The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the first wave of world premieres for its upcoming 55th edition, taking place Jan. 29-Feb. 8, 2026. The nine titles revealed by organizers on Thursday span the festival’s Bright Future and Harbour programming strands.
Sex, art, abuse, corruption, and murder are among the themes that play a role in the movies set for Rotterdam debuts.
The Bright Future selection, which puts the spotlight on feature debuts with original subject matter and individual styles, will include movies with such titles as I Grew an Inch When My Father Died, Let Them Be Seen, and Mayilaa.
Echoing Rotterdam’s long history as a port city, the Harbour strand offers “a safe haven to the full range of contemporary cinema that the festival champions. The first round of selected titles deals with such themes as self-discovery, societal norms, and “the human condition,” organizers highlighted.
Returning IFFR alumni in the section include Juja Dobrachkous, who is bringing Accept Our Sincere Apologies, Gustavo Vinagre, who will screen The Passion According to GHB, co-directed by Vinicius Couto, Artemio Narro, who will present Art Is Dark and Full of Horrors, and Hanung Bramantyo, who will unveil The Hole, 309 Days to the Bloodiest Tragedy. Also returning to the Rotterdam fest will be Carlos Casas with Krakatoa, while Erol Mintaş will make his IFFR debut with Earth Song.
“We’re excited to reveal the first wave of programming across Bright Future and Harbour, and to be showcasing a range of titles that reflect the very heart of IFFR’s DNA,” said Vanja Kaludjercic, festival director at IFFR. “Our festival is built on an ethos of discovery and celebrating both bold emerging voices, alongside returning distinctive filmmakers, who each are shaping cinema in unique and powerful ways.”
She concluded: “These films set the tone for the diversity of programming we’ll have at IFFR 2026, from unconventional horror thrillers and misfit comedies to narratives exploring the complexities of belonging – all serving different communities and audience curiosities. Every one of these filmmakers deserves to reach the largest possible audience and have a platform to be heard, and it’s a privilege to provide that space for them.”
Check out all the IFFR 2026 titles unveiled on Thursday below.
BRIGHT FUTURE
I Grew an Inch When My Father Died (World Premiere)
Director: P. R. Monencillo Patindol
Philippines
When their abusive father is murdered by a neighbour, two brothers must grapple with loss and liberty while navigating their friendship with the killer’s son. A poetic work on the complexities of crime and inherited guilt.
Let Them Be Seen (World Premiere)
Director: Nolitha Refilwe Mkulisi
South Africa, Germany
An affectionate portrait of the forgotten town of Tapoleng, where church once served as a sanctuary for its residents during the old apartheid order. Here, a new religion emerges – one tethered to a new spiritual practice, community and self-determination.
Mayilaa (World Premiere)
Director: Semmalar Annam
India
Mayilaa embarks on a journey as a travelling salesperson in Southern India to fulfil her expensive obligations. The only problem: she doesn’t know how to sell. A sharp yet heartwarming tale of a mother-daughter duo finding their feet on the road.
HARBOUR
Accept Our Sincere Apologies (World Premiere)
Director: Juja Dobrachkous
United Kingdom, Italy
In a decadent Venetian hotel, androgynous Eva is drawn to the mysterious Contessa. Once a sanctuary from the outside world, the hotel has become a haunting cage, and both women long to escape. A surreal gothic fantasy that seduces and unsettles.
The Passion According to GHB (World Premiere)
Director: Gustavo Vinagre, Vinicius Couto
Brazil
A hookup becomes a threesome; the threesome becomes an orgy. In this magical realist gay bedroom odyssey, Matias reminisces about his past encounters and considers his future, while speaking to a fictional figure from Brazilian literature.
Earth Song (World Premiere)
Director: Erol Mintaş
Finland, Germany
Rojîn, a Kurdish woman living in Finland, discovers she doesn’t know everything about her complicated past. A delicately directed and resonant drama reflecting on the Kurdish experience of dispossession and exile.
Art Is Dark and Full of Horrors (World Premiere)
Director: Artemio Narro
Mexico
This corrosive satire of the Mexican art world unfolds during a week of ferocious preening, dealing and partying. Star artist Chema rules the scene – but if he falls, every vulture of the art market is ready to swoop in.
The Hole, 309 Days to the Bloodiest Tragedy (World Premiere)
Director: Hanung Bramantyo
Indonesia
When a spate of gruesome killings rocks the countryside in East Jakarta, army officer Soegeng is tasked with clearing up rumours about the military’s involvement. Soegeng’s investigation, however, confronts him with the foundations of corruption – a truth too close for comfort.
Krakatoa (World Premiere)
Director: Carlos Casas
Spain, United Kingdom, Poland, France
A Javanese fisherman experiences the greatest volcanic eruption of all time. Stranded on a deserted island, in search of food and water, he draws closer to the depths of the earth. A visceral and psychedelic odyssey.
