From pitch to premiere: 24 films in IDFA's 2025 harvest

With the selection announced, we proudly reflect on the titles that were realized with the support of the IDFA Bertha Fund (IBF), took part in IDFA’s talent development programs, or were presented at IDFA Forum. Among them are seven debut films, reflecting our commitment to providing a springboard for emerging film careers.

This year’s harvest finds a standout case in FLANA by Zahraa Ghandour—a film that traces the full arc of IDFA support, from early talent development to its European premiere in competition and nomination for the IDFA Award for Best First Feature.

When Zahraa Ghandour participated in IDFA Project Space in the summer of 2022, she was developing what would become FLANA—a personal documentary in which Ghandour searches Baghdad for her childhood friend Nour, who disappeared at the age of ten. Nour symbolizes the many forgotten and abandoned girls in a society that does nothing to stand in the way of violence against women.

In November 2022, Ghandour attended IDFAcademy and presented the project at IDFA Forum under the title Women of My Life, introducing her vision to the international documentary film community. In 2023, the project received IDFA Bertha Fund support through the IBF Classic scheme for projects in production and post-production.

Now premiering in the International Competition and simultaneously nominated for the IDFA Award for Best First Feature, FLANA completes a journey that reflects the mission of IDFA’s institute: connecting emerging filmmakers with mentorship, funding, and professional opportunities to realize their creative visions.

This year’s International Competition and Envision Competition include four remarkable features with previous IDFA support; all recipients of IDFA Bertha Fund support.

In the International Competition, alongside Flana, All My Sisters by Massoud Bakhshi presents a tender portrait of two sisters driven to fight for their freedom in Tehran. The film received IBF Classic support in 2023. Mailin by María Silvia Esteve shows the filmmaker’s courageous search for justice for the abuse she suffered as a child in Argentina. The project participated in IDFA training programs in 2019 and 2021 and received IBF Classic support in 2022.

In the Envision Competition, Past Future Continuous by Morteza Ahmadvand and Firouzeh Khosrovani presents a poignant portrait of the political unrest in Tehran through the lens of home cameras installed in the protagonist’s parents' home. The film pitched at IDFA Forum in 2023 and received IBF Classic support in 2022 and 2023.

Demonstrating the impact of the IDFA DocLab Forum, Tracing Colombia by Jan Rothuizen in the IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling presents an immersive interactive film that traces the filmmaker’s journey to Colombia.

This edition’s harvest shows a record number of IDFA Bertha Fund-supported films—with seventeen titles to be screened during the festival. Among them are five debut films, and four world or international premieres. Highlights include Grounded by Simón Uribe Martínez, shown in the Luminous section. The film received IDFA Bertha Fund support in 2022 and participated in IDFA Project Space in 2024. Having received IBF Classic grants in post-production, Mahmoud Al Massad presents Cinema Kawakeb in Paradocs.

The non-competitive Best of Fests section remains a centerpiece for IDFA-supported films that met with success at major festivals. Among them is Do You Love Me by Lana Daher, which has its world premiere at Venice Film Festival. Developed through IDFA Forum and IDFA Project Space, and supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund, the film went on to be shortlisted for the Best European Documentary. Also featured is the IBF-supported title Liti Liti by Mamadou Khouma Gueye, which world-premiered in competition at Visions du Réel.

Another standout is Matabeleland by Nyasha Kadandara, which world-premiered at CPH:DOX, where it was nominated for the Human:Rights Award. The film received IBF support in 2024.

Finally, Militantropos by Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova and Simon Mozgovyi, and Memory by Vladlena Sandu—both pitched at IDFA Forum and supported by IBF—were recently announced on the 2026 European Film Awards Documentary Shortlist.

Following its premiere at Venice Film Festival, Aboozar Amini’s Kabul, Between Prayers shows the festival’s section celebrating a filmmaker’s distinct signature, Signed. The project pitched at IDFA Forum 2023. Paikar by Dawood Hilmandi additionally has its world premiere in Luminous; the film was developed through IDFA's training programs and pitched at IDFA Forum.

At IDFA 2025, you’ll find filmmakers supported through the IDFA Bertha Fund (IBF) and IDFA’s talent development programs across the festival and industry activities. In addition to those with films in the official selection, many join Industry events, IDFAcademy, and other IDFA initiatives during our upcoming edition. See the complete overview of supported filmmakers at IDFA 2025 below.