Cinecittà-Filmitalia is organizing the Italian selections for the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam, January 29th – February 8th, 2026.
The Festival Director Vanja Kaludjercic and the Programmer Rebecca de Pas will be our guest in Rome November 12th to 14th 2025 in order to select Italian films.
General Rules for Eligibility
Submission to the Festival is open to feature films (minimum length 63 minutes) completed after January 1st, 2025.
The Festival gives priority to world and international premieres; films that have already been shown in The Netherlands are not admitted. Films previously submitted to the festival and not selected will not be reconsidered for the 2026 Festival.
Sections
• The Tiger Competition
14 films only will be selected for this section: 1st, 2nd or 3rd feature-length film directors, that are presented in: World premiere at IFFR or, in consultation with the festival, in International or
European premiere after no more than one festival event or territorial release between
September 2025 and January 2026.
Award: Tiger Award worth €40.000 to be shared between the film’s director and producer and Jury
Awards worth €10.000 for exceptional artistic achievement.
• Big Screen Competition (VPRO Big Screen Award)
Big Screen Competition comprises up to 14 selected films having their World premiere at IFFR. Exceptions may be made, at IFFR’s discretion, for films with an International or European premiere after no more than one festival event or territorial release in the five months leading up to the festival. The nominated films will be judged by a jury of five enthusiast festival audience members.
The VPRO Big Screen Award is worth a total of €30.000. Half of this amount is for the filmmaker; the other half is to be spent on the Dutch theatrical release by the Dutch distributor.
• IFFR Audience Award
The Audience Award, chosen by the festival audience through voting, is worth €10.000.
• Bright Future
Debut and second features directed by new and rising authors in world or international premieres.
• Harbour
This programme reflects the multidimensional nature of Rotterdam and its festival as a safe haven. It is the main base for the diverse and quality films that the festival wants to show to the world.
• Limelight
IFFR’s section for highlights of the year in arthouse that have already a Dutch distributor.
• Cinema Regained
A showcase reflecting on the living history of cinema.
If you submit the film through Cinecittà you do not need to fill the entry form online and pay the entry fee.
We kindly ask you to send the English subtitled link of the title you would like to submit with a press book not later than Friday, November 7th, to the following contacts:
Cristina Cassano c.cassano@cinecitta.it Cell. +39 320 7678693
Rossella Rinaldi r.rinaldi@cinecitta.it Cell. +39 320 7678687
Livia Azzolini livia.azzolini@cinecitta.it Cell. +39 346 5453965