Festival entry regulations 2025

For the IDFA Entry Form for Films:

• Early entry deadline April 24, 2025 (entry fee for student films €25, films shorter than 40 minutes €25, films 40 minutes or longer €45)
• Second entry deadline May 28, 2025 (entry fee for student films €25, films shorter than 40 minutes €35, films 40 minutes or longer €65)
• Final entry deadline July 10, 2025 (entry fee for student films €25, films shorter than 40 minutes €45, films 40 minutes or longer €85). Screeners for films entered in time for the final entry deadline need to reach IDFA by July 17, 2025 at the latest via email to program@idfa.nl.

For the New Media, Performances and Installations Entry Form:

• Information about the DocLab Call for Entry 2025 will be announced soon.

If the main country of production is on the IBF country list, your entry is eligible for a fee waiver based on IDFA's discretion. In this case, we encourage you to fill out the discount request form via this link.

• IDFA considers documentary films, performances and new media projects in any format and of any duration. IDFA understands documentary film in a broad sense, as a film that deals with reality, including hybrid films and films that rely on real elements as a core component. Please check entry requirements per section below (see 2.4).

• All films completed after July 11, 2024 are eligible for IDFA 2025. Films completed before this date are not eligible and cannot be taken into consideration.

• Unless approved in writing by IDFA program department, only one version of a film will be considered. It is therefore highly preferred that the submitted screener is at least a picture-lock. Rejected works-in-progress cannot be re-entered for the current edition when a newer version is available, nor for the following year.

• Films that have been already considered by our team in previous editions are not eligible, even if the film has changed significantly since the last time it was entered.

• Films that have already been screened in the Netherlands, been broadcast on Dutch television or are available via VOD, SVOD or any online platform in the Netherlands are not eligible for the festival. For premiere requirements and regulations for specific program sections, please see section 2.4.

• If there is any possible conflict of interest that connects your film to any member of the IDFA team, please make sure to inform us before sending your entry form to us, in writing to program@idfa.nl. The program team will contact you with any further inquiries. Concealing information about potential conflict of interest will result in disqualification. Please do write to us with any questions you might have about our policies relating to conflicts of interest.

• If the film does not meet all the requirements as stated in this section, it will not be eligible for selection. Exceptions to these eligibility requirements can only be approved in special circumstances by the board of directors of IDFA after sufficient examination.

• IDFA welcomes all documentary films, new media projects and performances that are a world, international, European or Dutch premiere. On average, half of all films selected for IDFA’s program are a Dutch premiere. The other half of IDFA’s program consists of films that are a world, international or European premiere. The latter is a requirement for films entered into one of IDFA’s competitions, Luminous or Frontlight sections.

• Our program sections and competitions each have their own specific requirements regarding premiere status. A world premiere would mean that a screening at IDFA is the first screening ever, on any media, and anywhere. The international premiere is the first screening outside the country of production, a European premiere is the first screening in Europe (referring to the Council of Europe member states), and a Dutch premiere the first screening in the Netherlands. For the specific requirements for our different competitions and program sections, please see section 2.4 of the regulations.

• A private screening prior to IDFA is allowed and will not change a film's premiere status, provided this screening is not publicized, by invitation, without ticket sales, and for fewer than 50 people.

• Films that benefited from one of the following IDFA training programs: IDFAcademy & NPO Fund Workshop, IDFAcademy Summer School or IDFA Project Space (NL) can be selected for one of the regular sections as listed below (see section 2.4). Before you complete the IDFA entry form we kindly ask you to inform IDFA's Filmmaker Support staff about your upcoming entry at idfacademy@idfa.nl, and they will provide you with a fee waiver.

• All films realized with financial support from the IDFA Bertha Fund will be taken into consideration for one of the program sections as listed below (see section 2.4). Before you complete the IDFA entry form we kindly ask you to inform the IBF staff at idfaberthafund@idfa.nl about your upcoming entry and they will provide you with a fee waiver. The right of first screening of the film in the Benelux territories is granted to the IDFA Bertha Fund.

• If you are entering a film or new media project that was pitched at a previous edition of the IDFA Forum, your entry is eligible for a fee waiver. In this case, we encourage you to fill out the fee waiver request form via this link.

• To consider your entry for the festival, IDFA must receive a completed entry form, a screener that is subtitled in English (unless the film’s spoken language is English), and payment of the entry fee. Films should be entered via the IDFA Film Entry Form.
• New media projects and performances should be entered via the IDFA New Media, Performances & Installations Entry Form (details on the DocLab Call for Entry 2025 will be announced soon).
• Details for your online screener should be filled out in the entry form. Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure the screener link and password are available and valid up until September 30, 2025. In the case that the screener platform you use defines the number of views, kindly make sure to allow no less than 20 views of the film valid until the end of September 2025.
• If you do not wish to send us your screener via a link, but instead would like to send a DVD, Blu-ray, hard drive, DCP, or another format please contact the program department at program@idfa.nl.
• Entries or screener links sent to IDFA via e-mail will not be accepted, unless clearly requested via e-mail by the IDFA program department.
• You will receive an automated e-mail including a copy of the completed entry form after completing the form. Once the payment has been received and the entry is processed, you will receive another e-mail confirming receipt of your entry.

• By entering your film or project to IDFA, you are accepting these entry regulations.
• The applicant must inform the festival in case of any changes to the premiere status of the film as indicated in the entry form by writing to program@idfa.nl.
• By entering your film, you are confirming that you have the full legal and moral right to do so, and that the film's team are aware of this, are in agreement, and are in good understanding of IDFA's entry regulations.
• When a film is entered, IDFA expects that all connected rights are already secured or in the process of being secured. This includes, but is not limited to, the informed consent of the people and the entities portrayed in the film, and clearance of any material not originally produced for the film (e.g., archival material and music) within the generally acceptable norms of the film industry, the law, and fair use principles. Should the film be selected, IDFA will be examining these conditions more closely with the film team. See also section 4.1.
• Any exceptions to these regulations or decisions on cases not covered in these articles can be made by the Artistic Director of IDFA.

All films and new media works entered into our selection process will be given equal opportunity. Each entry will be carefully considered by an experienced, international and diverse team of programmers, associate programmers, and program advisors. Our programming team will put forward shortlists for the various sections to be discussed in collective selection meetings.

Communication regarding all entries will be sent by email to the main contact as indicated in the entry form. IDFA will make sure to inform the applicants about the status of their films as follows: 

• Filmmakers who entered their film by the first entry deadline on April 24 will be informed about whether their film is still in consideration or not selected by mid-June.  
• Filmmakers who entered their film by the second entry deadline on May 28 will be informed about whether their film is still in consideration or not selected by the end of July.
• Filmmakers who entered their film by the final entry deadline on July 10 will be informed about whether their film is still in consideration or not selected by the end of August. 
• All final decisions will be communicated no later than September 30, 2025.

• Your entry will not be taken into consideration until we receive the completed entry form, English subtitled screener, and payment of the entry fee.
• Your payment will be handled by our payment service providers at the company Adyen. This name may appear on your bank statement.
• We apply a no refund policy, to which we can make no exceptions.
• Unfortunately, due to the large number of entries, IDFA regrets not being able to provide comments, feedback or explanation to rejected film teams.
• The invoice for your entry may include VAT based on the contact details as filled in in the form. Unfortunately we are unable to change the address on the invoice once it has been paid. In case you need to update the billing information after completing the entry form, please contact program@idfa.nl before completing the payment.

IDFA will be selecting about 250 new documentary films and projects for its 2025 edition. In the following paragraphs, you will find the profiles and requirements for each of our program sections. The general entry requirements apply to all program sections, unless stated otherwise below.  

Please see our FAQ page for film entries in case you are unsure about the premiere status or country of production of your film.

2.4.1 International Competition and Envision Competition

The International Competition presents about 15 films, over 60 minutes in duration each, in world, international or European premiere. This is the best of an art that matured over time and the work of a filmmaker that masters it with all its sophistication and refinement. Here are films that are artistically confident, well-rounded, and in their unique ways, universally relevant.

The Envision Competition presents about 15 films, over 40 minutes in duration each, in world, international or European premiere. With stylistic integrity and courage, each one of these films searches for its own language. Here is a polyphony of proposals, giving us signs of what the future of documentary film can be, helping us realize the present moment of reality, and of the art itself.

Films selected for IDFA’s competitions are eligible for IDFA awards. Please see section 3. Juries and awards.

2.4.2 Luminous and Frontlight

Luminous and Frontlight are international non-competitive sections for films longer than 40 minutes, in world, international or European premiere. In exceptional cases, short films (under 40 minutes) could be invited for Frontlight and Luminous.

Read more about the programs here.

2.4.3 IDFA DocLab Competition & IDFA DocLab New Media Program 

Information about the DocLab Call for Entry 2025 will be announced soon.

2.4.4 IDFA Competition for Short Documentary

Competition for films up to 40 minutes, in world, international, or European premiere. For Dutch productions, only world premieres can be accepted. 

Films selected for IDFA’s competitions are eligible for IDFA awards. Please see section 3. Juries and awards.

2.4.5 Youth Program

The Youth Program invites young audiences to discover the art of documentary film. The program includes films aimed at two age groups: 9-12 and 13+. Filmmakers who take young audiences seriously with films that do not shy away from difficult subject matter and vast artistic expression are the cornerstones of this section.

Films of any duration are eligible. We consider world, international, European and Dutch premieres, but world and international premieres are given priority.

2.4.6 Best of Fests and Signed

Two non-competitive programs that bring the highlights of the year to Amsterdam. Best of Fests is IDFA’s showcase of the films that have made an impact on the international film festival circuit. Signed is the section dedicated to the latest films by the most interesting contemporary filmmakers whose filmographies we highly appreciate.

The sections are open to films of any duration and require films to be at minimum a Dutch premiere at the time of the screening at IDFA. Screening, TV broadcast or availability through streaming platforms in the Netherlands prior to the festival makes the entry ineligible.

2.4.7 Paradocs

International non-competitive section that brings a showcase of the year’s best experimental documentary art. This program is open to films of any duration and can also include single- or multi-channel video installations that can be presented in a cinema. World, international, European and Dutch premieres are eligible. Dutch productions may have been screened in the Netherlands in a non-film context (e.g., in a museum or gallery) prior to being presented at IDFA.

International juries will award films selected for the International Competition, Envision Competition, DocLab Competitions, and IDFA Competition for Short Documentary. Each competition has its own international jury that is appointed by IDFA’s Artistic Director. 

• From the films selected for the International Competition an international jury consisting of five jurors will award a best film award (to be shared equally between director(s) and main producer(s)), IDFA Award for Best Directing (awarded to the director(s)), the IDFA Award for Best Editing (awarded to the editor(s)), and the IDFA Award for Best Cinematography (awarded to the cinematographer(s)). The jury may opt to also make a special mention of one additional film.
• From the films selected for the Envision Competition an international jury consisting of five jurors will award a best film award (to the director(s) and main producer(s)), IDFA Award for Best Directing (awarded to the director(s)), IDFA Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution. The jury may opt to also make a special mention of one additional film. 
• From the films selected for the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary an international jury consisting of three jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Short Documentary (awarded to the director). The jury may opt to also make a special mention of one additional film. 

A number of films will also be nominated for cross-section awards by IDFA’s Artistic Director and programmers. Three international juries, with three members each, appointed for these awards will choose the winners of the: 

• IDFA Award for Best First Feature (awarded to the director): First features (films 60 minutes or longer) that are a world, international or European premiere can be nominated for the IDFA Award for Best First Feature. The jury may opt to also make a special mention of one additional film.  
• IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary (awarded to the director): Dutch productions that are a world premiere and 40 minutes or longer can be nominated for the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary. The jury may opt to also make a special mention of one additional film. 
• Beeld en Geluid IDFA ReFrame Award (to be awarded to the director): Films and new media projects can be nominated for this award for best creative use of archive. The jury may opt to also make a special mention of one additional film.

Audience Award (awarded to the director): Festival audiences can also express their appreciation of the films by voting for the Audience Award. The film rated highest will receive the IDFA Audience Award. All new films longer than 40 minutes in duration that are a world, international, European or Dutch premiere are eligible. 

All decisions made by the juries are final. Entry and participation imply unconditional acceptance of the regulations. 

• Films, new media projects and performances may be eligible for several sections. In case of selection, IDFA’s Artistic Director supported by the programming team will decide for which section(s) a film is invited.
• Upon selection, the applicant will receive an invitation email from IDFA asking for confirmation of accepting the invitation by a deadline. Failing to confirm by the deadline could result in the annulment of the invitation.
• After accepting IDFA’s invitation, a film, new media project or performance can no longer be withdrawn from the program. Accepting the invitation means that the filmmaker, producer, distributor, and other people or parties involved with the film/project/performance all agree to participating in the festival.
• Should there be concerns of ethical wrongdoing such as putting the safety of characters at substantial risk, not disclosing important information to IDFA about the team behind the film, or similar misconduct, IDFA reserves the right to closely examine the concerns through internal and external consultation. Should such concerns be substantiated, further action may be taken at IDFA’s discretion, including the possible withdrawal of a film’s invitation.
• Failing to keep the premiere status as agreed on between both parties will result in the festival reconsidering selection and placement of the film, new media project or performance.
• Upon accepting the invitation, the film’s team guarantees to have secured clearance of any copyrighted materials included in the film and any photographs submitted relating to the film for all purposes for which the material will be used, including screening, promotion prior to and during the IDFA festival, press publications and inclusion in the online IDFA Press & Industry Library, among other purposes. IDFA expects to be indemnified against any future claims pertaining to copyright, personality rights, panorama rights, music rights, archive licensing, photography licensing, as well as ancillary rights or the like, all in accordance with the common industry standards.
• Any costs incurred as a result of cancellation or change of our initial agreement will be the liability of the filmmaker/project team.
• Immersive/interactive projects selected for IDFA DocLab will be showcased as part of the annual IDFA DocLab festival exhibition, VR Gallery and/or our live events program.
• A sub-selection of films made by the IDFA program team could be invited for the online program of the festival.
• Rightsholders of selected films that have a Dutch distributor will inform the festival before September 30, 2025.
• Any exceptions to these regulations or decisions on cases not covered in these articles can be made by the Artistic Director of IDFA.

After selection and the film team's acceptance of IDFA's invitation, the festival has the right to:

• Use a maximum of 3 minutes of video from the documentary for publicity and online purposes.
• Use all publicity material to promote the festival.
• Keep the high-res video files of selected documentaries in its archive for non-circulating use and educational purposes.
• Record special events and talks organized alongside screenings and publish these online.
• Program the film free of charge during IDFA partner days and screenings, e.g., De Volkskrant, VPRO, De Groene Amsterdammer, Oxfam Novib Selection and One World.
• Program the film free of charge in Best of IDFA: Award Winners and Best of IDFA: Audience Favorites screenings.
• Program the film free of charge at IDFA satellite locations during the festival (e.g., IDFA in LUX Nijmegen, Forum Groningen, and LantarenVenster).
• Program the film free of charge in the IDFA Educational Programs.
• IDFA may screen award-winning films after the festival in its ‘Best of IDFA on Tour’ program for a fixed fee. This selection of award-winning festival films will be screened in a limited number of theaters throughout the Netherlands after the festival.
• All films in the festival selection will be made available for accredited guests in IDFA’s Press & Industry Library, hosted on the festival’s website, unless requested otherwise by the rightsholder.

Once your film has been selected, you may use the IDFA logo and the relevant IDFA laurel for publicity purposes. These will be shared with you after accepting the official invitation. 

After accepting our invitation, your liaison at the IDFA program department will share a form in which we will request the following information and materials: 

4.3.1 For publication and presentation

IDFA requires the following materials for all selected films and projects:

• Film stills (jpeg, high resolution, at least 5MB each). Please ensure that all the copyrights of the film stills are cleared upon sharing these with IDFA (see section 4.1).
• EPK or list of credits
• A high-res video file of the final English subtitled screener
• A high-res video file of the English subtitled trailer
• A DCP, 35mm or 16mm film print for festival screenings in cinemas. See section 4.4.1 for more detailed information.
• A ProRes or H.264 file for online screenings if your film is selected for the online festival program
• For immersive/interactive projects, any of the required materials to present your project properly at the festival. Exact materials to be decided with the exhibition production team.

4.3.2 Screener

When you accept an invitation, you have to either upload a screener copy to IDFA’s servers or provide a screener link that remains working until the end of the festival. Such screener will be used solely by IDFA’s staff, partners and press (within industry standard embargo terms) while developing written material and deciding on talks, events, and special programs.

4.4.1 Requirements for festival screening copy

• If your film is selected for the festival, IDFA accepts the following screening formats for screenings in cinema: DCP (2K/4K), 35mm or 16mm film print. IDFA requires all DCPs to be in XYZ colorspace encoded in JPEG2000.
• If your film is selected for the online festival program, IDFA requires a h.264 or ProRes 422 file for online screening.
• These requirements do not extend to new media and performance projects entered for IDFA DocLab. Deliverables depend on the format of the project.
• Films will be presented to an international audience as well as professionals. Therefore, we request all films not spoken in English to be fully English subtitled. For English-spoken films, we strongly prefer English subtitles to be included.
• IDFA is committed to delivering an inclusive festival experience. In case of selection, we encourage you to provide Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) and/or Audio Description (AD) where possible.

4.4.2 Transport of screening copy

• The festival must receive the screening copy by November 3, 2025 – preferably digitally delivered via FilmFetch.
• If you are unable to digitally deliver the screening copy of your film, it can also be shipped to the festival. The inbound transport costs of DCPs to the festival office are the responsibility of the film team. IDFA will pay for the outbound transport to a destination of choice.
• All screening copy files will be deleted from the festival’s servers after the festival.
• IDFA may request extra screenings of your film in Het Documentaire Paviljoen, therefore IDFA might ask to keep the DCP of your film after the festival.
• All screening copies that were shipped to IDFA will be returned within four weeks after the festival.
• In case of a new media project, your contact person at IDFA DocLab will be in close contact about the required materials, technical specifications and production details to bring your project to life in the festival exhibition.

4.4.3 Insurance

• Insurance for the shipping of films to and from the Netherlands is entirely the responsibility of the participants.
• Upon gaining possession of the films from the courier or shipping company, the festival can only accept limited liability, extending to the time that the festival organization returns the film to the shipping company. The definition of this limited liability includes a refund of laboratory expenses for making a new DCP, a refund for damaged film reels or, in the case of video, duplication of the videotape. This refund will be calculated according to the current Dutch laboratory prices. It does not extend to negatives, positives, or master videotapes.
• In the case of faulty projection, the festival cannot be held liable for intangible losses incurred by director, producer, or distributor. Complaints will only be considered if they are filed within six weeks following the festival.
• Guests of the festival are not covered by the festival’s insurance. Publicity material and other related items are not included under the limited insurance liability.

IDFA invites all directors of selected films to attend the festival and represent their film in Q&As. Directors will receive free festival accreditation. For more information about attending IDFA, please see our FAQs for film entries.

The invoice for your entry may include VAT.

• In case you fill out a company which is based outside the Netherlands as 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 is within the European Union, you need to fill out your VAT ID in the billing address field. For general VAT rules within the EU please go to EU Tax and Customs info.
• All Dutch entries and all entries made by private individuals (with no company affiliation) will need to pay VAT and will receive an invoice inclusive of VAT from IDFA.
• The invoice for your entry may include VAT based on the contact details as entered in the form. Unfortunately we are unable to change the address on the invoice once it has been paid. In case you need to update the billing information, please contact program@idfa.nl before completing the payment.

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
Vondelpark 3 
1071 AA Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Phone: +31 20 6273329
E-mail (film entries): program@idfa.nl
E-mail (new media and performance entries): doclab@idfa.nl
Website: www.professionals.idfa.nl

VAT number: NL826332572B01