Rotterdam’s is currently underway, running through , and a recurring title across multiple screenings is Habibi Hussein, a film already generating discussion as a “cautionary tale about cultural colonialism.” The Alex Bakri-directed project, a co-production between Palestine, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, is being shown at LantarenVenster 1, 4, and 6 throughout the festival’s remaining days.
Habibi Hussein centers on Hussein Darbi, a veteran film projectionist tasked with restoring a carbon-arc projector for the sole movie hall in Jenin, a Palestinian city that has faced significant destruction in recent years. The film’s synopsis, as detailed by IFFR, suggests a critical lens is applied to the NGO involvement in the cinema’s reconstruction, framing it as a potentially “vain and vapid” endeavor. The cinema itself, originally opened in 2011, was razed five years later to make way for a mall, a detail that underscores the precariousness of cultural spaces in the region. Its rebuilding was facilitated by an NGO founded by film director Marcus Vetter, who previously documented the initial effort in his 2012 documentary, Cinema Jenin – Die Geschichte eines Traums.
The film’s narrative isn’t simply about restoring a projector; it’s about the power dynamics inherent in cultural recovery. According to critic Olaf Möller, as quoted by IFFR, Habibi Hussein is “an extremely partisan behind-the-scenes take” that portrays Darbi, the projectionist, as a seasoned professional treated as an apprentice by the NGO team. This dynamic highlights a central theme of the film: the potential for well-intentioned external intervention to inadvertently undermine local expertise and agency.
The festival’s broader program, encompassing 428 feature and short films including 211 world premieres, also features screenings of Los Domingos, Home, Tunnels: Sun in the Dark, and 3 Days in September alongside Habibi Hussein at LantarenVenster 1, 4, and 6. The festival opened with João Nicolau’s Providence and the Guitar and will close with Rémi Bezançon’s Bazaar.
IFFR 2026 is placing a spotlight on Egyptian filmmaker Marwan Hamed, with a retrospective of his work, including a European premiere of his 2025 biopic, El Sett, about the iconic Egyptian singer and actress Umm Kulthum. The festival is also dedicating a focus strand to Japanese V-Cinema, showcasing a different facet of the country’s film industry.
The juries overseeing the Tiger, Big Screen, and Tiger Short competitions have been announced. Soheila Golestani, Marcelo Gomes, Ariane Labed, and Kristy Matheson are among those tasked with selecting the winning films. The Tiger Competition, in particular, features 12 world premieres from emerging filmmakers, while the Big Screen Competition explores themes of inherited stories and their impact on the present. The Tiger Short Competition highlights the diversity and innovation within short and medium-length filmmaking.
Vanja Kaludjercic, IFFR’s festival director, emphasized the festival’s commitment to showcasing both established and emerging voices, stating that IFFR 2026 “brings together new voices and returning artists whose work is about connection, innovation, humour, fear, beauty and the ongoing human search for our place in a changing world.” This sentiment appears to be reflected in the diverse program, which aims to offer a platform for films that grapple with complex social, political, and personal themes.
Habibi Hussein, with its pointed critique of cultural intervention, seems particularly well-suited to this year’s festival ethos. The film’s focus on a specific, geographically and politically charged location – Jenin – and its exploration of the challenges faced by local artists and communities, positions it as a potentially significant contribution to the ongoing conversation about representation, agency, and the role of cinema in a globalized world. The multiple screenings suggest a strong level of interest from festival attendees, and the film’s reception will likely be closely watched by industry observers.
The festival’s commitment to showcasing a wide range of films, from established auteurs to emerging talents, underscores its role as a vital platform for independent cinema. With a program that includes world, international, and European premieres, IFFR 2026 continues to solidify its reputation as a key event on the international film festival circuit.
