--- title: "International Film Festival Rotterdam Announces First Wave of World Premieres" url: https://noti.group/international-film-festival-rotterdam-announces-first-wave-of-world/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Entertainment" published: 2026-10-29T14:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-29T14:34:42.090Z id: c343cf4c-8de3-4c71-80b8-af4fc78516ca source: "The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannibal-fairy-tale-rotterdam-iffr-2027-film-world-premiere-1236742486/" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/international-film-festival-rotterdam-announces-first-wave-of-world/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # International Film Festival Rotterdam Announces First Wave of World Premieres The International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced its first wave of world premieres for its 56th edition, set to take place from January 28 to February 7. The selected films showcase IFFR's commitment to supporting innovative and daring filmmakers. Ten movies will screen in the Bright Future and Harbour sections, highlighting emerging talent alongside established artists returning to Rotterdam. The festival organizers emphasized their dedication to showcasing singular cinematic voices. The Bright Future program focuses on debut films, which will make up four of the first wave of selections. These initial titles are characterized by original subjects, ranging from claustrophobic fairy tales to adaptations of classic literature. One such adaptation is a stylized version of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, directed by Parbat Chapagai. Another notable debut is Kids Go Free, directed by Ben Hicks, which has been in production for over 15 years across three countries. The Harbour strand will feature returning filmmaker Kiluanji Kia Henda with Karl Marx, Luanda, following his previous work presented at IFFR 2020 and a commissioned performance in 2021. The selection also includes Kyros Papavassiliou's Yiannis, which follows up on his film Impressions of a Drowned Man from the 2015 Tiger Competition. Rita Hui Nga Shu is back with a new film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), following her 2021 premiere Decameron. Her latest work is titled The Lapse, which will be showcased at the festival. Ali Bakhtiari's documentary debut, Tehran the Obscure Atelier of Desire, has been selected for the Harbour program, offering a glimpse into the creative process of Iranian artists. Meanwhile, siblings Iskander and Feisal Azizuddin are set to premiere their dark comedy Ali and Ben’s Spicy Meats, blending elements of horror and humor. Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic emphasizes that IFFR thrives on challenging expectations with innovative storytelling. She highlights the diversity in the selected films, which range from provocative to intimate and urgent. The first 10 titles announced for the festival's Bright Future and Harbour sections already showcase this versatility. The Harbour program will feature Omer Shamir's Waiting Room, an intimate documentary portrait of individuals navigating life's challenges. The Harbour program at the Rotterdam Film Festival will feature several world premieres, showcasing innovative storytelling and cinematic talent from around the globe. One such film is In the Name of Galeela, directed by Mohamed El Zayat. Set in Egypt, this debut feature explores the lengths people go to for those they care about, as a young man's community rallies together to convince his blind grandmother that she can still embark on a pilgrimage to Mecca despite financial difficulties. Another standout film is Kids Go Free, directed by Ben Hicks, which brings together international co-production expertise from the United States, Taiwan, and Japan. Told over 15 years through a kaleidoscopic narrative structure, this debut feature delves into themes of love, security, and uncertainty as its characters navigate worldly adventures. The Harbour program also includes Portrait of a Young Criminal, directed by Parbat Chapagai, an adaptation of Dostoevsky's classic novel Crime and Punishment set in the spiritual and cultural context of small-town Nepal. A time-traveling love story set in Malaysia is one of the world premieres announced by the Rotterdam Film Festival. Ali and Ben's Spicy Meats, directed by Feisal Azizuddin and Iskander Azizuddin, follows two friends who stumble upon a magic recipe made from human meat after their pickle business is on the brink of collapse. Their overnight success attracts unwanted attention from a local politician, prompting the friends to take drastic measures to protect their newfound empire. The film promises to be a zany horror-comedy that combines elements of Malaysian culture with dark humor. In another premiere, Waiting Room, director Omer Shamir tells the story of award-winning Palestinian photojournalist Mohammed Zaanoun and his family as they flee from Khan Younis and settle in Egypt. The documentary portrait captures the family's life in exile over the course of one year, painting a poignant picture of displacement. The Lapse, directed by Rita Hui Nga Shu, is a film-essay that layers personal experiences with declassified governmental documents and an AI-cloned voice to explore the promises made on paper versus the harsh realities faced by Hong Kongers. The film is described as uncompromising, impactful, and radically human. A group of artists in Tehran are featured in the documentary portrait "Tehran the Obscure Atelier of Desire", showcasing their creative processes amidst uncertainty. The film captures them revisiting unfinished works and brainstorming new ideas while the threat of war hangs over the city. The documentary is one of 10 world premieres announced for the Rotterdam Film Festival, alongside "Yiannis", a mystery-drama that follows a Cypriot teenager's search for his missing father in the divided island. --- Source: [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannibal-fairy-tale-rotterdam-iffr-2027-film-world-premiere-1236742486/) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/international-film-festival-rotterdam-announces-first-wave-of-world/