The 2019 edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam will span across five days and will screen more than 70 films at various locations across the city of Groningen, many in English.
Translation by Thomas Ansell
Between Wednesday 30th January, and Sunday 3rd February, the IFFR will be hosted by the Groninger Forum. The IFFR in Groningen will officially open at the Hereplein with the film “Vox Lux” on Wednesday, the 30th. Described as an unconventional and visually spectacular drama about the superstar Celeste, the film features both Natalie Portman and Raffey Cassidy.
The Groninger Internet Courant writes that theme of the 23rd edition of the festival is “Feel IFFR”, referring to the subjectivity and intense emotional responses that can good film-making can elicit. A thematic investigation throughout the festival is how feelings are generated, affected, or manipulated by images in the modern era. More than 70 feature films, documentaries, and short films, many of which will either be primarily in English or have sub-titles, will be shown across the span of five days.
Other highlights of the festival include “La Flor”, a three-part masterpiece which is both an ode to, and a reinvention of, cinematic storytelling. “Another Day of Life”, an animated adaption of the Ryszard Kapuscinski book, tells the story of the only foreign correspondent in Angola during its civil war, supplemented by documentary images which make for a raw and visceral experience.
Willem Dafoe plays Vincent van Gogh in the film “At Eternity’s Gate”, which follows the final years of the famously misunderstood painter’s life. During the festival, there will also be screenings of the eight-part “The Brilliant Friend”, an adaption of the Neapolitan novel series by Elena Ferante chronicling post-war Italy.
In keeping with tradition from previous editions of IFFR, one evening of the festival will be dedicated to screening a classic film with live musical accompaniment. This year, the remastered “Der Golem”, which was first released in 1915, will be accompanied by The Organ Trio with an historic Schnitger organ. The screening will get underway on Friday 1st February in Der Aa Kerk.
Ticket sales will start on Wednesday, 23rd January at 9:00 a.m. at the box office at the Groninger Forum (Hereplein 73) and at 10:00 a.m. online at the Groninger Forum website.
