The world premiere of All India Rank by Varun Grover brought the 52nd edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) to a close with Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot winning the Audience Award. The feature debut by Belgian writer and filmmaker Emmanuelle Nicot portrays the journey of a girl at the cusp of teenager-hood, Dalva, who must learn how to be a child again, after she’s been taken away from her abusive father Jacques.

The festival also announced the Youth Jury Award, selected by a panel of young film lovers aged between 16 and 20, went to Something You Said Last Night by Luis De Filippis. In this debut feature, summer vacation is an exploration of millennial boredom, family love and trans identity.

Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic: “What an emotional and rewarding experience it was to finally see IFFR back in full splendor – reuniting audiences and filmmakers from far and wide in packed venues. Some of these programs and projects have been in the making, for not one or two but three years. It’s absolutely wonderful we were able to share it with the world. In addition to cinematic cultures IFFR has been supporting for decades, we also looked deeper into regions that are often overlooked or underrepresented. By doing so we continue expanding and diversifying our core. IFFR 2023 was a true celebration of the power of cinema and everything it can be.”