Producers Connection

Everything you need to know about IDFA's Producers Connection.

About the Producers Connection

Since 2021, Producers Connection presentations focus solely on supporting projects looking to finance their films through international co-production. The Producers Connection is open to projects at various levels of development or production.

With up to 15 projects selected, the Producers Connection provides an intimate presentation environment and networking format. In 2025, the presentation will be open to all producers observing the Forum.

During the Producers Connection presentation, each project team (consisting of a producer and director) is invited to introduce themselves, their project, and the kind of collaboration they are looking for in a moderated conversation-style presentation format. Following the presentation, projects meet with interested independent producers and a limited number of industry professionals.

Independent producers attending the Forum who have a proven track record in international co-producing and are looking for new projects to collaborate on are invited to have one-on-one meetings with the selected teams.

Presentations are live in Amsterdam. Project teams who are unable to travel need to get in touch with the IDFA team.

Key dates

Entries period: from June 2 to July 25.

Eligibility

For projects

For independent producers

Application process

Entry regulations

It is only possible to apply for one Forum category with the same project. If you are uncertain which category to apply in, please get in touch with the Forum team.
IDFA Forum is open to independent production companies and producers from all over the world.

Providing visual materials (trailer or other examples of your project) is highly recommended. Depending on the category, this can be a trailer, mood board, or other visual examples of the project. Incomplete applications without sufficient documentation will not be considered for selection.
By entering a project to IDFA Forum 2024, you agree that the project will not be withdrawn after selection.
Please make sure to complete the IDFA accreditation form as well. The accreditation form offers producers the opportunity to indicate if they would like to attend the IDFA Forum even if their project is not selected. You can find the accreditation form in your MyIDFA account starting June 10.
If your project was previously selected for one category, you can only apply again for another category relevant to your stage of production. E.g a Producers Connection project can apply to IDFA Forum, and then to Rough Cut Presentation.
Unfortunately, due to the high number of entries we cannot give feedback to projects that are not selected.

To make a balanced selection regarding geography, gender and point of view, the selection committee takes into consideration: the artistic quality, uniqueness of the content, stage of development, subject, team, extent of exposure at other international markets, country of production, amount of financing in place, and genre, among other criteria.
If you have entered or are planning to enter to IDFA and/or Docs for Sale 2024, the project is not eligible for IDFA Forum.
The applicant will guarantee to have secured clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted film/project and any photographs submitted relating to the film/project for all purposes for which the material will be used by IDFA. The applicant will guarantee to hold IDFA harmless from any claims from copyright holders in relation to use of the submitted film by IDFA for the agreed purposes. IDFA reserves the right to disqualify any film with unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted materials.

Entry fee for IDFA 2024

Selection process

About the selection process

General selection regulations

A maximum of two projects can be selected per company. For each selected project, two participants (the team presenting the project) are allowed to attend the Forum, as included in the project fee.
The project team (producer and director) must be present for the full Forum activities, including their presentation and meetings. The exact days of participation depend on the presentation format. The Forum will run from Sunday, November 17 to Wednesday, November 20.

If your project is selected, you must include contracts or letters that prove any financial investment listed in your entry form. These contracts or letters of commitment from broadcasters and financiers must state the amount of the investment and must be written in English. The letters must be dated and signed.
After the selection of the project, the participation fee must be completed online by October 8, so within two weeks of the selection results.
The Forum staff strongly advise first-time project presenters at IDFA to register for the pitch training (for selected projects only).
After IDFA Forum, all participants are asked to participate in a guest survey and a questionnaire of the financial impact of the Forum to help us evaluate the year’s edition.
By providing your trailer or other visual material and stills, you give IDFA permission to publish the material on www.idfa.nl and use the material for promotional purposes for IDFA Forum 2024. If, for safety reasons, the material cannot be published, let us know immediately after selection.

If the selected project is completed in due time, IDFA Forum will be referred to in the credits as 'This film was presented at IDFA Forum 2024”. The Forum logo can be provided by the Forum staff. All participating projects are invited to add their film (upon completion) for free to the Docs for Sale catalogue, IDFA’s sales market and distribution incubator for creative documentaries.
All participating projects are offered a fee waiver code to enter to the IDFA festival (upon completion). Please contact the Forum staff on forum@idfa.nl.
All projects are featured through the IDFA Forum online project collection (with a trailer or other sample material, project information, and a still), where they can be securely viewed by industry representatives/financiers who have a password.
All projects are also featured in IDFA Forum's printed publication which is distributed to IDFA Forum passholders.

Selection fees for IDFA 2024

Practical information

Producers Connection is presented live in Amsterdam. Project teams who are unable to travel need to get in touch with the IDFA team.
Only two team members can present, preferably one producer and the director.
A moderator is present to establish a friendly atmosphere in the room and assist the team in introducing themselves, their project, and the kind of collaboration they are looking for in a conversation-style format.
Each project will have one-on-one meetings with independent producers interested in the project. These are arranged by the Forum staff based on preferences of the project team and independent producers as well as input from the Forum staff.

Attending Forum as an Observer

Entries checklist

The Producers Connection is made possible in part by Eurimages.