How to IDFAcademy
In this page, IDFAcademy participants of the 2025 edition can find answers regarding their participation in the program. A detailed program guide with all the information about talks, speakers, and other participants will be sent closer to the festival start. Meanwhile, check the answers below and reach out to idfacademy@idfa.nl if your question cannot be found here.
Besides all the information in this page, here is map with all festival locations, hotel recommendations and other food recommendations by IDFA staff.
General information
IDFAcademy 2025 will be mainly held at De Balie, at Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10, 1017 RR Amsterdam. A couple of sessions will take place in ITA - Internationaal Theater Amsterdam - Leidseplein 26, 1017 PT Amsterdam.
The program commences on Thursday, November 13, between 9:30 and 10:00 am, concluding on Sunday, November 16, around 6:00 pm.
Your IDFAcademy pass can be collected at our Guest Desk on the ground floor of the industry centre in ITA - Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, at Leidseplein 26. It takes approximately 5 minutes to walk from ITA to the IDFAcademy venue (De Balie).
IDFA doesn't provide hotel discount codes. For proximity to festival venues, consider booking near Leidseplein. Alternatively, due to increased prices in Amsterdam Centre, opting for a more budget-friendly hotel further away is a decent option. A detailed list of suggested hotels for 2025 can be found here.
Each morning, we provide coffee and croissants. Additionally, around 12 pm after the morning session, a lunch-snack is available at the IDFAcademy venue. Dinner and other meals should be arranged independently.
Public Transport is a convenient way to travel in and around Amsterdam. Plan your trip at www.9292.nl/en. For more on public transport in Amsterdam, visit www.gvb.nl/english or use Google Maps.
For most services, buy tickets in advance, available at many stops. Remember to check-in when boarding and check-out when disembarking. Depending on your destination in Amsterdam, consult the 9292 App/website.
The Code of Conduct applies to all IDFA staff, contractors, volunteers, professional guests, audiences, and relations. By attending IDFA you acknowledge to adhere to IDFA's Code of Conduct.
Read here IDFA's code of conduct.
Program
Each day of IDFAcademy offers talks, sessions, and round tables. Mornings start with a plenary session. Afternoons include smaller group sessions, talks, round tables, and more. You can choose from various options based on your interests.
The full program will be shared with you at the end of October.
IDFAcademy is not a project-driven workshop; however, you will be able to apply all the knowledge from each session to your current project. Additionally, during the meetings with other participants and professionals, you can discuss and receive brief feedback on your work.
This session that takes place on Saturday morning involves expert feedback on pitches and pitch trailers. You'll be asked in advance if you want to present your project. In the form you have received, you can indicate if you are interested in pitching or not. After this, we will select three projects to pitch during the session. Besides this, we will select a fourth project randomly on the spot, during the session. Participants interested in pitching will receive information via email.
Attend round table meetings with professionals by signing up at the IDFAcademy Desk on the session day. One professional per table will share the specific expertise and there is time to ask questions. Limited spots are available per table.
As part of IDFAcademy, we recommend and reserve a small number of tickets for films connected to program speakers. Collect these tickets at the IDFAcademy Desk the day before the screening until 13:00. Or book them yourself on the website.
Access to the various IDFAcademy sessions
Talks
Can be accessed by all participants. In smaller rooms with limited capacity.
Sessions
Can be accessed by all participants. Smaller sessions in more intimate settings, so therefore fewer places are available. (First come, first served).
Round tables
Must be signed up for in advance. Sign up at the IDFAcademy desk on the day of the round table.
Participants’ meet-up
Each participant is assigned to a group: search for your name in the participants section to find your group, then look at the schedule to see where your group meeting takes place.
Screenings
For the suggested screenings, you can pick up a ticket from the IDFAcademy desk, before 1 pm on the day before the screening only. If tickets run out, you can book them online with your pass.
IDFAcademy drinks
Show your pass and get a drink!
You were asked before arriving to signal your interest in the Guest of Honor Talk and the IDFAcademy Session: Me & The Filmmaker. Priority is given to those who signed up. For the Guest of Honor Talk, pick up the tickets from the IDFAcademy desk.
Industry program
Your IDFAcademy pass grants access to the industry program for professionals, including talks, presentations, consultancies, and think tanks. Keep an eye on this page for the industry program. Please note this program is different to the IDFA Markets – which IDFAcademy participants have no access to.
Watching films
As part of IDFAcademy, we recommend and reserve a small number of tickets for films connected to program speakers. Collect these tickets at the IDFAcademy Information Desk the day before the screening until 13:00.
With your IDFAcademy pass, book, for free, an additional 20 tickets to festival program film screenings, including Industry Screenings. Check here for the most updated selection of films. Ticket sales start at the end of October.
With your IDFAcademy pass, access the DocLab program, featuring exhibitions, live events, and new media projects. Keep an eye on this page for the program and free ticket bookings.