11/12/2019 - The Croatian co-production and market expert will work alongside managing director Marjan van der Haar

The new director of IFFR, Vanja Kaludjercic

MUBI director of acquisitions Vanja Kaludjercic has been confirmed as the new director of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Kaludjercic will take up the position at IFFR on 1 March 2020. Her first year in the role will be for the festival’s 50^th-anniversary edition, in 2021.

She will shadow outgoing director Bero Beyer in his final festival from 22 January-2 February 2020, before Beyer takes over as CEO of the Netherlands Film Fund in March.

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Kaludjercic was previously head of IFFR Talks from 2016-2018, before taking up her position with MUBI. She also served as the head of Holland Film Meeting, the industry side of the Netherlands Film Festival, from 2016-2017, and as a programmer of features and short films at the Sarajevo Film Festival from 2008-2016. Kaludjercic has also held positions at the Les Arcs European Film Festival, Cinéma du réel and CPH:DOX.

Kaludjercic told Screen International about the challenges she faces in the role. “The biggest challenges are the ones most likely faced by all players in this field; in short, it’s about navigating the rapidly changing industry landscape and staying relevant. It’s about how we remain at the forefront and keep on being agenda-setting. On the industry side, the focus will very much be, first of all, on being relevant for international co-production, which requires a deeper understanding of what the key stakeholders today need to develop, (co-)produce and distribute their films successfully. Second of all, with the footprint that IFFR has, it’s also about being a platform that can support and nurture talents throughout the process and help them to reach audiences for their films. In terms of audience, the challenge will be tapping into new audiences and younger ones in order to keep growing as a festival.”