Catherine Breillat's new film, Anatomy of Hell (Anatomie De L'Enfer), will receive its world premiere at the upcoming 33rd edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Jan 21-Feb1, 2004). .

According to Rotterdam co-director Simon Field the film could be her most controversial piece of work yet. Based on her novel Pornocrati, the production continues the themes of her earlier title Romance. Breillat's next film project An Old Mistress is also being pitched at IFFR's Cinemart.

Rotterdam has also unveiled the first seven titles selected for the VPRO Tiger Awards Competition

At a press conference today (Dec 12), Rotterdam co-director Sandra Den Hamer said that the festival's programme was still 'a work in progress'.

Two of the films are world premieres: How I Killed A Saint by Teona S. Mitevska (Macedonia) and Days Of Santiago by Josue Mendez (Peru).

The other four are European premieres: Summer In The Golden Valley by Srdjan Vuletic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Three Steps Dancing by Salvatore Mereu (Italy), Uniform by Diao Yinan (China) and The Missing by Lee Kang-sheng (Taiwan). Somnambulance by Sulev Keedus (Estonia) will see its international premiere. A full competition line up is expected by the first week of January 2004.

IFFR's Filmmakers in Focus section will highlight the work of directors Ken Jacobs and Tunde Kelani.

The Cinema Regained strand will include films by Tsai Ming-Liang and King Hu, Thom Andersen and Kent MacKenzie. This programme combines new features and documentaries with screenings of films from the past that have inspired or influenced the contemporary filmmakers.


Meanwhile, IFFR is struggling to secure financing for the 33rd edition. Den Hamer said two major sponsors from last year, Canal Plus and beer-company Grolsch, have pulled out, leaving the festival short of Euros 300.000.

IFFR now hopes to secure its full budget of Euros 5.6m with the help of local and national subsidies.