IDFAcademy

IDFAcademy will take place from November 14 to 17 at De Balie, which will serve as the main venue. The program kicks off with a talk with celebrated filmmaker Sophie Fiennes. This opening leads into a program that brims with diverse themes and formats, encompassing talks, sessions, and round tables, all designed to equip directors and producers with the essential knowledge needed to navigate the documentary industry and form impactful connections.  

The program offers a blend of talks that create space for a diverse range of filmmakers and perspectives to engage with one another, from in-depth conversations with directors about their process to discussions on co-producing and the craft of editing. It also boasts a series of interactive sessions and round tables, providing a platform for industry professionals from across the board to exchange their experiences and expertise on financing, (co)-producing, festival strategies, and more. Sessions and talks include the Guest of Honor Talk with Johan Grimonprez, speakers such as renowned filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda, Farahnaz Sharifi, director and editor of the award-winning film My Stolen Planet, sales agents Liselot Verbrugge and Maëlle Guenegues, among others. 

This year’s expanding international selection, which includes participants from 57 countries, highlights IDFAcademy’s ongoing commitment to nurturing documentary talent and recognizing its diversity. The selection comprises first- and second-time directors and producers who applied through an annual open call. Some participants were selected through partnerships with assorted European film institutes and organizations, including the Danish Film Institute, Film Center Serbia in collaboration with DOKSERBIA, Icelandic Film Centre, Creative Scotland, East Doc Platform, and the Young Producers program by the Netherlands Film Fund, among others. As part of efforts to increase the presence of African filmmakers in the international documentary industry, select members of the two African delegations attending the festival have been invited IDFAcademy: the Africa Delegation, led by Documentary Africa (DocA), and the Generation Africa 2.0 delegation, spearheaded by STEPS. A number of participants have also been invited to IDFAcademy through the festival’s other training programs and its year-round connections with filmmakers. 11 participating directors and producers previously received support for their projects through the IDFA Bertha Fund. 16 international participants from the project-driven IDFA Project Space program, along with six from IDFA Project Space NL, will take part in IDFAcademy. The work-in-progress of four international projects from IDFA Project Space and six projects of its Dutch counterpart will be presented in the IDFA Project Space Showcase.

Below, there is a dedicated page for IDFAcademy selected participants with answers to various practical questions.

Given the substantial number of applications, a selection process is undertaken by a committee of industry experts and IDFA staff. Approximately 100 filmmakers from various corners of the world will be chosen to participate in the program in Amsterdam. The results of the selection are communicated at the beginning of October.

In addition to filmmakers who apply to IDFAcademy through the open call, participants from IDFA’s other training programs are also invited to participate in the program. By stimulating participation in various programs, each year IDFA can offer a new group of filmmakers a complete training cycle in which, in addition to working on their projects in IDFA Project Space and IDFA Project Space NL, they gain knowledge and expand their network within the industry through IDFAcademy.

The cost of the IDFAcademy pass is €200 excl. 9% VAT. The pass does not cover travel or accommodation expenses.

Selection committee 2024

The IDFAcademy 2024 selection committee included external members such as Cecilie Bolvinkel (Film consultant), Hicham Falah (FIDADOC), Ali Khechen (Doha Film Institute), Salome Jashi (Filmmaker), Tue Steen Müller (Film Consultant), Martha Orozco (Producer), Christian Popp (Producer), and Dorotyya Zurbo (Filmmaker).

It also included internal members such as Meike Statema (Head of Talent Development at IDFA), Melanie de Vocht (Project Manager, IDFA Bertha Fund) and Monica Baptiste Gouffray (Coordinator Filmmaker Support Department).