Producers Connection

In 2021, IDFA introduced a new market service focusing solely on supporting projects looking to finance their films through international co-production. The Producers Connection is open to projects that are in development or late development stages, and to independent producers with a strong track record of co-production.

With up to 15 projects selected, the Producers Connection provides an intimate presentation environment and networking format. In 2023, 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. Participants of the Producers Connection obtain regular Observer status at the Forum Pitch, Rough Cut, and DocLab presentations to continue networking with invited professionals.

The Producers Connection category welcomes independent producers with a proven track record in international co-producing who are looking for new projects to collaborate on. Interested producers who fit these criteria are invited to apply for accreditation to the Producers Connection.

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.

• The Producers Connection will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at Felix Meritis in Amsterdam.

• One-on-one meetings are scheduled from Monday, November 13 to Wednesday, November 15.

• Project submissions open on June 21 and close August 1, 2023.

• To attend the Producers Connection as an independent producer without a project, accreditation opens on June 21 and closes October 1, 2023.

• Creative documentaries or series looking for international co-production partners as part of their financing strategy are eligible.
• Preference is given to projects aimed at theatrical distribution, however, projects intended for TV broadcasting and/or other platforms are eligible as well.
• Projects must be in development or late development.
• The Producers Connection is presented live in Amsterdam. If the project teams are unable to travel, they should get in touch with the IDFA team.
• While a strong visual trailer is not mandatory at this stage, the project should be able to demonstrate a developed visual language (mood board, research footage etc.)

• There are no restrictions regarding the amount of financing already in place.
• Short films are not eligible.

Eligibility criteria for independent producers:

• Producers must have a proven track record with international co-productions and must be interested in co-producing as part of their business model.

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 submitting a project to IDFA Forum 2023, 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 21.
• 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 submitted or are planning to submit to IDFA and/or Docs for Sale 2023, 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

• All Forum entries will be charged an administration fee of €30 (excl. VAT) per entry. Exemptions can be made for countries on IDFA Bertha Fund Country List as well Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Estonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia. Please e-mail the Forum staff for more information.

• In case you fill in a company that is based outside the Netherlands in the billing address, you will not be charged additional VAT by IDFA, but you will have to pay your VAT duties in your own country.
• If this country is a member of 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.
• If you have a company based outside the EU, IDFA will not charge VAT but you will need to check the tax regulations in your own country and act accordingly.
• All Dutch submissions and all submissions done by private persons only (with no company attached) will need to pay VAT and will be charged in the IDFA invoice.

Disclaimers: 

• Your entry or accreditation will not be taken into consideration until we receive your payment.
• We apply a no-refund policy to which we can make no exceptions.
• Your payment will be handled by Adyen. This name may appear on your bank statement.

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 12 to Wednesday, November 15.

• 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 6, 2023, 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 2023. 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 2023”. 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 submit 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.

About the selection process
Selecting projects for IDFA Forum is a collaborative process that involves a dedicated team of experienced industry professionals. Assessing each and every project thoroughly, these experts from around the world join in the discussion that leads up to the Forum’s final project selection.

• Projects submitted to the Forum are subjected to a two-fold selection process. First, projects are sent to teams of two readers that assess the projects solely based on artistic and innovative merits and international potential. All preselected projects are then discussed in a five-member selection committee that examines artistic merit as well as financial and distribution strategy documents.
• Preselection and selection committees are changed every year and consist of new and returning industry professionals and leading experts. The names of the 2023 committee members will be announced later in the year.
• All projects must be submitted through an entry form in MyIDFA. All submissions are reviewed thoroughly and carefully by our selection committee members.

Selection fees
All selected projects are charged a presentation fee for their participation in the Forum. Below is an overview of what the fee covers.

Presentation fee per project: €475 (€574.75 incl. VAT 21%). This fee includes:

• Presenting your project at the IDFA Forum event, taking place November 12 to 15, 2023.

• Featuring your project in the official Forum selection, as published in our online and print catalogue.
• Curated (in-person and/or online) one-on-one meetings.
• A maximum of two IDFA Forum accreditations for the project team*.
• Access to social and networking events arranged during the Forum in Amsterdam.
• Access to IDFA's Industry Program of talks, sessions and networking events.
• Online access to company profiles, strand profiles, and contact information of accredited guests.

Fee waivers for teams where the main producer is from and living in a country on the IDFA Bertha Fund List are available.

Teams where the main producer is based in one of the following countries are eligible for a 25% discount on the participation fee: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Estonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia.

With a generous contribution from IEFTA, a travel grant is available to a selected project team coming from a country on the IDFA Bertha Fund List.

Please inquire with the Forum team for more details.

Fee for attending Producers Connection as an independent producer without a project: €375 (€453.75 incl. VAT 21%). This fee includes:

• Access to the Producers Connection event.
• Curated (in-person and/or online) one-on-one meetings with the selected Producers Connection projects.
• One IDFA Forum accreditation that also gives Observer access to Forum Pitches and Rough Cut Presentations.

• Access to social and networking events arranged during the Forum in Amsterdam.
• Access to IDFA's Industry Program of talks, sessions and networking events.
• Online access to company profiles, strand profiles, and contact information of accredited guests.

The Producers Connection is made possible in part by Eurimages.