Clare Stewart Steps Down As Rotterdam Managing Director

Clare Stewart has stepped down as Managing Director of Rotterdam Film Festival.

In her role, Stewart jointly led the organisation alongside Festival Director Vanja Kaludjercic. She will remain in post until next year’s edition, her fourth in the role.

Stewart, however, will remain involved with IFFR’s Displacement Film Fund, the short film grant initiative founded and led by Cate Blanchett. IFFR’s Supervisory Board has begun recruiting for a new Managing Director.

During Stewart’s tenure, the IFFR team has secured several key funding commitments for the festival and its year-round work. This includes 4-year subsidies from both the National (OCW) and municipal (Gemeente Rotterdam) governments, which see the Festival supported up to and including the 2029 edition, and a successful bid from the content team (led by Chief of Content Melissa van der Schoor) for increased 3-year support from Creative Europe up to and including the 2028 edition.

“It has been a privilege to share the custodianship of one of the world’s most essential film festivals with Vanja and to back her artistic and cultural vision for the future of IFFR,” Stewart said in a statement.

“I am proud we have stabilised the business position of the organisation in a very challenging era for film festivals globally, and I truly believe that now is the right time to hand over to a new Managing Director to bring fresh energy and perspective to the continuing work of securing a sustainable future for IFFR. Importantly, this timing will also mean my successor has a decent runway into the next Dutch subsidy cycle.”

Kaludjercic said in a statement that Clare “brought exceptional commitment, fearlessness and professionalism to IFFR” during her tenure.

“One of Clare’s particular strengths is her ability to open up new possibilities for IFFR and pursue them with clarity and determination,” Kaludjercic said. “This has been especially evident in the way she has helped develop and steward the Displacement Film Fund with such confidence and momentum. While her role at the festival is changing, our collaboration will continue through the DFF, and I look forward to remaining closely connected as we take its next phase forward.”