Rotterdam Festivals expat magazine

FEstIvaL guIDE 2015

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM ART ROTTERDAM WEEK AND MORE...

Maurizio Cattelan, Untitled, 2001. Copyright Maurizio Cattelan, courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery, New York. Photo: Attilio Maranzano.

Visit Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and take a trip through art from the Middle Ages right up to the present day. Discover the extraordinary museum collection, with masterpieces by Bosch, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Dali. Be amazed by the changing exhibitions, from heart-stopping paintings to cutting-edge contemporary installations. Not forgetting the cool espresso bar and the fabulous museum shop full of superb design.

See2youFESTIVAL soon! GUIDE 2015

Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm.

Closed on Mondays and 1 January, 27 April and 25 December.

www.boijmans.nl

CONTENT

introduction

International Film Festival Rotterdam

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Art Rotterdam Week

8

National Holidays

11

Major Sport Events

12

Festival Highlights

14

Visitor Information

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coloPHon This is a publication by Stichting Rotterdam Festivals. We thank all the institutions and festival organizations who have contributed to this publication.

Content Rotterdam Festivals Design Stof Rotterdam Printing Platform P Photos Bas Czerwinski, Ossip van Duivenbode, Fred Ernst, Dimitri Hakke, Henk Koster and Marco de Swart.

© Rotterdam Festivals December 2014 | Subject to change

CHILD FRIENDLY festivals

Festivals marked with a family icon are child friendly and often include special activities for children.

Welcome to Rotterdam festival city Rotterdam is a true festival city with dozens of in- and outdoor festivals every year. It therefore came as no surprise that the city was declared IFEA World Festival & Event City in 2010 in the category of medium-sized cities.

During the summer months there is a wide range of outdoor festivals, often in the middle of town or in the city parks. There you will find music, theater, poetry and dance of all styles. But Rotterdam does not limit its festival fun to the summer! 2015 kicks off with two leading international festivals: Rotterdam International Film Festival and Art Rotterdam Week.

In this festival guide you can read all about these upcoming events. Plus, we take a look at the iconic events that take place in Rotterdam throughout the year.

Have lots of festival fun!

For an overview of all festivals in Rotterdam for 2015 visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl 3

44th International Film Festival Rotterdam

Adventurous, leading and unpretentious DATES

WED 21 JAN – SUN 1 FEB

FESTIVAL VENUES

De Doelen, Rotterdamse Schouwburg, Pathé Schouwburgplein, oude Luxor Theater, Cinerama Filmtheater, LantarenVenster, WORM and more.

FILMS & TICKETS

The complete program will be announced on Wednesday 14 January on www.iffr.com/en and as an annex to newspaper De Volkskrant. Online ticket sales start on Friday 16 January at 20:00.

Difficult to choose? First Aid for Film Selection gives you customized suggestions based on five questions. See eerstehulp.filmfestivalrotterdam. com (online 14 January).

www.iffr.com/en

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FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

WED 21 JAN – SUN 1 FEB 2015 Interview and photo Dimitri Hakke

In 1972 the first edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) attracted seventeen visitors. Forty-three years later much has changed. Almost 300,000 film lovers and 2,500 film professionals find their way to this twelveday festival. IFFR has grown into one of the most important cultural events in Rotterdam and one of the leading film festivals in Europe. A constant factor since its inception: a program full of adventure, controversy, innovation and quality.

Current festival director Rutger Wolfson was sixteen when he caught the IFFR virus. “I remember the first time very well. A friend and I went to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet. My delicate adolescent soul was not only overwhelmed by the film, but also by the festival. At the time, the Hilton Hotel was the epicenter of the festival, the place-to-be for parties and talk shows. I was so impressed by the whole atmosphere. I wanted to go in but didn’t have the nerve, so we sat there with a bottle of Coke, outside in the corridor all night. Just to get a feel, a taste, of some of the excitement that was going on around us.”

“The first time I remember very well. I went with a friend to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet.

My delicate adolescent soul was not only overwhelmed by the film, but also by the festival.”

RUTGER WOLFSON Festival Director

This year, Wolfson heads up the film festival for the eighth year running. A festival whose impact is immediately visible in the city. For twelve days Rotterdam bustles even more than usual.

Not only in the movie theatres but throughout the entire city: hotels are fully booked, cafés and restaurants are busier than ever and there are parties, exhibitions and performances everywhere. Wolfson: “Rotterdam is in itself >> 5

>> a multicultural city, but during IFFR you hear idea about growing festivals is that as you get all sorts of languages around you and the city bigger, you also have to make concessions in becomes even more diverse than usual.” terms of programming. Something more middle of the road or maybe a lesser film gets The special thing about IFFR is that it is a festival included just because you want to have famous for professionals and film lovers. Other leading actors on the red carpet. For IFFR, the contrary film festivals such as Cannes or Venice tend to is true: the festival has become big by staying focus on one group or the other. “At IFFR both opinionated and outspoken. A common audience groups come together,” explains the director. reaction sums it up nicely: “Of the ten films that you “This creates a special, informal atmosphere, see here, five are good, two are so bad that you want where everyone is equal. Actors, filmmakers, both to forget them immediately and three films are so known and lesser known, they all mingle with the special that they stay with you forever.” public and are easily approachable. It fits very well with the Rotterdam mentality: no pretense, According to the festival director, one of the main no fuss.” challenges in such a packed film program is to guide the visitors through the wide selection and make sure that people see a film they will appreciate. What helps the audience choose is the widely available English program guide and daily bilingual newspaper. But another handy tool is the IFFR website, where festival goers can get customized movie suggestions by answering a few questions. “There is something for everyone, but you have to know how to find it”, says Wolfson. “And if, for whatever reason, you hate looking at a large screen, there is still something for you to enjoy Although the festival has experienced tremendous and you will find yourself wanting to give it a try. growth in recent years, and has become one of Once you hear all the enthusiastic stories while the largest of its kind, the atmosphere is intimate you are dancing at the Rotterdamse Schouwburg, and relaxed, while maintaining an adventurous you will most likely want to see a film the next day and innovative program. Wolfson: “The prevailing anyway.”_

“The audience often says: of the ten films that you see here, five are good, two are so bad that you want to forget them immediately and three films are so special that they stay with you forever.”

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FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

More film festivals in 2015 Sport film festival Rotterdam THU 9 – SAT 11 APR

Prior to the 35th edition of the Rotterdam Marathon, Rotterdam Topsport organizes a three-day film festival around sports.

Films are shown in their original language with many of them in English. www.sportfilmfestivalrotterdam.nl

Roffa MON amour FRI 24 JUL – SAT 1 AUG

Small-scale events are organized regularly in Rotterdam. Roffa Mon Amour is a great example of this. Watch films in the open air at a surprising location. Last year they turned a deserted parking deck into an outdoor cinema. Enjoy the latest international art house films. And the views of course! www.roffamonamour.com

Pleinbioscoop Rotterdam WED 12 – SUN 30 AUG

This open-air cinema is a popular annual event for residents of the city. Visitors can rent a chair for € 1 (or bring one yourself) and watch films released in the past year. All films are shown in their original language. Before the film there is live music and you can grab a bite to eat at the various food stalls. www.pleinbioscooprotterdam.nl

Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam THU 8 – SUN 11 OCT

During three days dozens of films are shown, ranging from world premieres and classic films to documentaries and short films. The program, including guided tours, talk shows and debates, is predominantly English. www.affr.nl

CamEra Japan thu 24 – sun 27 sep

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture during the biggest festival for Japanese film and anime in the Benelux. Besides film there is music, dance and of course lots of delicious Japanese food! www.camerajapan.nl

Cinerama Filmtheater

Location to be determined

Museumpark

LantarenVenster

LantarenVenster

For more film festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl 7

arT rOTTErdam WEEK

Rotterdam city of art From Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 February Rotterdam becomes a mecca for art lovers and professionals. In addition there are pop-up shows, open studios, exhibitions and openings in museums and galleries.

1. vaN NELLEFabRIEK

Now in its 16th year, Art Rotterdam is the festivals main art fair. The fair includes more than one hundred galleries from home and abroad, as well as the top of contemporary and modern art. In and around the Van Nellefabriek you can find the various sections under one roof. There are also pop-up shows, artist presentations and exhibitions by, among others, the Mondriaan Fund. Part of Art Rotterdam is We like Art, a sales exhibition selling various works under € 1,500.

FREE TRANSPORTATION

The various art fairs take place in different locations: Art Rotterdam in the Van Nellefabriek and Rotterdam Contemporary and OBJECT Rotterdam on the Southbank.

Free transfer (shuttle bus) is available between the locations.

The shuttle bus route also passes Vierhavengebied, Witte de Withstraat and Museumpark.

DATES AND LOCATIONS WED 4 – SUN 8 FEB Van Nellefabriek, Wilhelminapier, Katendrecht, Museumpark and Witte de Withstraat.

www.artrotterdamweek.com

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FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

2. vIERHavENgEbIED

Made in 4Havens Festival shows how products are manufactured. There is a route past five manufacturing sites such as woodworking, the latest aviation technology and experiments with the latest techniques of 3D printing for textile production. In addition, Atelier van lieshout shows the Blastfurnace, an installation measuring more than 11 meters of steel driven by manpower and simple mechanics, for the very first time in the Netherlands.

WED 4 – SUN 8 FEB 2015 Illustration Femke Wieringa

6. MUSEUMPARK & WITTE DE WITHSTRAAT

During Art Rotterdam Week you can visit the museums and galleries around Museumpark and Witte de Withstraat such as Kunsthal Rotterdam and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. There are various openings and different locations offer discounts on admission upon presentation of the Art Rotterdam ticket.

3. CRUISE TERMINAL

Rotterdam Contemporary Art Fair (formerly RAW Art Fair) is a vibrant mix of galleries and art initiatives with contemporary art, photography, design, music, installations, videos, sound and performance. The exhibition exudes a festival atmosphere and wants to show how accessible art can be.

4. FENIXLOODSEN

Wilhelminapier and Katendrecht are vibrant locations during Art Rotterdam Week. There are two major fairs and several art projects in public spaces. There is No Walls Expo & International Book Art Fair in Fenixloods, which is a group exhibition and an art books fair.

Out There is a project in collaboration with Nederlands Fotomuseum, where landscape images are incorporated into video projections and installations.

5. SS ROTTERDAM

OBJECT Rotterdam is a fair showing works of nearly forty (inter)national art galleries and design platforms in the field of design, art, architecture and fashion. There are also presentations, lectures and interviews.

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More art in Rotterdam Rotterdam has many museums with leading collections. A number of major museums, including Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Kunsthal Rotterdam, Het Nieuwe Instituut and Natuurhistorisch Museum are located in and around Museum­park. Witte de Withstraat is within walking distance, where you will find Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, TENT and gallery MAMA. Photography lovers can go to Nederlands Fotomuseum on the Wilhelminapier (Southbank).

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

Museumpark 18 www.boijmans.nl

Kunsthal Rotterdam Westzeedijk 341 www.kunsthal.nl

het nieuwe instituut

Museumpark 25 www.hetnieuweinstituut.nl

Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam Westzeedijk 345 www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl

Witte de With Center FOR Contemporary Art & TENT Witte de Withstraat 50 www.wdw.nl & www.tentrotterdam.nl

Showroom MAMA

Witte de Withstraat 29-31 www.showroommama.nl

Nederlands Fotomuseum

Wilhelminakade 332 www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

Chabot museum

Museumpark 11 www.chabotmuseum.nl

For more art festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl 10

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

national holidays

Rotterdam city of celebrations National holidays such as King’s Day and Liberation Day are celebrated with various festivities.

Koningsdag MON 27 APR King’s Day is the national holiday on which the Nether­lands celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. Everyone has the day off work and school and many take to the streets to sell their stuff on the ‘free market’. People clean out their attics and wardrobes and simply sell the things they do not want anymore from a carpet on the sidewalk. Also, everyone dresses in orange and silly outfits, and the whole country parties together on this festive holiday!

Oranjebitter | Parklaan One of the most popular Koningsdag parties for the last seven years. The secret line-up never disappoints. www.oranjebitter-rotterdam.nl Koningsdag Festival | Willemsplein Outdoor stage with bands and DJ’s that will have people dancing at the foot of the Erasmus bridge! www.kdfrotterdam.nl S’Oranje | Plein 1940 Two stages, a food court and hippy market. With music ranging from smooth tunes to banging party hits. www.soranje.nl Kralingse Bos Festival | Kralingse Bos Organizer Revolt presents a lineup full of fine DJs during the second edition of this techno and deep house festival. www.kralingsebosfestival.nl

Bevrijdingsfestival TUE 5 MEI | Het Park (bij de Euromast) On Liberation Day we celebrate our freedom in the Netherlands.

In 1945 the country was liberated from German occupation and since then the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been free from war and oppression. Once every five years it is also a national day off, as is the case in 2015.

The place to be in Rotter­dam is Het Park at the Euromast for Liberation Festival South Holland. You have all day to enjoy various (free) music performances. www.bevrijdingsfestivalzh.nl

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major sport events

Rotterdam city of sports In 2015 Rotterdam is host to several international sport events.

Want to run?

Throughout the year there are various runs you can do:

Marathon Rotterdam SUN 12 APR | Coolsingel A major sporting event with thousands of participants. The best runners in the world run over 42 kilometers for new records but many locals train year round to run this marathon as well. More than 925,000 spectators and live music performances along the route create a special atmosphere that is felt throughout the city. www.marathonrotterdam.nl

Sign up!

Do you want to run this marathon? You can register yourself via www.marathonrotterdam.nl. It is also possible to do 10 kilometers.

This run starts and finishes - just like the real Marathon - on the Coolsingel. Count on an impressive reception of cheering spectators!

For more festivals visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl 12

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

Roparun MON 25 MAY www.roparun.nl Nesseloop SAT 30 MAY www.loopgroepnesselande.nl Ladiesrun SUN 14 JUN www.ladiesrun.nl Men of Steel Run SUN 12 SEP www.menofsteelrun.nl Harbour Run SUN 11 OCT www.harbourrun.nl Electric Run SAT 17 OCT www.electricrun.nl Bruggenloop Rotterdam SUN 13 DEC www.bruggenloop.nl

VKV City Racing SUN 30 AUG | Coolsingel Formula 1 racing cars tear through the city at high speed! The definitive racing event of the Netherlands with (inter)national racing cars and drivers racing through the heart of the city. www.cityracing.nl

WK Beachvolleybal FRI 26 JUN – SUN 5 JUL | ss Rotterdam This year Rotterdam is one of the four Dutch host cities of the World Championship Beach Volleyball. Late June a temporary stadium will rise on the quay at the ss Rotterdam that will host two thousand spectators.

Tour de France SUN 5 JUL | Coolsingel Five years ago, the Grand Depart of the Tour de France started in Rotterdam. This year the Tour comes racing through Rotterdam again. On July 5, the tour caravan leaves from Capelle aan den IJssel and runs through the heart of the city on its way to Zeeland.

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament

EK Volleybal FOR WOMEN

MON 9 – SUN 15 FEB | Ahoy Rotterdam

SAT 26 SEP – SUN 4 OCT Ahoy Rotterdam / Topsport Centrum Rotterdam

Since 1974 known as the largest and busiest men’s indoors tennis tournament in the world. During this 42nd edition the very best players in the world face off at Ahoy Rotterdam. www.abnamrowtt.nl

In the autumn of 2015 the best women’s volleyball teams compete against each other during the European Championship Volleyball for women. The games take place in Apeldoorn, Almere, Antwerp and Rotterdam.

The final will be played at Ahoy Rotterdam. www.volleybal.nl/nevobo/verenigingen/join-wk-en-ek-2015 13

festival highlights later this year

Rotterdam city of festivals So far you have seen the festivals in the first part of 2015.

In the rest of the year there are also many festivals in Rotterdam so do not miss these iconic events!

Port of Rotterdam North Sea Jazz Festival FRI 10 – SUN 12 JUL | Ahoy Rotterdam Globally, this festival is known for its many musical genres, ranging from New Orleans jazz and swing to blues and hip hop. During three days more than 65,000 visitors come to enjoy jazz music from the past, present and future. This year there will be performances by, among others, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. International artists share the stage with new talent, giving the audience a chance to enjoy old favorites, while also discovering new talent. To warm up, from Friday 26 June to Sunday 12 July, there will be jazz concerts all over the city with North Sea Round Town. In restaurants, living rooms and on various stages, known and unknown jazz artists will leave you wanting more! www.northseajazz.com/en

Robin Rotterdam Unlimited TUE 21 – SAT 25 JUL | Schouwburgplein, Coolsingel For three days in the last weekend of July, a multi-cultural mix featuring the best ingredients from versatile Rotterdam: A buzzing city full of music, dance, street art, theater, food and drinks. On different stages throughout the city center you see a wide variety of performances and acts. One of the major highlights is the Summer Carnival Street Parade on Saturday, where you can get your swing on in the streets.

The festival is mostly free of charge. www.rotterdamunlimited.com

For more festivals in 2015 visit www.rotterdamfestivals.nl 14

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

WERELDHAVENDAGEN FRI 4 T/M SUN 6 SEP | Various venues Rotterdam is a port city with one of the most important ports in Europe. This is celebrated every year during the World Port Days. Get on board a ship, see the spectacles on the water, make an excursion in the harbor and a good dose of entertainment, all in one day! Can you simply not get enough of the port?

During the same weekend you can also visit the Maritime Quarter, the International Shanty Festival, Night on the Cape and Fabrique MozaĂŻque. www.wereldhavendagen.nl

VISITOR INFORMATION For a complete overview of the festivals and additional information visit: www.rotterdamfestivals.nl | www.facebook.com/rotterdamfestivals | www.twitter.com/rdamfestivals ________________________________________________________________________________

Parking in rotterdam

P+R facilities Located at the outskirts of the city. Here you can park for free and take public transportation to the city center within 10 minutes. www.parkerenindestad.nl

City Centre

Tariffs and times are stated on all parking machines for on-street parking. You have to enter your license plate at the machine, you will not receive a paper ticket. Payment is only possible by bank or credit card.

Public transport

OV-chipkaart The public transportation card is valid on all RET metro’s, trams and busses in all of Rotterdam.

OV-chipkaarten are for sale at the stations. www.ov-chipkaart.nl

RET

Supplier of public transport in Rotterdam and surroundings. The RET customer shop is located on Laan op Zuid 2.

For schedules see www.ret.nl

Information

Rotterdam.Info Tourist information and souvenirs. Located at Central Station and Coolsingel 195-197. +31 (0)10 - 790 01 85 www.en.rotterdam.info

ROTTERDAM WELCOME CARD

Offers discounts of 25% and more at 50 attractions, museums, restaurants and places of entertainment in Rotterdam and 1, 2 or 3 days of unlimited travel with RET metro, tram and bus. www.rotterdamwelcomecard.com

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FESTIVAL GUIDE 2015

Architecture Design E-culture Museumpark 25, Rotterdam www.hetnieuweinstituut.nl

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Het Nieuwe Instituut