IFFR is one of Europe’s big film festivals and, unlike Cannes or Venice, it is very much a festival for the public. Hundreds of films from all over the world screen across Rotterdam, with a strong focus on independent, arthouse and experimental cinema, plus talks, installations and the occasional red carpet. Most films are in English or have English subtitles.
It also lands in the bleakest stretch of winter, which is the perfect time to spend a whole weekend in dark cinemas watching films you would never find on Netflix. The 2027 edition is the 56th.
- When: Thursday 28 January to Sunday 7 February 2027
- Where: cinemas and venues across central Rotterdam
- Tickets: sold per screening via the official site; check there for prices and the sale date
- Getting there: direct trains from Haarlem and Amsterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal; many venues are walking distance from the station.
Good to know: check the official site closer to the date for the programme and ticket sale. Weekend screenings sell out first.
Planning your year? See everything on the events calendar.
