Costa Gavras, Miike Takashi and Mohammad Rasoulof have joined the upcoming 54th International Film Rotterdam from January 30 to February 9 Festival speaker list.

IFFR will present two types of conversations: Big Talks, which feature conversations between world-renowned figures from different disciplines, and Tiger Talks, which explore film-related themes and discuss a variety of issues, including feminism, the legacy of colonialism and the socio-politics of film Role.

Additional talks will take place during IFFR's RTM day dedicated to Rotterdam on 31 January.

In addition, IFFR Pro Dialogues, a program of industry-focused discussions, will be held during IFFR Pro Days, taking place from January 31 to February 5.

Additionally, during the festival, IFFR will welcome more special guests to showcase their selected works, including Payal Kapadia (Everything We Imagine Is Light), Jan-Willem van Ewijk (Alpha), Uberto Pasolini ("The Return"), Mathieu de la Porte ("The Count of Monte Cristo"), Julie Gayet ("Six Days"), Albert Serra ("Tardes de Soledad"), Lu Ye ("Unfinished Movie") and Wang Bing ("Youth Trilogy").

New guests joining Big Talks include Greek-French film director, screenwriter and producer Costa Gavras, and Miike Takashi, one of Japan's most prolific and acclaimed filmmakers ). Miike's presence in Rotterdam is particularly important as IFFR played a key role in propelling him to international fame. These latest names join previously announced Big Talk speakers, including filmmakers Albertina Carri and Cheryl Dunye, known for their work on non-traditional narratives Known for bold explorations of complex identities.

Tiger Talk will explore topics such as "Film and the Rise of Authoritarianism," "Charactering Nightlife" and "True Crime." The series will also feature panels with IFFR 2025’s featured artists, exploring women’s history in film with Katja Raganelli, the interplay between history, archives and fiction with Timoteus Anggawan Kusno and Matthew Lax, and society in Ukraine with Sergii Political Evolution Masloboishchykov – the first to participate in IFFR 1995 Ukrainian filmmaker in the competition section and returns to this festival with "International Premiere" "Yasha."

Additionally, Saeed Nouri will share rare footage from popular Iranian films from the 1940s to 1960s to coincide with the world premiere of his film Tehran, an Unfinished History, with filmmaker Jesse Jessica Sarah Rinland and art historian Sophie Berrebi will discuss how utilitarian photography and film challenge traditional notions of representation and knowledge.

This year, "Art Direction" features a special film program and conversation with acclaimed artist Amy Siegel, followed by screenings of her works "Panorama" and "Descent."

The Tiger Lecture “Film and the Rise of Authoritarianism” is also part of IFFR’s Professional Dialogue Industry Discussion and will be co-hosted with the International Alliance of Filmmakers at Risk, of which IFFR is a founding member along with IDFA and the European Film Producers Association . The Academy of Cinema welcomes "The Seed of the Holy Fig" director Mohammad Rasoulof, Albertina Cary, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio, Erhan Ors and other confirmed speakers.

RTM projects will have far-reaching impact by centering artists and stories from within the city. As part of the programme, three RTM talks will include a conversation between Ine Lamers and Sam Koopman; a collaboration between IFFR and the Rotterdam Writers Room, an in-depth look at the writing process of Drie dagen vis with writer and director Peter Hoogendoorn ; and speculation about the city of Rotterdam through the "Imagine the City Otherwise" speech.

New to the IFFR Pro program this year is a series of intimate sessions with experts, including experienced international producers Alex Boden and Bianca Balbuena, and script consultant Claire Dobbin, who will share their practice and insight with IFFR Pro delegates reflection.

IFFR Festival Director Vanja Kaludjercic said: "Every year IFFR creates a space where people come together for discovery and dialogue. We spotlight leading and emerging creators with fresh perspectives, unique strengths or special expertise to connect with our audiences and delegates Share - giving a platform to new ideas Our team has curated an exciting and eclectic mix of speakers, from Japanese filmmaking legend Takashi Miike to Alex Ross Perry, with new work in mind. Part of our VHS Cultural Focus program. While Big Talks revolve around individual creativity and their practice, Tiger Talks provide the opportunity to discuss nuanced topics together, and we’re excited to welcome our audience back.”

The complete lineup of talks is as follows:

Big talk
Alex Ross Perry
Alex Ross Perry, one of the most uncompromising artists working in independent cinema today, looks back on his inspiration and creative journey.

Cate Blanchett and Guy Martin
Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin will come together for a wide-ranging conversation about their creative collaboration on Rumors, the role of film festivals, the enduring power of the short form, and other topics dialogue.

Cheryl Dunye and Albertina Cary
Trailblazers Albertina Carri and Cheryl Dunye share their experiences in radical queer filmmaking.

Costa Gavras and Sung-Kee Ng
Filmmaker Costa-Gavras and curator Chengji Wu discuss how archival film practices shape our cultural memory.

Miike Takashi and Misako Ban
Miike Takashi delves into his philosophy on the art and craft of filmmaking. He will be joined by producer Misako Ban, who accompanies and drives the journey.

Stephen Haas and Joseph Kahn
Get an inside look at the diverse body of work and incredible career paths of filmmakers Joseph Kahn and Steffen Haas.

tiger talk
'Descent' Live Conversation with Amy Siegel
Amy Siegel's "Descent" follows George Stubbs on a journey through his paintings, revealing the connection between art and people. Following the screening, artist and filmmaker Siegel will discuss her artistic practice and various methods of working in film, video, photography, sculpture, painting and installation.

"Film and the Rise of Authoritarianism"
Filmmakers facing violations of their freedoms share insights into staying creative during times of censorship and repression.

"Depicting nightlife"
From rave to silent disco, here's how IFFR filmmakers celebrate nightlife culture on the big screen.

"Futurism"
Innovative multidisciplinary artist Omar Rodríguez Lopez explores art that transcends genres and forms.

"Hold the video in your hand"
IFFR filmmakers and programmers recall and reflect on how VHS forever changed our engagement with movies.

Jessica Sarah Ringland and Sophie Bereby
Filmmaker Jessica Sarah Ringland and art historian Sophie Bereby discuss the reliability of archives, collections and visual documents.

Matthew Lacks and Timotheus Angavan Kusno
IFFR 2025 Spotlight Artists Timoteus Anggawan Kusno and Matthew Lax discuss their respective artistic practices.

Robbie Muller Award - Raul Crowley
Raul Crowley, winner of the sixth Robbie Muller Award, discusses his rich body of work.

"Rules of the Game"
What are the ground rules for filmmakers working at the intersection of gaming and filmmaking cultures?

"Sergey Masloboishchikov and the evolution of Ukraine through his films"
Sergii Masloboishchykov, who in 1995 became the first Ukrainian filmmaker to participate in IFFR Competition, returns with a retrospective of 13 films.

"History of Cinema in Pre-revolutionary Iran"
Saeed Nouri (Tehran, Unfinished History, 2025) shares rare excerpts from popular Iranian films from the 1940s to 1960s.

"Through movies, we will rise!"
Researchers and filmmakers trace the history of the Asia-Africa Film Festival and explore expressions of the "Spirit of Bandung."

"True Crime"
How to bring true crime stories to screen and radio in a responsible and sensitive way, starring "Maldoror" (Limelight) director Fabrice du Welz and "Deventer Mediazaak" podcast founder Annegriet Wietsma.

“Women in Film – The Katja Raganelli Method”
Katja Raganelli shares her 30 years of creative process for documentaries and portraits.

RTM Lecture
"Good things come in threes"

Join writer/director Peter Hoogendoorn for an in-depth look at the writing process of "Three Days of Fishing." A collaboration between IFFR and the Rotterdam Writers Room.

“Extending the Framework – Filmmaking as Research”
Filmmaking as a research practice – an intimate conversation between Ine Lammers and Sam Koopman

“Imagine the city otherwise”
What if we used our lens speculatively and imagined the city of Rotterdam in other ways?

IFFR Professional Dialogue
IFFR Pro hosted 10 conversations and 6 meet-the-expert sessions during IFFR Pro Days (January 31-February 5), including the following highlights:

"Opportunity Is Power" will investigate accessibility and equity in front of and behind the camera in the film industry.

“The State of Queer Cinema” will showcase radical expression, activism and transformational work by filmmakers from the festival’s lineup.

“Taking the Pulse: Film Festivals in 2025” will invite programmers, curators and filmmakers to consider the role of film festivals in today’s industry, asking whether festivals can still claim to act as “gatekeepers and tastemakers”.

“The Ethics and Aesthetics of Artificial Intelligence Generated Films” will invite artists to explore the ethically ambiguous space of artificial intelligence as a generator of themes and images, as well as curators and programmers grappling with the complex provenance and ethical issues of how to approach these films.

On February 4, IFFR Pro held a one-day program with the theme "Driving the Focus: Netherlands 2025" to explore the global influence of Dutch film creativity and attract Dutch film production talents to the spotlight. The session will include a conversation between Ena Sendijarević (Take Me to a Good Place, Sweet Dreams) and Dutch actress Renée Soutendijk, as well as a survey of Dutch international co-productions co-hosted with ACE Producers. The afternoon session was devoted to artificial intelligence.