IDFA 2023

In Karim Sayad’s highly cinematic 2G, world-premiering at IDFA, the Niger government’s ban on unlawful migrant transportation forces four former smugglers to reassess their future prospects, which mainly involves digging for gold in the desert. The film is made with a ‘western’ visual aesthetic, Sayad tells BDE. “They are modern cowboys. Instead of riding horses they drive a Toyota Hilux or ride motor bikes across the desert.”

Elvis Sabin Ngaibino talks to Business Doc Europe about his new film, which concerns living with the stigma of AIDS within the Central African Republic. “The AIDS virus has wreaked too much havoc in Africa and it continues to do so. Among all the continents, Africa has paid the heaviest price. Therefore, I think it’s vital to present [this film] in my country and at African festivals,” Ngaibino explains.

Kathryn Bonnici, Head of Acquisitions and Development at Paris-based sales agent Java Films, discussed the documentary slate she is presenting to buyers at IDFA. “We really focus on current affairs and geo-politic investigations and have developed long standing relationships with many leading producers specialising in these areas,” she told Business Doc Europe.

Girl Away from Home follows 13-year-old Nastia, an elite gymnast from Kyiv who, after winning the Ukrainian championship with her tightknit group of friends, is forced to flee to Germany with her grandmother due to war in Ukraine. “What does it mean for a kid to be driven out of their own country? That’s why we decided to follow up in Germany,” Danish Wilmont explains.

In his funny and melancholic “coming of old age” doc, Rogier Kappers looks to overcome a mid-life crisis by making, and going on the road with, a glass organ, a musical instrument comprised of water-filled drinking glasses. “The film is about all these existential questions we all have; love, how to be happy, how to be someone meaningful or what to do with your life, what to dream about, and what the purpose of life actually is,” says Kappers.

It’s now almost exactly 20 years since Saddam Hussein, the toppled President of Iraq, was discovered by US troops hiding in a hole in remote farmland. The story of Alaa Namiq, the farmer who harboured the world’s most wanted man, is told in the new feature doc from Norwegian-Kurdish filmmaker, Halkawt Mustafa. “It took me four years to make him feel sure he wanted to tell his story!” the director tells BDE of his subject.

The apology follows the publication of an open letter by leading representatives of the Israeli documentary and film community which expressed its “uttermost dismay, disappointment and concern” at the protest which saw the public display of a sign which read, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ In its response, IDFA wrote: “That slogan does not represent us, and we do not endorse it in any way. We are truly sorry that it was hurtful to many.”

The IDFA offer to doc professionals is very much in evidence again in 2023, with 64 projects selected for Forum, a Docs for Sale catalogue of 350+ projects and a series of talks that underline the “solidarity” with the filmmakers for whom the festival exists, both to promote and serve. “The filmmakers…are our ears and eyes in society, and it is very important to remember that we should give space to them to make their work possible,” says Industry Head Adriek van Nieuwenhuijzen.

Last year, filmmaker Niki Padidar opened IDFA with All You See. This year she is back as Curator of the festival’s Youth Competition. “With adults, you can get away with using big words and metaphors that nobody understands and won’t admit they don’t. But with children, they will never put up with that! They challenge you to be really good at what you do - and when you reach them, it is really rewarding,” she says of her target audience.

What is death? This is one of the questions asked in Ömer Sami’s wry new documentary Eternal Father, about Nasar Ghafoor, a Virgin Media engineer from Rochdale who wants to live forever. Dying is defined in many different ways: clinical and legal among them. Some, including Nasar, refuse to accept these definitions. The director explains more to BDE.