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Globetrotting festival, markets and film development and training veteran Marten Rabarts is joining the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) team to lead its industry activities as Head Of IFFR Pro.
The New Zealand-born film professional already has strong connections with the Netherlands. He was artistic director of the development initiative the Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam for 12 years, followed by a four-year stint as Head of EYE International (now SeeNL), promoting Dutch film and film culture worldwide.
Rabarts left the latter role in 2019 to take on the role of festival director at the Whanau Marama – New Zealand International Film Festival for two years. Most recently he worked as a script mentor on the inaugural edition of Jane Campion’s A Wave In The Ocean Lab among activities on the international film circuit.
In his new role, Rabarts will work closely with IFFR’s Festival Director, Vanja Kaludjercic, and report into Chief of Content, Melissa van der Schoor.
“Marten has an incredible track record in both developing and implementing industry programmes and in elevating Dutch film culture on the global stage – making him the ideal person to spearhead and revitalise our industry offering, across both our existing strands and by forging new initiatives,” said Kaludjercic.
“His strategic, entrepreneurial and curatorial vision is unparalleled and we are very proud to have him joining the team. IFFR has a history of trailblazing both in artistic selection but also through creating vital spaces for the industry to meet and collaborate – and we look forward to building on that in our upcoming edition together.”
The upcoming IFFR Pro Days will run from January 30 to February 5, 2025, within the framework of the 54th edition of IFFR, unfolding January 30 to February ,9 2025.
Spanning the co-production market CineMart, Pro Hub as well as talent development programs such as Rotterdam Lab and BoostNL, IFFR Pro is integral to IFFR’s ambition to nurture talent.
Rabarts’ arrival comes as the festival gears up to mark the 25th anniversary of the Rotterdam Lab in 2025. The training workshop for emerging producers has supported a myriad of now established international film professionals in building and developing their network.
IFFR will also feature an industry day dedicated to the Dutch film ecosystem. Another key focus will be the Darkroom, IFFR Pro’s program of work-in-progress screenings that takes place during CineMart. The projects presented are either supported by the Hubert Bals Fund or formerly presented at CineMart.
“After more than 20 years close collaboration with IFFR, I’m honoured and excited to come on board as Head of IFFR Pro, to build on the incredible legacy of award-winning films and many powerful careers that have been nurtured and launched in Rotterdam over the past decades,” said Rabarts.
“I share a vision with my colleagues at the Festival and the Hubert Bals Fund that the coming years present exciting opportunities for IFFR Pro to innovate and refresh its already impressive bouquet of events and activities,” he added.
“Moving nimbly in direct response to the complex needs of local and global filmmaking communities has been a defining hallmark of IFFR Pro, since the inception of CineMart over four decades ago and made it the market-defining model for co production and project financing markets around the world today. This DNA for change informed by a profound connection to film-makers; directors, writers, producers, will continue as it always has to underpin the work and drive us forward.”
Rabarts’ other previous roles include Head of Development and Training at the NFDC – the National Film Development Corporation – in Mumbai, India. During his time there, he has set up the NFDC LABS, the successor to the NFDC Film Bazaar Labs, which he had led since 2008.
He is also a member of the advisory board of the TorinoFilmLab, CPH:DOX Lab and Clinik Kathmandu.
Rabarts began his working life as an actor and a dancer, after which he worked in London at organisations including PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title.
His film credits include Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook, Edina Pintilie’s Berlinale Golden Bear-winning Touch Me Not and Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.
