International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam

The Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival, better known by its acronym IDFA, is the largest documentary film festival in the world, held annually since 1988 in the city of Amsterdam , Netherlands. Over twelve days, it screened more than 300 films, sold more than 250,000 tickets and received more than 3,000 guests.

The festival is an independent and international meeting place for audiences and professionals to view a diverse program (in form, content and cultural background) of high-quality documentaries. IDFA selects creative and accessible documentaries, which offer new perspectives on society.

In its mission statement, IDFA states that it “strives to screen films with pressing social issues that reflect the spirit of the times in which they are made.”

Read also

Taylor Swift Has Released a New Album, ‘All Too Well’

George Clooney rules out going into politics

History of International Documentary Film Festival

The festival was initially held in the Leidseplein area in central Amsterdam. It has since spread to other venues, including the popular Tuschinsky Theater.

In addition to its international film programming, the variety of genres and the many European and world premieres held each year, the festival also hosts debates, forums and workshops. Since 2007, the New Media program of the IDFA DocLab festival shows the best interactive non-fiction narrative and explores how the digital revolution is reshaping documentary art.

In addition to the festival, the IDFA has developed various professional activities, contributing to the development of filmmakers and their films in all their stages. In the co-financing and co-production market, IDFA Forum filmmakers and producers present their plans to sponsors; Docs for Sale offers new documentaries to programmers and distributors;

IDFA’s Bertha Fund supports filmmakers and documentary projects in developing countries; and the IDFA Academy offers international training programs for emerging teaching talents.

The IDFA was founded by Ally Derks, who remained in command from 1988 until 2017, when he left office. Policy Barbara Visser oversaw the 2017 edition as Acting Director. In January 2018, Syrian film producer Orwa Nyrabia was appointed artistic director of the festival.