The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is adding a focused immersive projects program, organizers said on Thursday as they unveiled titles for the 2026 co-production market and works-in-progress section.
IFFR unveiled a selection of 21 feature projects for the 43rd edition of CineMart, its co-production market, which will be running Feb. 1-4, as well as 10 projects for its Darkroom works-in-progress platform.
New for 2026, six of the CineMart titles have been selected for the inaugural CineMart x HBF lineup, a curated strand of projects previously awarded development support by IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF).
Additionally, immersive media projects will for the first time be presented under the banner Lightroom, a new IFFR industry platform for immersive storytelling. “Lightroom brings together all XR, VR and interactive projects previously presented across CineMart and Darkroom, creating one unified space for immersive work,” the fest said. “Lightroom strengthens IFFR’s long-running commitment to innovative audiovisual formats by offering a clearer pathway for development, visibility, and exchange.”
The full selection of Lightroom projects will be unveiled in December, alongside details of a dedicated symposium on the future of immersive storytelling.
“Together, these developments reflect the continued evolution of IFFR Pro, strengthening the festival’s commitment towards alumni and the pathways that connect artistic development, co-production, financing and new forms of audiovisual storytelling across the festival,” IFFR said.
The 2026 CineMart selection includes “the audacious urban comedy The Dispute by debut U.S. directors Andrea Ellsworth and Kasey Elise Walker, acquired by Riley Keough’s Felix Culpa and Donald Glover’s Gilga for feature development, alongside the exploration of trans friendship Worse Together by Canadian filmmaker Luis De Filippis (Something You Said Last Night, IFFR Youth Jury Award 2023),” IFFR highlighted.
Beirut Baby, Birdwoman, and When the Goats Came are titles of other featured projects.
‘The Dispute’
“Balancing breakthrough talent and celebrated auteurs at the height of their careers, this year’s selections underline CineMart’s role as a place where discovery and established filmmaking meet,” said Marten Rabarts, head of IFFR Pro. “The urgency is palpable: from stories grappling with war and displacement to narratives exploring climate change, queerness and the struggle to define and preserve identities in turbulent times, all amongst bold cinematic creativity and forays into genres including sci-fi, horror and musical.”
The 55th edition of IFFR is taking place Jan. 29-Feb. 8.
Check out the full CineMart and Darkroom projects unveiled by IFFR on Thursday below.
CineMart
Adarna, dir. Lois Patiño, Spain
Produced by: Elástica Films, Matriuska Producciones
After the Night, the Night, dir. Naomi Pacifique, Netherlands, Switzerland
Produced by: Grom Productions, Lemming Film, GoldenEgg production
Animals, dir. Morad Mostafa, Egypt, France
Produced by: Bonanza Films, Wrong Films
Beirut Baby, dir. Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Lebanon, France
Produced by: Abbout Productions, Haut et Court
Hearing, dir. Lê Bảo, Singapore, Vietnam
Produced by: E&W Films, Sensory Ocean Films
Kingdom of the Insomniacs, dir. Kang Bo, China
Produced by: Rediance
LUX, dir. Thomas Elley, Denmark
Produced by: Frau Film
Neon Phantom, dir. Leonardo Martinelli, Brazil
Produced by: Duas Mariola Filmes
Noodles, Our Love Was Instant and Forever, dir. Whammy Alcazaren, Philippines
Produced by: Daluyong Studios, Two Fold
Pale Faces, dir. Chantel Clark, Netherlands, South Africa
Produced by: BALDR Film, Cadence
Portuguese Man O’ War, dir. Ridham Janve, India
Produced by: Bombay Berlin Film Productions, The Film Cafe
Shumari, dir. Toshihiko Tanaka, Japan
Produced by: ColorBird, No Saint. & Bloom
The Dispute, dir. Andrea Ellsworth and Kasey Elise Walker, United Kingdom, United States of America
Produced by: Felix Culpa, Watermark Media, Gilga
The Poet’s Son, dir. Nicolas Graux, Belgium, France, Germany
Produced by: Tarantula, Petit à Petit Production, Yellow Blackbird, Clin d’Œil
When the Goats Came, dir. Arthur Gay, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Greece
Produced by: In Two Minds Productions, Exa Films, Ossian International
Worse Together, dir. Luis De Filippis, Canada, Switzerland
Produced by: JA Productions Inc., Cloud Fog Haze Pictures
CineMart X HBF Selection
Birdwoman, dir. Lipika Singh Darai, India, France
Produced by: Salt For Sugar Films
Coumba, dir. Mamadou Dia, Senegal, France
Produced by: Maayo, Les Films du Bilboquet
Daughters of the Sea, dir. Martika Ramirez Escobar, Philippines, Spain
Produced by: This Side Up, Arkeofilms, Alba Sotorra Cinema Productions
Golden Balls, dir. Lillah Halla, Brazil, Uruguay
Produced by: Manjericão Filmes, Cimarrón Cine, Arissas
Neon Phantom, dir. Leonardo Martinelli, Brazil
Produced by: Duas Mariola Filmes
Vika, dir. Tamar Shavgulidze, Georgia, Netherlands
Produced by: Nushi Film GEO, GoGoFilm
Darkroom
Amor es el monstruo, dir. Neto Villalobos Brenes, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Chile
Produced by: La Sucia Centroamericana, Cine Infinito, Expansiva Cine, Clara Films
Get Up Stand Up, dir. Mari Sanders, Netherlands, Greece
Produced by: The Film Kitchen, Neda Film
Làstima, dir. Mario Piredda, Italy, Switzerland
Produced by: Articolture and DOK MOBILE
LFD Hope, dir. Joshua Loftin, United Kingdom, Hungary
Produced by: Sea Fox Films, Lorenz Films, Gallivant Film, Good Kids Productions
Marina, dir.Laís Santos Araújo and Pethrus Tibúrcio, Brazil
Produced by: Aguda Cinema, Carnaval Filmes
Sea, Star, Woman, dir. Jeunghae Yim, France, Korea
Produced by: 5à7 Films, Seesaw Pictures
Sugar, dir. Amira Duynhouwer, Netherlands, Belgium
Produced by:Studio Ruba, Mirage Film
The Hummingbird Paints Fragrant Songs, dir. Èlia Gasull Balada, Matteo Norzi, Peru, United States, Spain, Chile
Produced by: Shipibo Conibo Center, Desfase Films, Funicular Films, Pista B
The Outside, dir. Víctor Moreno, Spain, Belgium
Produced by: KV Films, Womack Studios, Transit Transat
Uchronia: Parallel Histories of Queer Revolt, dir. Fil Ieropoulos, Greece, Netherlands
Produced by: FYTA Films, GROM Productions
