The International Film Festival Rotterdam is shocked by the news of the death of Nika Bohinc and Alexis Tioseco, who have been murdered in a robbery at their house in Quezon City, The Philippines. The two young film critics and programmers were passionate, talented and tireless promoters of cinema. They had made many good friends at the Rotterdam festival in the years they were our guests. Nika and Alexis found each other during one of their visits to the Festival.
Nika Bohinc had become, as editor in chief of film magazine Ekran and programmer for the Isola Cinema Festival, a highly regarded figure in the Slovenian and international film world.
Alexis Tioseco, who served as a member on the Rotterdam FIPRESCI Jury in 2007, contributed to many publications, including Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer as well as Dutch monthly de Filmkrant. His writing, programming and lecturing has been instrumental in promoting the recent wave of independent cinema from the Philippines.
We are devastated. We will miss their enthusiasm, their opinions, and their company. We wish their families and friends, all over the world, strength and courage.