IDFA 2025 sees the launch of “a powerful new initiative [within] the international documentary landscape,” say five highly respected industry toppers who together form Doc Shelter, a consultancy collective dedicated to supporting filmmakers at every stage of the documentary journey — from development and funding to curation, festivals, and distribution.
Doc Shelter will officially launch at IDFA on November 16 with an informal get-together when the team will present its “tailored approach to empowering non-fiction storytellers in an increasingly complex and competitive industry.”
Doc Shelter personnel are:
- Martijn te Pas (Sweden/Netherlands) Consultant, Festival Strategist and Curator, founder of e u R O P E doconsultancy, Senior Programmer at IDFA for two decades.
- Cecilie Bolvinkel (Denmark) Consultant and Producer. Co-founder of the production company Purple Pictures (DK) and producer at Auto Images (SE).
- Inka Achté (Finland) Filmmaker, Artistic Director at DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival and Head of Acquisitions and Strategies at Raina Film Festival Distribution.
- Maarten Schmidt (Belgium) Producer and Founder of the Brussels-based production companies Storyhouse and Fenakisto, initiator of Film Belgium.
- Iris Olsson (Finland) Filmmaker, Script Consultant and Industry Advisor. Former positions include Film Commissioner (Finnish Film Foundation), Artistic Director and Head of Industry (DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival) and Chairman of the Finnish Documentary Guild.
With many decades of experience in the international documentary ecosystem, and combined expertise across all aspects of the industry, Doc Shelter is designed to provide tailor-made solutions for projects of any scale.
“Doc Shelter offers documentary film professionals a trusted space to navigate the artistic, strategic, and logistical challenges of making documentaries today. From personalised feedback and pitch preparation to festival positioning, funding advice and curatorial services the collective aims to be an essential partner for both emerging and established voices,” the group underlines.
Martijn te Pas further comments: “In today’s fragmented documentary world, we need fresh collaborations. With Doc Shelter, we can give both up-and-coming and seasoned filmmakers valuable insights, opportunities, and connections. In just a few months, we’ve grown into a close-knit team with a shared vision and mission, committed to being generous, fair, and approachable.”
Cecilie Bolvinkel adds: “Our strength lies in offering consultancy at every level and stage of production. Filmmakers can select the expertise they need, precisely when they need it.”
For further info see www.docshelter.eu.
