IDFAcademy

IDFAcademy will take place from November 12 to 15 at De Balie, which will serve as the main venue. The program kicks off with a Talk with celebrated Iranian filmmaker Mehran Tamadon. This opening sets the stage for a program rich in diverse themes and formats, featuring talks, sessions, and round tables, all designed to equip filmmakers with the knowledge, guidance, and networks essential for thriving in the documentary industry.

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 Tatiana Huezo, speakers such as filmmakers Afsaneh Salari, Joshua Oppenheimer, Biljana Tutorov, Carol Nguyen and Louis Hothothot.

Participants can find more on IDFAcademy on the How to IDFAcademy page.

The 100 participants this year are a diverse group representing 45 nationalities. A significant number are from the selection made following an open call. Some of the participants come from our collaboration with various European film institutes and organizations: Norwegian Film Institute, Danish Film Institute, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Finnish Film Foundation, Lithuanian Film Centre, Slovak Film Institute, Doklab Navarra, Creative Scotland, Dok Serbia, LaScam (Société Civile des Auteurs Multimedia), VAF (Flanders Audiovisual Fund), East Doc Platform, Documentary Association Georgia, J-Docs Hub (Japan), Icelandic Film Centre, Swiss Film and the Young Producers program by the Netherlands Film Fund.  

The total list of IDFAcademy participants includes five directors and producers supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund. The Fund supports filmmakers working in contexts without robust public–private funding structures or where censorship restricts creative independence — across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania. Lastly, filmmakers participating in other IDFA training programs complete their workshops by attending IDFAcademy. There are fourteen international participants from IDFA Project Space and five Dutch participants from IDFA Project Space NL.

• IDFAcademy is open to directors and producers working on their first or second feature film. IDFAcademy is not focused on project development; for project-based support, 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 doing a PhD are eligible).
• Filmmakers who have previously attended IDFAcademy during IDFA before are not eligible to apply again.

Applications for this year are closed. Apply for the next IDFAcademy from June 1, 2027.

Find the elements required for the application below.

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

• Short professional profile – Describe your professional background and creative focus as a documentary maker.
• Filmography – Works-in-progress may be included.
• Motivation – Describe why do you want to join IDFAcademy and why this is the right moment in your career to be part of this program.
• Learning objectives – Describe one or two key questions, challenges, or areas of development you would like to focus on during IDFAcademy.
• Contribution to the group (video) - A video (max. 2 minutes, in English) explaining what perspectives, experiences, or qualities you would bring to an international peer group.
• Link to audio-visual materials – Material from a current project or previous work (in English or with English subtitles). In addition to one main link, you can provide additional relevant links (e.g. website, portfolio, or short reel).

The following information is optional: 

• Title, description, and stage of a current project.
• Letter(s) of recommendation.

If you have questions about the application email idfacademy@idfa.nl

The cost of the IDFAcademy pass is €250 excl. 9% VAT. The pass does not cover travel or accommodation expenses. You only need to pay the attendance cost if selected. Applying is free of charge. 

Participants residing and working in the countries listed here may be eligible for a fee waiver to IDFAcademy. Please consult the full discount list.

Due to the high number of applications, selection is carried out by a committee of industry experts and IDFA staff. Approximately 100 filmmakers from around the world are selected to participate in the program in Amsterdam. Results 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. This creates overlap between programs and allows participants to follow a broader trajectory: developing projects with IDFA Project Space (and IDFA Project Space NL), while gaining industry insight and expanding their network through IDFAcademy.