The Rotterdam International Filmfestival has kicked-off last week; one and a half week full of arthouse films, international crowds, good vibes and much more! Rotterdam is transformed into one big film event. Cafés and restaurants have special IFFR menu's, afterparties all week long and intelligent debates and art projects around Rotterdam's art scene downtown. A must go!

So great, you wanna taste the vibe of IFFR. Now what, where to go, what to see. The films they screen during the festival aren't the common blockbusters. During this one and a half week even Pathé is transformed into an arthouse zone, nonetheless they screen films you wouldn't see in a million years in this commercial cinema. So to be honost, you can easily choose a film that isn't really your cup of tea, or some that are even plain boring. What to look for to be part of the vibe and still get satisfaction out of your €11,- ticket (which frankly isn't cheap). ILB is hardcore IFFR fan and visited films from all over the world during the festival, so here we present to you the experiences from the birds on what might give you the most satisfactonary IFFR visit.

1001 Fairytales from the Middle East
If they comment highly on films from the Middle East in brochures and such, don't get tempted. They generally are slow, people have totally different morals than ours, which is fine but just watches difficult, and storylines are often weird. ILB doesn not have very good experience with films from this area, so we'd not recommend you to go and see such a film. Especially if you're a new kid on the IFFR block!

Small distress from Eastern Europe
We generally can find ourselves in films from Eastern Europe. They can be weird, so if you picked one on our advise and still find yourself immensely disappointed afterwards, we're sorry. But generally films from this side of town tend to portray people and their everyday sorrow. Their love life, their pains and hopes. Just endearing to watch, and so we think you should try it out.

Violence from the East
Asian films tend to ask a strong stomach from the audience: lots of exorbitant violence and sex, and not always in a good way. But they do have something of their own, their own trademark and they generally are very arthouse indeed. So if you're up for the next Tarantino and don't mind if it's much more explicit, then go for it!

Anglosaksic rules
If you really are a newby and think it is way to expensive to go to an arthouse film for €11,- but you're friends are going and you really want to catch the vibe, you can't make a false step by going to films from the UK, Ireland or Canada. They have entertaining storylines without the weird stuff, you can connect to characters and their just fun to watch. Films from the US aren't always Bull's eye, so be careful of that.

Love from France
France, d'amour. And it's true for their films as well. French movies during the IFFR often are about love stories. Difficult lovers, a brief encounter, romance in the distance. Love is the word. Generally okay movies to go to!

Society for the Germans
If your eye is fixed upon a German movie, go for it! Often about matters in society, big relevant matters or small and humble. But mostly not too weird. Think Das leven der anderen or Die Edukators.

So there you go. We've tried them for you and can say a little about films from different nationalities during the IFFR. Of course there are a lot more movies from as much different countries, this is just start. But hopefully it has helped you while trying to figure out where to go to during the IFFR! Have fun!

Check the programme for the IFFR! Go to the website and order tickets online!

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