IDFAcademy

Taking place from November 13 to 16 2025, in Amsterdam, IDFAcademy during IDFA is open to 100 directors and producers making their first or second film. All have proven their talent on a national scale and would like to expand their career internationally. Although the program is not project-driven, participants are recommended to have a project or recently finished film during their attendance. This ensures that participants are constantly applying the general knowledge and advice to their own documentary during the four-day program, in addition to building long-term professional and creative development. A new generation of filmmakers and producers is prepared to succeed on the international documentary market by creating an exchange between established professionals, institutes, and the filmmakers (directors and producers) of the future.

The four-day program includes sessions, such as Filmmaker Talks, where well-known directors and leading industry professionals from IDFA’s film selection share their experiences inspiring the participants in their own processes. As well, a combination of round table discussions, group sessions, and case studies, are included towards learning about the international documentary market and current trends helping participants develop a broad view of the sector. Social events will take place daily to encourage new collaborations and increase the network of the participants.

Former speakers and tutors have included Gianfranco Rosi, Sophie Fiennes, Gema Juárez Allen, Anand Patwardhan, Mikael Opstrup, Liselot Verbrugge, Joan Churchill, Estelle de Araujo, Wouter Jansen, Maite Alberdi, Claudia Tomassini, Karim Aïnouz & Lea Glob.

• IDFAcademy is open to directors and producers working on their first or second feature film. Note that IDFAcademy is not focused on project development; for support in project development see IDFA Project Space.
• Participants are expected to have proven their talent on a national scale and now show interest in expanding their career internationally
• IDFAcademy is not eligible for film students.
• Filmmakers who have attended IDFAcademy during IDFA before are not eligible.

In the upcoming summer of 2025, applications for IDFAcademy will reopen. Below, you will find the necessary information required for the application process. Upon the commencement of the application period, the link to apply can be found here.

The following information must be included when filling in the form:

• Biography.
• Filmography
• Motivation: Elaborate on why you want to join IDFAcademy. Why is this the right moment in your career to be part of this program?
• Learning objectives: Describe which specific elements of the IDFAcademy program you anticipate will contribute to your career, what topics you would like to learn about, and what kinds of professionals you would like to learn from during the program.

The following information is optional:

• Title and description a project you are working on.
• Link to audio-visual materials from the project you are working or from previous work.
• Letter of recommendation

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.

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).

IDFAcademy takes place from November 13 to 16 as part of IDFA 2025.