Spectacular Closing IFFR 2016: The Childhood of a Leader

The Childhood of a Leader is a coproduction between IFFR, de Doelen and Codarts Symphony Orchestra
 
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) closes its 45th edition on Saturday 6 February with a screening of The Childhood of a Leader. It promises to be a spectacular musical finale: the film music by American singer-songwriter Scott Walker will be played live during the screening of the film in de Doelen by Codarts Symphony Orchestra, led by Mark Warman. The orchestra will also have a special line-up just for this event, featuring a number of guest musicians from England who performed on the original soundtrack. Like last year, following the screening of the film, the festival will close in style with the Closing Party by Warsteiner.
 
In The Childhood of a Leader, an American family relocate to the French countryside at the end of World War I, where the father is involved in drawing up the Treaty of Versailles. His wife, a pious Christian, is struggling with the eruptions of rage from their rebellious young son, whose deliberate outbursts are starting to hint at a monster in the making. The cast of this debut film by actor Brady Corbet features Robert Pattinson (Maps to the Stars), Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac), Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones).

IFFR festival director Bero Beyer: “The Childhood of a Leader is an ambitious feature film debut from actor Brady Corbet. Supported by a stellar cast, he has created a fascinating historical psychodrama about a young boy, representing the whole of Europe after World War I. The film is embellished by a magnificent orchestral soundtrack from Scott Walker, who has adapted the music specially for this screening. The unique combination of a complete symphony orchestra with a poignant feature film on our European history as a closing event at IFFR is truly exceptional. We are extremely grateful and happy to be able to participate in this incredible co-creation by offering this event a large podium, and by welcoming the international cast and crew to Rotterdam.”

Neil Wallace, programme director de Doelen: “De Doelen has previously undertaken several live to screen projects with an orchestra, but this spectacular, overwhelming score for Scott Walker’s amplified symphony orchestra under Mark Warman will ensure this event is a real happening. All of my colleagues in de Doelen are looking forward immensely to this very special cooperation.”

Wilma Franchimon, chair of the board of Codarts: “Codarts’s vision, ‘Talents become artists!’, was never more applicable than to this project. This is a great opportunity for Codarts students to work together and to learn from a fantastic project in which film, theatre and music are brought together. We are very proud that the students are being given this opportunity by IFFR.”

The closing night of IFFR 2016 is being realised in cooperation with Protagonist Pictures, de Doelen and Codarts Symphony Orchestra, and is made possible thanks to the Municipality of Rotterdam and Rotterdam Festivals.

For four decades, IFFR has proudly developed and presented auteur cinema by helping filmmakers reach the broadest possible audiences. The festival is known around the world for its individual, innovative programming, with particular attention to talented new filmmakers. Quality films from all over the world are presented in Rotterdam to a large, international audience with the aim of inspiring and broadening horizons.
 
IFFR is one of the biggest cultural events in the Netherlands, and one of the biggest audience-oriented film festivals in the world. The 45th IFFR will take place from Wednesday 27 January to Sunday 7 February 2016. For twelve days, the latest feature films, documentaries, short films, exhibitions, performances, talkshows and debates make Rotterdam an exciting, global capital city of film. Official ticket sales start on Friday 22 January. Tickets for the closing night are already available from IFFR.com/closing. For more information, see IFFR.com