The IFFR commenced on Thursday, January 25, and will run through till Sunday the 4th of February.
By Helena Olori
Nigerian filmmaker, Ishaya Bako’s adaptation of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s award-winning debut novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance is set to have its European premiere this Sunday at the ongoing 53rd edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands. The festival commenced on Thursday, January 25th, and is billed to run till Sunday the 4th of February.
The annual festival is renowned for showcasing a diverse selection of fiction, documentary films, and media art, focusing on recent works by emerging filmmakers, including retrospectives and themed programmes.
The 2024 festival line-up also features other diverse African stories with a range of storytelling perspectives. South Africa has the highest number of inclusions with three films – Questioning the Existence of Alec by Roger Horn, and Godide and Cloud Migration by Phumulani Ntuli from South Africa. Horn’s film will have its world premiere while Ntuli films will have their Dutch premieres.
Kenya and Tunisia are both represented by two titles each; Stero – a short film by Kenyan filmmakers, Tevin Kimathi and Millan Tarus making its world premiere, and After the Long Rains by Damien Hauser – and The Sunflowers of the Moon by Douar al Kamar and Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated documentary, Four Daughters, from Tunisia. Egypt’s 2024 Oscar entry, Voy! Voy! Voy! Omar Hilal also makes the cut.
Other notable selections are Cameroonian production, La grotte sacrée, directed by Daniel Minlo and Cyrille Masso; and Senegalese Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s highly acclaimed Banel & Adama set to have its Dutch premiere.
Meanwhile, Tricia L. Sello, a film producer and development executive based in Gaborone, Botswana, is one of the five participants selected for 2024 Rotterdam Lab, a Talent development programme for emerging producers providing them a platform to hone their skills while networking with industry professionals at the co-production market.
The International Film Festival Rotterdam also supports new talent through initiatives such as CineMart, and the Hubert Bals Fund. Tickets are available here.