HAPPENING 2 to 8 November 2026 | Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam returns to Cinerama and LantarenVenster with more than 60 nature films, filmmaker encounters and industry events. The full programme is now online and ticket sales are open, while WFFR Lokaal brings screenings to 26 locations across the Rotterdam region until 1 November.
About the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam
Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam has been bringing nature films to the city since 2015, when its first edition took place at Cinerama. Since then it has expanded with an online festival, neighbourhood screenings and satellite editions. LantarenVenster joined Cinerama as a second main Rotterdam festival venue in 2025.
WFFR screens nature films from the Netherlands and abroad, looking beyond spectacular wildlife footage to conservation, biodiversity, climate change, habitats, agriculture and the relationship between people and the natural world. The festival reported 32,155 visitors across its 2025 edition.
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What to expect at WFFR 2026
The twelfth edition of WFFR runs from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 November 2026 at Cinerama Filmtheater and LantarenVenster. The completed Rotterdam programme now features more than 60 nature films, with screenings spread across the two cinemas throughout the week.
The opening film is Wildgemis, the 53-minute directorial debut of Dutch filmmaker Anouk Suntjens. The documentary follows researcher Elke Tukker as she studies wild horses in the American wilderness and confronts questions about control, freedom and humanity's place in nature. The 20:00 world-premiere screening at LantarenVenster on 2 November is invitation-only, but a public screening follows at 21:45. The film also screens later in the festival, including a 45-minute talk with Suntjens after the 8 November screening.
Other films in the programme include Wild Tamil Nadu, Wild Asia, Wild London, Why we love Dolphins, The Last Dive, The Ancient Forest, The Chimps of Fongoli, Snow Leopard Sisters, Notes from the Woods, Heart of a Lion, Flamingos and Becoming Elephant: The Orphans of Reteti.
The full programme also includes special strands such as Festival Favorites, Bird Bird Bird, Family Shorts, short-film programmes, a photo exhibition and 3D screenings. You can browse films, dates and screening times on the official WFFR programme page.
The theme of WFFR 2026 is Samenleven met wilde dieren, or living alongside wild animals. This year's programme looks at what happens as wildlife increasingly shares spaces shaped and occupied by people, and at the questions of coexistence, adaptation and conservation that follow.
Tickets and passes
A Rotterdam passe-partout now costs €80, while a five-film card costs €35. Visitors younger than 25 can buy a youth pass for €50. The youth pass offers the same access as the regular passe-partout.
The passe-partout and five-film card cannot be used for Bird Bird Bird, Festival Favorites or the short-film programmes. They also do not cover WFFR Lokaal, WFFR Online or the satellite editions in Wageningen and Tilburg. Check the current WFFR pass conditions before booking.
Industry Days and Flamingo Awards
The WFFR Industry Days take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November at the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam. The professional programme brings together filmmakers and other people working in wildlife film for talks, networking and pitch sessions.
WFFR has now published a preliminary timetable. Friday includes a session with Wild Tamil Nadu director Kalyan Varma and the annual pitch sessions. Saturday includes a masterclass by Derek vs Derek director James Dawson and a session with My Bear Story filmmaker Irina Schaepman. You can check the current Industry Days programme before attending.
The Flamingo Award Ceremony follows on Saturday 7 November at Arminius Church. Doors open at 19:30 and the ceremony starts at 20:00, followed by an afterparty.
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WFFR Lokaal across Rotterdam
WFFR Lokaal runs from 1 October to 1 November 2026, bringing nature films to 26 locations across Rotterdam and the surrounding region. Screenings take place in settings ranging from neighbourhood centres and museums to gardens and cultural venues, with many accompanied by talks, tours, meals or other activities.
The programme began at Trompenburg Arboretum en Tuinen on 1 October with The Ancient Forest. Other participating locations include De Buurvrouw, Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Bibliotheek Rotterdam, Het Wijkpaleis, ART Studio, Buitenplaats Brienenoord and Cultuurhuis KADE40 in Vlaardingen.
Dates, films and ticket arrangements differ by venue, so check the official WFFR Lokaal programme for the latest schedule.
Wageningen, Tilburg and WFFR Online
After the Rotterdam festival, satellite editions continue at Visum Mundi in Wageningen from 11 to 15 November and at Cinecitta in Tilburg from 18 to 22 November.
WFFR Online runs from 3 November to 5 December 2026. Almost all films from the edition are due to be made available online, although WFFR says any exceptions will be announced separately.
Online films can only be watched from within the Netherlands. Individual films cost €5, while an online passe-partout costs €25. Online sales begin on 3 November. After buying an individual film, you have 48 hours to watch it.
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Festival locations
Cinerama Filmtheater is at Westblaak 18, 3012 KL Rotterdam, in the city centre close to Witte de Withstraat and metro station Beurs.
LantarenVenster is at Otto Reuchlinweg 996, 3072 MD Rotterdam, on Wilhelminapier. Its waterfront location puts you close to restaurants, hotels and other cultural venues.
Accessibility differs significantly between the two cinemas. Cinerama states that its auditoriums are not wheelchair-accessible and that there is no lift. LantarenVenster is wheelchair-accessible, with wheelchair spaces available in its film theatres, and recommends contacting its box office before your visit.
For screening times and ticket availability, check the official WFFR programme before travelling.
