Fundashon Bon Intenshon presents the first edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam (Curaçao IFFR), which runs from 29 March to 1 April and includes 27 feature length films (both documentary and fiction), as well as 11 short films from around the world. Films will be screen in the new six-screen multiplex theatre The Cinemas, located in the Otrobanda district of Willemstad.
The festival programme, made in collaboration with the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), includes award winning films and audience favorites of the IFFR like Shame (UK, 2011) by Steve McQueen, Oscar®-nominated Monsieur Lazhar (Canada, 2011) by Philippe Falardeau and Hivos Tiger Award-winners De jueves a domingo (Chile, 2012) by Dominga Sotomayor and Egg and Stone (China, 2012) by Huang Ji.
Initiated by Gregory Elias of Curaçao-based Fundashon Bon Intenshon and co-organised with the IFFR, will expand the range of culture available in Willemstad. The festival wishes to inspire cinemagoers and young talented filmmakers from around the region.
The festival opens with Marley, a documentary on the life, music and legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley. Scottish director Kevin Macdonald will introduce the screening. An experienced documentary and fiction filmmaker Macdonald is well known for his One Day in September (Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature) and the much-lauded The Last King of Scotland (Oscar®, Golden Globe and three BAFTA’s). For Marley, Macdonald was granted access to the unique family archive and, alongside interviews, uses footage of concerts and excerpts in which Marley speaks. Naturally, the film includes hits such as “No Woman, No Cry’ and “I Shot the Sheriff’.
Films from around the world
As Fundashon Bon Intenshon and International Film Festival Rotterdam wish to stimulate artistic film culture in The Caribbean and Latin America, the festival shows works from the region like the Brazilian films Rania by Roberta Marques and HISTÓRIAS que so existem quando lembradas by Julia Murat. Furthermore Curaçao IFFR includes from Australia Black & White & Sex by John Winter, from Europe IFFR 2012-opener 38 Temoins (France, 2012) by Lucas Belvaux and satirical comedy King Curling (Norway, 2011) by Ole Endresen, from Asia Hivos Tiger Award-winner Egg and Stone (China, 2012) by Huang Ji and from Africa the sparkling Hubert Bals Fund-supported film Soul Boy (Kenya, 2010) by Hawa Essuman.
As Caribbean Classics, Curaçao IFFR presents among others Suite Habana (Cuba, 2003) by Fernando Perez and the music documentary Panman, Rhythm of the Palms (Sint-Maarten, 2007) by Sander Burger.
Curaçao IFFR will present the world premiere of Nochi no ke laga mi bai (The Night Holds Me Back) by Catrien Ariens, a documentary about the development, repression and the indestructible power of tambu, the traditional music of Curaçao, produced by Amsterdam-based Corona Pictures.
For more information visit www.curacaoiffr.com.
