Inside the process: a week at IDFA Project Space
For one week in July, Het Documentaire Paviljoen became a working space for 16 international documentary makers, brought together through the IDFA Project Space program. Traveling in from around the world, the participants gathered in Amsterdam to focus on the development of their films—each at a different stage, and each shaped by its own questions and ambitions.
Catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse here
Each morning opened with a shared session led by one of the program's tutors, who brought their own experience and perspective to the table. Filmmaker Ali Essafi and editor Gladys Joujou spoke about working with archives and the creative potential of reinterpreting history. Research-based filmmaker Kumjana Novakova explored the personal and political dimensions of storytelling, while editor Niels Pagh Andersen considered the relationship between structure, meaning, and emotion in the editing process. Producer Bianca Oana and film consultant Gitte Hansen facilitated interactive group meetings in the afternoon.
Throughout the week, participants had one-on-one meetings with tutors tailored to their project needs—whether seeking feedback on a rough cut, testing new narrative angles, or reflecting on their artistic direction.
The flexible program gave participants the freedom to use the space as needed—whether to write, meet, or edit. Those working on rough cuts were given time and support to fine-tune their films. Informal group meetings provided a setting to reflect on shared challenges and exchange ideas among peers.
IDFA Project Space is designed to offer filmmakers a pause from the everyday, creating space for focus, dialogue, and creative development. This summer’s edition showed how much can take shape in just one week, when the right people, questions, and conditions come together.
