Queen Maxima opens Int’l Film Festival Rotterdam

Queen Maxima opened the 45th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam on Thursday. The theme of this year's festival is ID check - the continuous reflection of people on themselves, how they interact and how they can build a society together, broadcaster NOS reports. The festival runs until February 7th. A total of 450 films will be screened, spread over 17 locations. More than a hundred films will be doing their world premiere at the festival, including Beyond Sleep - the English-language adaption of W.F. Hermans novel Nooit meer slapen. Eight films will be competing for the Hivos Tiger Award, which comes with a 40 thousand euros cash prize. Among the contenders is History's Future by Dutch director Fiona Tan. After pop icon David Bowie's unexpected death, the festival also added a screening of The Man Who Fell to Earth, a 1976 science fiction film with Bowie in the lead.