The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) kicked off last night with the world premiere of Dutch crime comedy Fabula and a passionate call from artistic director Vanja Kaludjercic for cinema to tell stories that challenge, inspire and illuminate.
Speaking to around 800 guests at Rotterdam’s Oude Luxor Theater, Kaludjercic welcomed Michiel ten Horn’s Fabula as the first Dutch film to open the festival since 2018.
Many of the film’s cast and crew – including stars Fedja van Huet and Sezgin Guleç as well as producers Sander Verdonk and Thomas den Drijver - were in attendance and were loudly applauded by the crowd.
Speaking to around 800 guests at Rotterdam’s Oude Luxor Theater, Kaludjercic welcomed Michiel ten Horn’s Fabula as the first Dutch film to open the festival since 2018.
Many of the film’s cast and crew – including stars Fedja van Huet and Sezgin Guleç as well as producers Sander Verdonk and Thomas den Drijver - were in attendance and were loudly applauded by the crowd.
- 1/31/2025
- ScreenDaily
The 54th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) opened on Thursday night with Dutch film Fabula at the Oude Luxor Theater, in front of more than 800 guests.
Dutch director Michiel ten Horn appeared onstage alongside actors Fedja van Huet and Sezgin Guleç as well as producers Sander Verdonk and Thomas den Drijver to introduce their crime comedy film.
“Fabula is a film that is a homage to the art of storytelling,” said Verdonk. “Stories are amazing — you can tell these little secrets, jokes or fables, and they tell you something about life, lift you up, change your mind, make you feel better or make you think.”
Den Drijver added: “Michiel’s insane vision inspired us to produce this film. We’ve been working on it for quite some time and we’re very proud to be showing it to you here today.”
The crime comedy film tells the story of Jos,...
Dutch director Michiel ten Horn appeared onstage alongside actors Fedja van Huet and Sezgin Guleç as well as producers Sander Verdonk and Thomas den Drijver to introduce their crime comedy film.
“Fabula is a film that is a homage to the art of storytelling,” said Verdonk. “Stories are amazing — you can tell these little secrets, jokes or fables, and they tell you something about life, lift you up, change your mind, make you feel better or make you think.”
Den Drijver added: “Michiel’s insane vision inspired us to produce this film. We’ve been working on it for quite some time and we’re very proud to be showing it to you here today.”
The crime comedy film tells the story of Jos,...
- 1/31/2025
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
Dutch filmmaker Michiel ten Horn will make history at the International Film Festival Rotterdam with his latest feature, “Fabula,” the first homegrown Dutch production to open the festival since 2018.
The film follows Jos, a small-time criminal played by Fedja van Huêt, in a redemption story that combines crime, comedy, and fantasy. Set in Limburg, the Netherlands’ southernmost province, “Fabula” explores local folklore and contemporary themes through an unconventional narrative.
“It’s between comedy, crime, and fantasy. You are never quite sure what to expect,” ten Horn said. He deliberately filmed during November and December to create an intentionally uncomfortable atmosphere that supports the story’s darker elements.
The narrative draws inspiration from classic redemption tales, with ten Horn comparing the protagonist to a Charles Dickens character. Jos faces a personal crisis after a drug deal goes wrong and learns he’s about to become a grandfather. The story unfolds as a journey of transformation,...
The film follows Jos, a small-time criminal played by Fedja van Huêt, in a redemption story that combines crime, comedy, and fantasy. Set in Limburg, the Netherlands’ southernmost province, “Fabula” explores local folklore and contemporary themes through an unconventional narrative.
“It’s between comedy, crime, and fantasy. You are never quite sure what to expect,” ten Horn said. He deliberately filmed during November and December to create an intentionally uncomfortable atmosphere that supports the story’s darker elements.
The narrative draws inspiration from classic redemption tales, with ten Horn comparing the protagonist to a Charles Dickens character. Jos faces a personal crisis after a drug deal goes wrong and learns he’s about to become a grandfather. The story unfolds as a journey of transformation,...
- 1/30/2025
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
Michiel ten Horn’s “Fabula” – which opens this year’s edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam – follows a “dumb, selfish gangster who gets himself into a lot of trouble,” explains the director. But there’s a “philosophical layer” to it as well.
“It’s a redemption story, almost like ‘A Christmas Carol.’ He’s like a Charles Dickens character who’s visited by four ghosts and put through a real beating in order to learn something.”
In his crime comedy, Jos (“Speak No Evil’s” Fedja van Huêt) is used to bad luck – after all, his family has been dealing with it for years. But as a drug deal goes terribly wrong and, on top of it all, he finds out he’s about to become a grandfather, Jos’ determined to finally break the circle.
“I think the audience likes it when a character is struggling but also trying his best to achieve something.
“It’s a redemption story, almost like ‘A Christmas Carol.’ He’s like a Charles Dickens character who’s visited by four ghosts and put through a real beating in order to learn something.”
In his crime comedy, Jos (“Speak No Evil’s” Fedja van Huêt) is used to bad luck – after all, his family has been dealing with it for years. But as a drug deal goes terribly wrong and, on top of it all, he finds out he’s about to become a grandfather, Jos’ determined to finally break the circle.
“I think the audience likes it when a character is struggling but also trying his best to achieve something.
- 1/29/2025
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The 54th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will open with the world premiere of dark comedy Fabula from Dutch filmmaker Michiel ten Horn and close with historical epic This City Is a Battlefield from Indonesian director Mouly Surya.
With the festival taking place from January 30 to February 9 next year, IFFR also unveiled its jury line-ups across its three Competition strands: the Tiger Competition, the Tiger Short Competition and the Big Screen competition.
The Tiger Competition Jury will be made up of Yuki Aditya, Soheila Golestani, Winnie Lau, Peter Strickland and Andrea Luka Zimmerman.
Angela Haardt, Frank Sweeney and Yaoting Zhang will form the Tiger Short Competition Jury.
The Big Screen competition Jury will comprise of Bero Beyer, Sara Rajaei, Dewi Reijs, Digna Sinke and Jia Zhao.
Fabula, co-produced in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, follows Jos, a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures. As his...
With the festival taking place from January 30 to February 9 next year, IFFR also unveiled its jury line-ups across its three Competition strands: the Tiger Competition, the Tiger Short Competition and the Big Screen competition.
The Tiger Competition Jury will be made up of Yuki Aditya, Soheila Golestani, Winnie Lau, Peter Strickland and Andrea Luka Zimmerman.
Angela Haardt, Frank Sweeney and Yaoting Zhang will form the Tiger Short Competition Jury.
The Big Screen competition Jury will comprise of Bero Beyer, Sara Rajaei, Dewi Reijs, Digna Sinke and Jia Zhao.
Fabula, co-produced in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, follows Jos, a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures. As his...
- 12/10/2024
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
Dutch filmmaker Michiel ten Horn’s Fabula will open the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) on January 30, while Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya’s historical epic This City Is A Battlefield will close the event on February 9.
Fabula is a dark comedy about a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures, starring Fedja van Huet, Anniek Pheifer, Sezgin Gulec, Michiel Kerbosch, Georg Friedrich, and David Kross. It is a co-production between the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Michiel most recently directed the family feature Hotel Sinestra in 2023.
Surya’s This City is a Battlefield is set in 1946 during Indonesia’s fight for independence.
Fabula is a dark comedy about a provincial criminal grappling with personal and professional failures, starring Fedja van Huet, Anniek Pheifer, Sezgin Gulec, Michiel Kerbosch, Georg Friedrich, and David Kross. It is a co-production between the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Michiel most recently directed the family feature Hotel Sinestra in 2023.
Surya’s This City is a Battlefield is set in 1946 during Indonesia’s fight for independence.
- 12/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
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