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CineMart calls for project submissions for 43rd edition

CineMart calls for project submissions for 43rd edition

Broadcast Pro12-07-2025
The upcoming edition will mark the introduction of CineMart x HBF, a new official strand spotlighting Hubert Bals Fund-supported projects.
CineMart, the co-production market of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), has opened project submissions for its 43rd edition, which will be held during the 55th IFFR from January 29 to February 8, 2026. The upcoming edition will debut a new strand titled CineMart x HBF, designed to highlight projects supported by the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), further reinforcing the festival's commitment to fostering original storytelling and nurturing emerging talent.
As CineMart continues to evolve and expand, applicants are encouraged to note changes to the submission process. This includes a tiered fee structure aimed at accommodating the growing volume of entries and the resources required to evaluate them. The standard and late submission deadlines are set for August 21 and August 27, respectively. Priority will be given to projects making their first market presentation at Rotterdam, emphasising the market's role as a launchpad for bold new voices in cinema.
The CineMart x HBF initiative seeks to strengthen the relationship between IFFR's funding and market activities, offering an integrated path for previously supported HBF projects. Recent successes such as Gabriel Mascaro's The Blue Trail and Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light underscore the potential impact of this synergy, both having benefited from HBF support and CineMart exposure en route to international acclaim.
CineMart 2026 will also continue to embrace immersive media storytelling, inviting submissions from projects in development that seek funding or co-production partners. Recent immersive works presented at CineMart have gone on to receive international recognition, including Duchampiana by Lilian Hess and The World Came Flooding In by Isobel Knowles and Van Sowerwine.
Project teams that have previously received Hubert Bals Fund support are encouraged to contact CineMart directly for tailored guidance on how to apply. The 2026 edition aims to deliver a tightly curated selection of standout projects, offering a platform for artistic innovation and global collaboration at a critical stage of development.
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CineMart calls for project submissions for 43rd edition
CineMart calls for project submissions for 43rd edition

Broadcast Pro

time12-07-2025

  • Broadcast Pro

CineMart calls for project submissions for 43rd edition

The upcoming edition will mark the introduction of CineMart x HBF, a new official strand spotlighting Hubert Bals Fund-supported projects. CineMart, the co-production market of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), has opened project submissions for its 43rd edition, which will be held during the 55th IFFR from January 29 to February 8, 2026. The upcoming edition will debut a new strand titled CineMart x HBF, designed to highlight projects supported by the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), further reinforcing the festival's commitment to fostering original storytelling and nurturing emerging talent. As CineMart continues to evolve and expand, applicants are encouraged to note changes to the submission process. This includes a tiered fee structure aimed at accommodating the growing volume of entries and the resources required to evaluate them. The standard and late submission deadlines are set for August 21 and August 27, respectively. Priority will be given to projects making their first market presentation at Rotterdam, emphasising the market's role as a launchpad for bold new voices in cinema. The CineMart x HBF initiative seeks to strengthen the relationship between IFFR's funding and market activities, offering an integrated path for previously supported HBF projects. Recent successes such as Gabriel Mascaro's The Blue Trail and Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light underscore the potential impact of this synergy, both having benefited from HBF support and CineMart exposure en route to international acclaim. CineMart 2026 will also continue to embrace immersive media storytelling, inviting submissions from projects in development that seek funding or co-production partners. Recent immersive works presented at CineMart have gone on to receive international recognition, including Duchampiana by Lilian Hess and The World Came Flooding In by Isobel Knowles and Van Sowerwine. Project teams that have previously received Hubert Bals Fund support are encouraged to contact CineMart directly for tailored guidance on how to apply. The 2026 edition aims to deliver a tightly curated selection of standout projects, offering a platform for artistic innovation and global collaboration at a critical stage of development.

Ithra's installation by Saudi artist Raghad Al-Ahmed at Spain festival
Ithra's installation by Saudi artist Raghad Al-Ahmed at Spain festival

Gulf Today

time25-06-2025

  • Gulf Today

Ithra's installation by Saudi artist Raghad Al-Ahmed at Spain festival

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), a leading cultural institution in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, unveiled an immersive installation inspired by Saudi agricultural heritage at the Concéntrico International Festival of Architecture and Design in Logrono, Spain (June 19 -24). Participating in the festival for the second consecutive year, Ithra expanded its footprint across the international design landscape by presenting Rooted in Warmth by Saudi multimedia artist Raghad Al-Ahmed, alongside an Ithra-supported sensory experience delivered by Saudi-based visual narrative studio, N'class, on June 19. The installation was created in collaboration with over 50 female artisans in Al-Jawf, northern Saudi Arabia, inspired by the artist's roots in the Hejazi community, specifically in the western city of Taif, where gatherings under the shades of trees still form an integral part of rural life. 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They include Ithra's Islamic Art Conference and ongoing multi-exhibition programme dedicated to Islamic and contemporary artisanship. Through hands-on, discovery-led experiences, Ithra has invited audiences of all ages to explore creativity and knowledge embedded in craft traditions across Saudi Arabia and beyond its borders. By sharing traditions, including the presentation at Concéntrico Festival, Ithra brings foundational elements of Saudi identity to new audiences, to ensure that an invaluable legacy is preserved and shared globally. Commenting on the festival showcase, Noura Alzamil, Head of Programs at Ithra, said: 'We are proud to present Raghad Al-Ahmed's remarkable work at Concéntrico. Commissioning this piece and showcasing it at one of Europe's leading design festivals reflects Ithra's continued efforts to champion creative expression. 'This initiative offers a tangible platform for Saudi artists and artisans to amplify their voices and share their craft with the world, enriching the global cultural landscape. Imbued with the artist's personal and national identity, wrapped in contemporary artistic expression, Rooted in Warmth is sure to be a catalyst for cross-cultural dialogue at the festival.' The installation was open to the public June 19–24 at the Plaza de la Diversidad in Logrono. Following its debut in Spain, Rooted in Warmth will be exhibited in Saudi Arabia as part of Tanween 2025. As the installation continues its journey to Tanween 2025, it returns to Ithra enriched by its engagement with international audiences and recontextualised at home within the rich architectural dialogue of the Kingdom. Saudi artist Raghad Al-Ahmed. Tanween is Ithra's annual flagship design event, dedicated to spotlighting excellence in global design and amplifying voices leading creative innovation and to motivating and inspiring a new generation of innovators. The seventh edition of Tanween (2024) invited audiences and creatives for six days of workshops, talks, masterclasses, exhibitions, panel discussions, design challenges and a variety of creative activations under the theme of Fail Forward. The conference was a platform for over 160 designers and creatives from 22 countries. Visitors saw the outcomes of projects from the previous Tanween Challenges, interacted with the stunning display of exhibited works of 50 design and architecture graduates from nine different countries and enjoyed the day with an expert programme of design masterclasses. Tanween 2024 in numbers : 1 Mega Challenge; 100 opportunities created; 26 speakers; 62 activations; 5 exhibitions; and 9 workshops. The second edition of the Tanween Mega Challenge gathered creatives from around the globe to develop design solutions to enrich a pilgrim's Hajj experience. With a view to improve pilgrims' accessibility and comfort, Tanween challenged 70 international innovators to design sustainable and empowering solutions that improve services during the Hajj season. Concéntrico is an urban innovation that rethinks the use of public space and strengthens communities through architecture and design. Since its inception in 2015 as the international Festival of Architecture and Design in Logrono, it has developed more than 150 interventions over ten years, evolving into an expanded platform with a presence in cities such as Milan, Bucharest, Barcelona, Madrid, Dammam, Huesca, besides Logrono. By expanding its footprint and establishing new dates in different locations, Concéntrico seeks to revitalise the dialogue between designers and communities, enriching the festival experience and its relevance in the current context. The new season of Concéntrico introduced a renewed approach with initiatives that included calls for permanent projects, educational programmes, exhibitions, and itinerant installations, consolidating its role as a reference in urbanism and public space discourse. The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It focuses on enriching people's lives by offering impactful cultural and creative programmes and initiatives. Since its opening in 2018, Ithra has become a distinguished cultural and architectural landmark which houses the Idea Lab, Library, Theater, Museum, Cinema, Great Hall, Energy Exhibit, Children's Museum and Knowledge Tower.

Palestinian film ‘A House in Jerusalem' now available on Shahid
Palestinian film ‘A House in Jerusalem' now available on Shahid

Broadcast Pro

time31-05-2025

  • Broadcast Pro

Palestinian film ‘A House in Jerusalem' now available on Shahid

The film is helmed by Muayad Alayan and co-written with Rami Alayan. Arabic streaming platform Shahid has released Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan's third feature film, A House in Jerusalem. Directed by Muayad Alayan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rami Alayan, A House in Jerusalem made its world premiere at the 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The film has garnered recognition at various renowned festivals worldwide, including the Boston Palestine Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival in the United States, as well as the Mostra de Valencia—Cinema del Mediterrani in Spain, the Athens Palestine Film Festival in Greece, and the Palestinian Film Festival in Australia. Notably, A House in Jerusalem was the sole Arab project selected for the 36th edition of the IFFR Pro's Production Market. Featuring an ensemble cast including Johnny Harris, Makran Khoury, Souad Feres, Miley Locke, and Sheherazade Makhoul Farrell, A House in Jerusalem follows the journey of young Rebecca, who is compelled to relocate with her father from the UK to Jerusalem in the hopes of finding solace and healing following her mother's sudden passing. As Rebecca settles into an old house in a neighbourhood known as the 'Valley of the Ghosts,' a series of mysterious events unfold, with Rebecca bearing the blame. The film delves deep into the mysteries of the house and the mystical city of Jerusalem, as Rebecca embarks on an enigmatic quest to uncover the secrets that lurk in the shadows of the house. The film's production involved collaboration among several entities, including PalCine Productions in Palestine, Wellington Films in the UK, Red Balloon Films in Germany, Metafora Production in Qatar, and Key Film. MAD Solutions is managing the distribution of the film across the Arab world. The film also received several development funds from the Doha Film Institute, Netherlands Film Fund, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, British Film Institute, and French Consulate General Jerusalem. Additionally, it received the Filmmore Postproduction Award and the AFAC's Cinema Grant.

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