Rotterdam International Film Festival
Rotterdam, Netherlands
100
Tier AOscarScreenings
Festival dossier
Film by the Sea
Vlissingen, Netherlands · Est. 1998 · Established legitimate festival with meaningful track record
Tier BTrusted
Vlissingen, Netherlands
63
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Solid signals — do normal diligence
Tier B looks established enough for many filmmakers. Check fees, programming fit, and recent editions before submitting.
- No physical screenings
- 28 years of verifiable history
- 2 verified pro signals
Overview
Film by the Sea is the fourth biggest film festival of the Netherlands with over 40,000 admissions annually. The festival focuses on book adaptations and feature length French language films, but also presents a Panorama section of international festival favourites and avant-premieres, as well as a small selection of documentaries. A special program is devoted to films from the province of Zeeland. Film by the Sea takes place in the seaside city of Vlissingen, in the southwest of the Netherlands. The 28th edition runs from September 11 until 20, 2026.
Last updated Sep 17, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+28 pts)
- 28 years of verifiable history
- 2 verified pro signals
- Verified trusted status
- Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (3 vs 1)
Red Flags (-15 pts)
- No physical screenings
Trust Signals
Positive Signals
- Documented history with archived programs
- Has FilmFreeway community ratings
Festival Details
Founded
1998
FilmFreeway community
Avg. rating
3.7/ 5
Reviews
11
Synced 4 days ago
- Filmmaker
As a visitor and a film maker I can only put in writing how different and wonderful this film festival is. Location is the key here, and also the way the festival is being programmed makes it a one of a kind every year. Special thanks to Bo van Scheyen who made Zeeuws Licht a success.
- Filmmaker
A superb festival with incredibly supportive staff. Thank you once again for screening our film Ich bin Wiete - it was an absolute pleasure.
- Filmmaker
One of the best film festivals in The Netherlands.
- Filmmaker
I had a lovely time at Film by the Sea! It always feels like returning home, with a nice location close to the sea. Thanks for having me and my film in the Zeeuws Licht competition :)
- Filmmaker
Probably one of the best festivals in The Netherlands. Lovely cinema, great Q&A afterwards. And the fact that Jan Doense and his team at the festival made it possible for the Darius Brubeck Quartet to perform after the screening was wonderful!
FilmFreeway reviews are filmmaker opinions, not our score. Cross-check red flags before paying fees.
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At a glance
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Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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