In 1972 Huub Bals was asked by the Rotterdamse Kunststichting to develop a counterpart of Poetry International. Personal and artistic films were chosen. Later that same year, the first Film International was held showing 32 films attracting 5,000 visitors. The festival has become a major international film festival (IFFR) which currently shows some 350 films and documentaries during a twelve day period. Over 350,000 visitors attend this festival every year. To watch the video of this event scroll down.