IDFA 25

Short Competition titles are unveiled together with selections for Signed, Best of Fests, Current Future and Paradocs, as well as the Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant winners for the 2025 edition. More than 107 films have now been added to the 2025 program. The 38th edition of IDFA runs from November 13 to 23 in Amsterdam. The final competition titles and full selection will be announced October 14.

The acclaimed Portuguese documentary filmmaker is announced as the Guest of Honour at the 38th IDFA, which will take place from November 13 to 23. The festival also announced September 9 the second instalment of its curated program Dead Angle, which focuses this year on 'Institutions'. IDFA further underlined the 'Off the Internet' theme of this year's IDFA DocLab, the festival’s new media section.

The deadline for submissions to Forum’s Producers Connection, Forum Pitch, DocLab Forum and Rough Cuts is imminent: July 25 2025. Additionally, the IDFA Bertha Fund announced its selection for the IBF Europe – Minority Co-pro scheme, awarding €240,000 to six doc projects. “It was inspiring to see so many more meaningful, equitable, and director-centred collaborations being created worldwide, and it definitely made our selection work both difficult and rewarding,” says IBF Exec Director Selin Murat of the submissions she received.

IDFA is edging closer to its old spiritual home as Forum 2025 moves into the ITA Theatre on the Leidseplein and all Industry talks and consultancy sessions relocate to the legendary de Balie. Head of Industry Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen informed BDE of further changes, notably the parallel presentation of the Forum Pitch and Producers Connection projects, and a new series of post-pitch Informative Panels. “The renewed set-up underlines a focus on supporting filmmaker teams in making valuable connections and fostering creative partnerships,” she says.

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) announced April 29 the appointment of Isabel Arrate Fernandez as its new Artistic Director. In her new role, Arrate Fernandez will “bear the final responsibility for the creative direction and policy of the organization, as well as the organization of the festival program, including the industry, talent and education programs, and the program of the newly opened Het Documentaire Paviljoen in Vondelpark,” the festival writes.