Industry Talks 2024: Ushering in a paradigm shift

Each year, the IDFA Industry Program gathers the world’s documentary community to discuss the evolution of our industry, offer surprising new perspectives, and build long-lasting connections. As the world goes through tectonic political and social changes, it urges us to consider that our industry, creators, and audiences require more than superficial changes and symbolic adjustments.

We need a whole paradigm shift that takes us beyond our comfort zone. In that, the Industry Program extends an invitation for us all to critically examine the responsibilities of cultural institutions in today’s social and political contexts. Delve into some key highlights and guests in our Industry Talks and Sessions program below.

Saturday, November 16 (10:00–12:00)

Filmmakers from around the world share their Indigenous and anti-colonial practices and experiences in seizing narrative sovereignty, and assert the healing power and beauty of creating their own cinema against obstacles they face under oppression.

Tuesday, November 19 (15:00-17:00)
In the face of the rise of populist regimes across Europe, this year's Europe Conference tackles questions on how institutions and filmmakers can resist these repressive policies and protect their freedoms.

Sunday, November 17 (16:00–17:30)
Building on the international symposium hosted by IDFA in August 2024 under the same title, we invite IDFA guests to continue the examination process in the form of an open discussion.

Saturday, November 16 (11:00–11:45)
In this fascinating session, Director of UAL's AKO Storytelling Institute Francesca Panetta, and producer and cross-media technology innovator Mads Damsbo share their experiences and practical tips on the use of AI in documentary filmmaking.

Saturday, November 16 (15:00–17:00)
AI can supercharge creativity and generate collective insights, or it can obscure human labor and destabilize truth. Join a panel of artists who are critically engaging with AI, as we try to find the humans at the center of these technologies and dance the line between intelligences, real and artificial.

Monday, November 18 (10:00–11:30)
In a session hosted by LaScam, French filmmaker Yolande Zauberman will speak about her career of breaking taboos in her fiction films and documentaries, and how she deals with authors' rights and royalties. Moderated by film critic Neil Young.

Sunday, November 17 (10:00–12:00)
The Netherlands Society of Cinematographers (NSC) and IDFA have initiated a Prof Talk Camera at this year’s festival, marking the fulfilment of a longstanding wish. During this inaugural edition, we will dive into the work of Victor Kossakovsky.

Saturday, November 23 (12:30–16:00)
An in depth conversation with internationally acclaimed editor, producer and director Atanas Georgiev (Honeyland, Hollywoodgate) exploring the art of documentary storytelling in the editing room.

IDFA welcomes a wide range of filmmaker delegations to explore the festival, meet the industry, and forge international connections. This year's program includes project presentations by a wide range of American Film Showcase, Canadian and Indigenous, Catalan, Colombian, Korean, Palestinian, and Polish delegations.

We have multiple consultants on-site for you to ask questions about all aspects of documentary filmmaking, from distribution and festival strategy to grant writing, impact producing, and more. To see which consultancies are taking place, see the Industry Program per day below.

• Saturday, November 16
• Sunday, November 17
• Monday, November 18
• Tuesday, November 19
• Wednesday, November 20

Visit the Consultancy Desk at the ITA Pleinfoyer to inquire into the availability of our industry consultants or queue for a last-minute seat.

The full program of Industry Talks and Sessions has much more to offer. Explore the program below.