. From January 30 to February 9, the festival embraced its core values of fostering creativity, diversity, and dialogue within the global film community.
IFFR has always stood apart by championing filmmakers who challenge conventions and reflect diverse cultural realities. With its roots in showcasing independent cinema, the festival continues to bridge art and activism, emphasizing narratives that provoke, inspire, and engage. This year’s festival stayed true to its conception of being a platform for experimental filmmaking, with a particular focus on emerging talents. The Tiger Competition spotlighted young directors who brought unique perspectives to contemporary issues, while the Big Screen Competition connected audiences with films that could cross over into broader theatrical releases.
Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin: A Deep Dive into Rumours
A major highlight of IFFR 2025 was the Big Talk session, which featured the legendary Cate Blanchett and visionary filmmaker Guy Maddin. The conversation delved into their artistic collaboration on the film Rumours, a captivating and experimental work that melds Blanchett’s transformative acting with Maddin’s distinctive visual style. Rumors, which premiered at the festival, explores memory’s fragmented and fleeting nature, combining elements of noir, surrealism, and archival aesthetics. Maddin shared how the project draws inspiration from lost cinematic treasures and the emotional power of half-remembered moments.
The conversation offered a fascinating deep dive into the themes of memory and the intersections of performance and filmmaking. Blanchett was celebrated for her transformative performances, and Maddin, renowned for his experimental and dreamlike storytelling, discussed their collaborative project Manifesto and its impact on their artistic processes. The session explored how cinema can act as a vessel for fragmented memories and how reimagining archival material shapes contemporary narratives. The dialogue highlighted Maddin’s signature style of weaving surreal imagery with lost cinematic aesthetics and Blanchett’s unique ability to channel emotion into multilayered characters. Together, they reflected on the importance of preserving the essence of memory through art, with Maddin stating, “Cinema allows us to resurrect the forgotten, to bring what’s lost into a new realm of understanding.”
Celebrating Bold Cinema: Pushing Artistic Boundaries and Redefining Storytelling in The Netherlands
In addition, IFFR 2025 delivered an eclectic program that celebrated the diversity of storytelling across genres, cultures, and mediums. This year’s lineup for the Tiger Competition featured bold and inventive works by emerging filmmakers, including Fiume o morte! by Igor Bezinović, a mesmerizing exploration of political identity and regional heritage set against the backdrop of the historic port city of Rijeka, and Sunshine Express by Iranian filmmaker Amirali Navaee. This intimate yet surreal road movie examines the intersecting lives of passengers on a long-distance train journey. Another standout was Blind Love by Taiwanese director Julian Chou, a heartwarming and visually striking story about connection and acceptance, seen through the lens of a blind photographer navigating relationships and self-discovery.
The Tiger, Big Screen, and Tiger Short competitions are a highlight of the IFFR because they showcase emerging filmmakers from diverse global backgrounds, offering a platform for innovative and boundary-pushing cinema. These competitions not only spotlight personal and cultural narratives but also bridge the gap between arthouse and popular cinema. By awarding recognition to groundbreaking films, IFFR helps nurture the future of cinema while celebrating unique storytelling voices that often challenge societal norms and push the limits of traditional filmmaking.
“Cinema allows us to resurrect the forgotten, to bring what’s lost into a new realm of understanding.”
As the curtains closed on IFFR 2025, the festival once again solidified its reputation as a leading platform for innovative and boundary-pushing cinema. Over ten days, it showcased a diverse array of films that challenged conventions, amplified underrepresented voices, and explored new artistic possibilities. Beyond the screenings, the festival fostered critical discussions on the evolving role of storytelling in contemporary society, reinforcing its commitment to bridging the gap between artistic expression and social discourse.
Industry professionals, filmmakers, and audiences engaged in dynamic exchanges through panel discussions, workshops, and networking events, further strengthening IFFR’s role as a hub for creative collaboration. The presence of established industry figures such as Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin, alongside emerging filmmakers, underscored the festival’s mission to celebrate both seasoned and new voices in cinema.
With its focus on independent and experimental filmmaking, IFFR 2025 continued championing stories that provoke thought and inspire change. By providing a platform for groundbreaking films and fostering an international dialogue on the future of cinema, the festival reinforced its influence on both the global and Dutch film industries. As one of Europe’s premier festivals, IFFR not only introduces audiences to emerging filmmakers but also plays a crucial role in shaping trends within the Netherlands’ cinematic landscape. As the festival concluded, it left a lasting impact on audiences and industry professionals alike, ensuring that the stories and conversations sparked here will continue to resonate long after the final screening.
Jasmine Lin is a university student in Amsterdam. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Amsterdammer.
