26/01/2005 - The 34th International Film Festival in Rotterdam (26th Jan-6th Feb) is opening tonight with Raymond Depardon's La 10e Chambre, instants d’audiences. The official selection includes 14 (mainly European) films

The much awaited 34th edition of the International Film Festival in Rotterdam (26th Jan - 6th Feb) is opening tonight with Raymond Depardon's La 10e Chambre, instants d’audiences (filmed in a criminal court), followed by Alexander Payne's comedy Sideways. Under the direction of Sandra den Hamer, the festival, which has been increasingly succcessful in the last few years, now includes new categories. This year, the official selection for the VPRO Tiger Awards includes fourteen (mainly European) films, amongst which El Cielo Gira (The Sky Turns) by Mercedes Alvarez (Spain), Paradise Girls by Fow Pyng Hu (Netherlands), Nemmeno il destino (Changing destiny) by Daniele Gaglianone (Italy), Hawaii, Oslo by Erik Poppe (Norway), Allein (Alone) by Thomas Durchschlag (Germany), and Onde (Waves) by Francesco Fei (Italy) as well as Hat mua roi bao lauy (Bride of Silence) by Doan Minh Phuong & Doan Thanh Nghia (Vietnam/Germany), both films being shown to the public for the first time.

Amongst this year's innovations, we find a section Cinema of the World. Another new category, Time & Tide, is designed for politically or socio-culturally committed films; 65 films, of which 42 are European coproductions, will be presented in this context. Amongst the films selected in this category are Arafat, mon frère (Arafat, my brother) by Rashid Masharawi (France), The Shutka Book of Records by Aleksandar Manic (Czech Republic/Serbia & Montenegro), Across the river by Michael Pilz (Austria), Basse Normandie by Patricia Mazuy & Simon Reggiani (France), and Tea by Frank Scheffer (Pays-Bas). New talents are a growing concern, they will now run in their own category, Cinema of the Future. 50 films, 28 of which are European, will be presented in the section Sturm und Drang, amongst which we find for instance My name is Liotta by Peter van Houten (Netherlands), Moskatchka by Annett Schütze (Germany/Lettonia), Zwarte Zwanen by Collette Bothof (Netherlands), and Dalecarlians by Maria Blom (Sweden/Denmark). One of the most original sections is Rotterdämmerung which presents films with a decadent vision of the world, black comedies with apocalyptic aspects such as Fabrice du Welz' first feature film, Calvaire (Belgium).

The section Maestros, is designed for experienced directors. As for Kings & Aces, it will include amongst others Krisana by Fred Kelemen (Germany), Marlene de Sousa by Tonino De Bernardi (Italy), Rois et Reine (Kings and Queens) by Arnaud Desplechin (France), Agnes und sein Brüder (Agnes and her Brother) by Oskar Roehler (Germany), Le chiavi di casa (The Keys to Home) by Gianni Amelio (Italy), and L’intrus (The Intruder) by Claire Denis (France). Several tribute screenings will be dedicated to famous artists such as Anri Sala, the Lebanese director now living in Paris, the Russian Yevgeni Yufit, and the French Benoît Jacquot whose more recent film A tout de suite will also be included. An emphasis has definitely been put on short films not only through their presence in each category but also through a brand new short film competition sponsored by TV5.

This year, Rotterdam welcomes an increased number of professionals (3000 accreditations and invitations have been granted); fruitful meetings and new projects will be supported by the Hubert Bals financial fund, and encouraged by the organisation of CineMart, an increasingly popular business market designed to favour coproduction —it will take place from the 31st January to the 4th February and will involve 47 great projects and directors such as Peter Greenaway, Marion Hänsel, Jaime Rosales, and Kornél Mundruczo.

Festival site: www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com

(Translated from French)