First edition 013 CIFF

As Tilburg continues to revitalise its city centre and enhance its cultural footprint, the idea of starting an international film festival—small at first but with big hopes for the future—started to take shape two summers ago. Paul Vermee, the man behind the rebirth and refurbishment of Tilburg’s Cinecitta cinema complex, was visiting relatives in Vancouver, Canada, when he discovered that the son of one of his cousins worked for the Vancouver International Film Festival and was based in Paris. So Vermee sent his first cousin, once removed, an email.

‘The email from Paul was like a very welcome bolt from the blue,’ said Jack Vermee, the new director and programmer of the 013 Cinecitta International Film Festival (013 CIFF). ‘Here was a note from a man I’d never heard of saying he was my father’s cousin, and asking if I would be interested in starting a small film festival in my father’s hometown of Tilburg. You bet I would!’ So, with a nod to Tilburg’s area code and affectionate nickname, the 013 Cinecitta International Film Festival was born.

In a world positively brimming with film festivals, what could the 013 CIFF do that others haven’t already done? ‘During my 25 years as a programming consultant with Vancouver, I’ve noticed that many worthy films seem to fall through the cracks,’ said Vermee. ‘While everyone in the festival world scrambles to show the new Michael Haneke film, many good films are being overlooked. This can happen when a film is submitted to a festival too late in the programming process, or when the quota for the country the film was made in has already been reached. And some films, while not necessarily overlooked, could benefit from further exposure. So that became theraison d’être for the 013 CIFF—presenting films that have been overlooked or deserving of further exposure to Tilburg cinephiles. We are very excited to have the chance to do this!’

The Festival will screen 13 (in keeping with its name) fiction features from 13 different countries, all of which we will be entertaining, thoughtful, and high-quality examples of the seventh art. These are films—all from the last couple of years—that more than merit another chance to entertain and enlighten audiences.

The 013 CIFF Audience Award for Most Popular Film

Keeping in mind the 013 CIFF philosophy of raising the profiles of worthy films, the Festival has created the Audience Award for Most Popular Film, which gives Festival patrons the chance to vote for their favourite titles. The winner of the award, announced on the final night of the Festival, will receive two things: a prize of €1,000 and, perhaps more importantly, the potential for distribution. If the film’s producers or sales agent are in agreement, the Festival will assume the costs of subtitling the film in Dutch and distributing it throughout the Benelux countries, thus giving at least one ‘unheard voice’ the chance to be heard and seen where it was meant to be—in cinemas!

Our New Website, Souvenir Catalogue, and Mini-Programme Guide

Look to www.013ciff.com for everything you want to know about the Festival. Beginning Monday, September 9, all film and ticket information will be on our site, and a secure ticket-purchase system will be in place t make buying tickets simple. A glossy souvenir catalogue will be for sale at Cinecitta from Monday, September 16, and a handy, pocket-sized mini-programme guide with all film information and a screening schedule will be available for freefrom that same day.

Tickets

Tickets will be available on this website and at the Cinecitta box-office beginning Monday, September 9, 2019. Early-bird tickets, available online and at the Cinecitta box-office from September 9 until September 15, are €8. Regular tickets are €10 euros each, available online and at the Cinecitta box-office. Please note that after September 15, regular ticket prices apply. Given the limited seating in our three screening rooms, Festival patrons are urged to buy their tickets early in order to avoid disappointment.

Important Dates

Monday, September 9 – The 013 CIFF website goes live with all film information, a screening schedule, and ticket options. Early-bird Ticket sales (€8) begin both online and at the Cinecitta box-office.

Sunday, September 15– Last day for Early-bird Tickets.

Monday, September 16 – Regular ticket sales (€10) begin. The glossy souvenir catalogue goes on sale at Cinecitta, and a free, handy, pocket-sized mini-programme guide with all film information and a screening schedulebecomes available.

 Thursday, October 17– Opening Night of the first 013 Cinecitta International Film Festival. See the website on September 9 to find out what the Opening Night film will be and details of the Opening Night party.

Guests

The Festival will be bringing in some of the directors of the films on offer, so they can engage with the Tilburg audience in what promise to be lively and informative Q&A sessions following the evening screenings of their films. Look to the website after September 9 for information on who will be attending the 013 CIFF from October 17 – 20.

So, once again, the 013 Cinecitta International Film Festival, with support from the City of Tilburg, will take place Thursday, October 17 through Sunday, October 20, 2019. Expect quality films, a friendly atmosphere, invited guests, and a celebration of the best that cinema can be!

Please note that all films are in their original language with English subtitles.