, arguably the largest cinema event devoted to alternative international cinema, kicks off its 51st edition Wednesday with the world premiere of Amanda Kramer’sRotterdam was forced to go online-only again this year after the Netherlands went into lockdown in December amid an omicron-driven surge in COVID-19 infections.
Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic notes the shutdown happened “practically at the finish line” but that even before the lockdown, earlier restrictions, including a 5 pm curfew for cinemas, would have made an in-person festival a challenge. “Can you imagine having a big film festival, a celebration of cinema with almost 300 films, all those world premieres, and 2 pm is your primetime slot?” Kaludjercic tells