FAQ: new media & performances entries 2025
In addition to films, IDFA welcomes live performances and interactive/immersive new media projects. Below, you can find the frequently asked questions about performances and new media projects (to be considered for IDFA DocLab).
Type of projects
We welcome projects from independent artists, collectives, production studios, theater companies, and other organizations from all over the world working on interactive and immersive documentaries. The call is open to both experienced artists and new talent.
IDFA DocLab is IDFA’s new media section hosting a yearly immersive exhibition, VR Gallery, and program of live events. We welcome entries across all disciplines using emerging media to represent reality, including digital art, immersive experiences (such as VR/AR/MR, social VR and fulldome films), games, audio experiences, physical installations, live performances, immersive theatre etc.
IDFA DocLab is open to unreleased projects as well as projects that have been made publicly available (on the internet) after July 1, 2024. Priority is given to projects that have not yet been presented at other events or festivals. For reference, see the IDFA DocLab page or the IDFA entry regulations.
Premiere status and program sections
- World premiere: the first presentation ever.
- International premiere: the first presentation of a project outside the country of production. Your project is eligible for international premiere status if, prior to IDFA, the project has only been presented in its home country. Example: a Canadian project that has only been showcased in Canada is eligible for an international premiere at IDFA.
- European premiere: the first presentation in Europe. Your project is eligible for European premiere status if, prior to IDFA, the project has been presented outside the country of production but not yet in Europe. Example: a Chinese project that has been showcased in China and the United States is eligible for a European premiere at IDFA.
- Dutch premiere: the first presentation in the Netherlands.
All interactive, immersive, or performance-based entries submitted to IDFA will be considered for several possible program sections, including:
- IDFA DocLab Competition Sections (for projects eligible for one of the DocLab Awards)
- IDFA DocLab Exhibition (our main presentation space for new media works)
- IDFA DocLab Live Events Program (for performances, artist talks, and experimental formats presented live)
Your project may be eligible for more than one section. If selected, IDFA’s artistic director, supported by the programming team, will determine the best fit based on your work’s format, concept, and audience experience.
Entry process
Please go to MyIDFA in order to fill out the online entry form and pay the entry fee. Please provide us with the appropriate viewing materials via a (password-protected) streaming/download link or by uploading supporting documentation. We can preview interactive/immersive projects on most platforms and devices, such as MAC, PC, iOS, Android, Quest, Pico, VIVE, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, etc. We can also consider projects made for other platforms, devices, and VR/AR headsets. For projects using custom platforms or custom devices, please specify what is required in the online entry form. In case the build of a project cannot be shared, please provide a video or walk-through of the full experience.
For physical installations, performances, or projects that cannot be sent digitally, please provide extensive visual and written documentation. For instance: a description of the audience experience, platform(s) used, script, score, installation design, or any other relevant (production) details to showcase the work.
To be considered for IDFA DocLab, a new media project or performance needs to be at an advanced stage, if not fully completed, by the time it is sent. Unless approved in writing by IDFA DocLab department, only one version of a new media project or performance will be reviewed and assessed.
Yes, you can.
The entry period opens on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. From that date, artists are welcome to enter their projects for consideration for IDFA 2025.
The deadline to enter is Thursday, July 3, 2025.
IDFA DocLab presentation support
All projects selected for IDFA DocLab 2025 will receive basic venue and production support. Besides this basic support, IDFA is able to offer a limited number of projects additional presentation support.
- Through the Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant, IDFA DocLab can offer a limited selection of Dutch project teams direct financial support for the finalization and presentation of a new work to premiere during IDFA 2025. For more information on this grant see the question below.
- IDFA DocLab can offer a limited number of international projects presentation support through the DocLab R&D Program. Projects can apply for a maximum of €5,000 to support the physical presentation of the project during the festival. For more information see the question below.
All the information required to be considered for a grant is requested within the regular entry form, no separate application procedure is necessary.
The Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant, funded by the Netherlands Film Fund, supports Dutch artists, as well as Netherlands-based media artists and international Dutch (co)productions in finalizing and presenting their work at the 38th edition of IDFA.
Who is it for?
The grant is intended for project entries that aim to use the festival as a global stage and creative testing ground. We especially encourage entries that fit one of the following profiles:
- New Dutch works seeking an international premiere platform for an innovative physical installation or performance
- Advanced-stage prototypes that would benefit from public exhibition
- A stand-alone version of a work that is part of a larger project
What support is offered?
The Netherlands Film Fund has made €20,000 available in total.
Each selected project can receive up to €10,000 in grant funding.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible, the project must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The creator/director is Dutch
- The creator/director is based in the Netherlands
- The project has a Dutch or Netherlands-based producer or co-producer
How do I apply?
There’s no separate application process for the Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant. To apply, simply complete the regular IDFA DocLab entry form. Additional questions related to the grant are included within the form.
How are projects selected?
Eligible entries are reviewed by external program advisors and judged by a selection committee consisting of two representatives of the Netherlands Film Fund and two members of the IDFA DocLab curatorial team
Applicants will be notified of the grant results by mid-August 2025.
IDFA DocLab offers a limited number of international projects presentation support through the DocLab R&D Program. Projects can apply for a maximum of €5,000 to support the physical presentation of the project during the festival. There’s no separate application process, simply complete the regular IDFA DocLab entry form. Additional questions related to R&D support are included within the form.
Yes. If you need more time or more budget to realize your project, we recommend entering into IDFA DocLab Forum, where projects in all production and financing stages can find their way to new partnerships, receive in-depth feedback, and explore new ways to move forward. Read more about DocLab Forum (open for entries from June 2 –July 25).
Entry and payment
The deadline for live performances and new media projects is Thursday July 3, 2025. Communication regarding project entries will be sent by email to the main contact indicated in the entry form. You will receive an automated e-mail including a copy of the filled-out entry form after sending in the form. In case you did not receive confirmation, please check your spam folder.
Once the payment has been received and the entry is processed, you will receive another e-mail confirming receipt of your entry.
Once you have sent in an entry form, you can no longer change it yourself. Please send an e-mail to doclab@idfa.nl, and we will make your changes in the database.
All entries will be reviewed thoroughly and carefully by our team of international program advisors. These experts from around the world join in the discussion and give their recommendations, followed by a final round of selection and production checks by the IDFA DocLab curatorial team. The selection process is overseen by IDFA’s artistic director.
Artists who applied for the Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant will be informed that their project is selected, still in consideration, or not selected by mid-August.
All other entries will be informed that their project is selected, still in consideration, or not selected by mid-September.
If your project is selected, you’ll be asked to provide materials to help us promote and present your work effectively. These typically include:
- High-resolution stills (JPEG, at least 5MB each)
- An electronic press kit (EPK)
- A high-resolution trailer or teaser (if available)
- Final presentation assets, tailored to your project’s format. For example: a website link, the final build of a VR/AR work or game, physical elements or digital plans for installations.
We understand that many projects evolve up to the moment of exhibition. The exact materials and deadlines will be coordinated directly with the IDFA exhibition production team, based on your project’s needs and status.
Selected projects will also receive the official IDFA laurel, which you’re welcome to use in your publicity. Laurel files will be sent to you digitally.
If selected, your work will be showcased as part of the annual IDFA DocLab festival exhibition, VR Gallery and/or our live events program.
IDFA invites everyone to attend the festival and represent their project. The director/main creator of a project selected for IDFA DocLab will receive free festival accreditation. Anyone who wants to attend the festival must fill out an accreditation form via MyIDFA. For projects selected for the IDFA DocLab Program, we provide travel and accommodation support to at least one person from the creative team, usually the director. After selection, IDFA’s Guest Services department will inform you about all guest arrangements.
Entry fee
Yes, we do. The entry fee for interactive or immersive new media projects and performances is €40. For students, the fee is €25. The correct fee is automatically calculated when you fill out the entry form.
If the fee is a barrier, we offer a limited number of discount codes. For more information on how to request one, please see the question: "How can I become eligible for a discount code?"
IDFA greatly appreciates your entries, and we sincerely hope that you see IDFA as a valuable launch pad for your project. Unfortunately, we have to charge a fee for each entry. This fee will cover the processing, installation, careful viewing, and reviewing of your project by our external program advisors and curatorial team.
After sending in the entry form in MyIDFA, you will be redirected to the payment page. Payments are handled by Adyen. We offer the following methods to pay the entry fee:
i. Credit cards: MasterCard, VISA, and American Express
ii. iDEAL (for entries from the Netherlands)
If you don’t have the ability to use one of the above methods of payment, please send an e-mail to doclab@idfa.nl.
Payment should take place as quickly as possible and within two weeks after the sending in the online entry form. Entries will not be processed and taken into consideration until your payment has been received. Entries cannot be taken into consideration if the payments are completed after our final entry deadline.
IDFA offers a discount for students. We also provide fee waivers in any of the following instances:
- If the main country (or countries) of production (main producer) is on the IBF country list, you are eligible for a fee waiver.
- If your project has been presented at IDFA DocLab Forum in the past, you are eligible for a fee waiver.
- Dutch new media (co-)productions that want to apply for the Filmfund DocLab Interactive Grant are eligible for a fee waiver.
Requests for fee waivers can be made by filling out this form.
Unfortunately, we apply a no-refund policy.
If you get an error while trying to pay, please send an e-mail to program@idfa.nl.
In order to solve the problem, we advise you to open the page in Google Chrome and make sure to pause all ad blockers that may be running on the page. If the problem persists, please send an e-mail to program@idfa.nl.
If your payment was successful, the payment page will state this. You will receive a confirmation by email after your entry form has been processed by IDFA.
Yes, this may be the case, as Adyen handles all IDFA payments.
In case you fill out a company which has a billing address based outside the Netherlands, you will not be charged additional VAT by IDFA, but you will have to pay your VAT duties in your own country.
- If this is within the European Union, you need to fill in your VAT details in the billing address field. For general VAT rules within the EU please go to EU Tax and Customs info. Please make sure to fill out the correct VAT information in the billing details on the entry form, as this cannot be adjusted on the payment page. If you forget to fill out your VAT number you will be charged VAT. If you made a mistake in filling out the VAT information, please send an email to program@idfa.nl before completing the payment, as this is the only way to still edit the information. IDFA cannot refund VAT after the payment has been completed.
- If your company is based outside the EU, IDFA will not charge VAT but you will need to check your tax regulations in your own country and act accordingly.
All Dutch entries and all entries done by private persons only (with no company attached) will need to pay VAT and will be charged in the IDFA invoice.
If you've already sent in your form and continued to the payment page, you can no longer edit the billing information yourself. Please send an email to program@idfa.nl before completing the payment, as this is the only way to still add this information. IDFA cannot refund VAT after the payment has been completed.
