IDFA Specials
Tickets for IDFA Specials are now on sale. Is a program sold out? Sometimes tickets become available on the day of the screening! Keep an eye on the website.
Attending multiple screenings? Buy a Discount pass!
With an IDFA Discount pass, you enjoy great savings when you attend five or more screenings. The Discount pass is valid for regular screenings (not for full-day programs) and is transferable, so you can share it with your friends and family. Don't miss out on this great deal!
IDFA Hits in Carré
From Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, IDFA will showcase specially selected, notable festival films at the Koninklijk Theater Carré that you definitely shouldn't miss. After each screening, there will be an in-depth discussion with filmmakers and experts.
IDFA Hits is made possible by the VriendenLoterij.
Best of IDFA: Audience Favorites
Experience the festival in a compact format with Best of IDFA: Audience Favorites. Four audience favorites in one day, November 20–22 at Pathé Noord. Comfortable seating, lunch options, and films are all English spoken or English subtitled. The film selection will be announced during the Award Ceremony on Thursday evening, 19 November.
Best of IDFA: Award Winners
Experience the festival in a compact format with Best of IDFA: Award Winners. Four award-winning films in one day, November 20–22 at Pathé Noord. Comfortable seating, lunch options, and films are English spoken or English subtitled. The film selection will be announced during the Award Ceremony on Thursday evening, 19 November.
Best of IDFA Light
A unique evening with two films: one award-winning film and one audience favorite. On November 20 and 21 at Pathé Noord, with comfortable seats, all films in or subtitled in English.
Talks hosted by De Groene Amsterdammer
In addition to De Groene Amsterdammerdag, De Groene is also hosting a Talk:
- Small Expectations + Talk, Tuesday November 17, 15:30, Pathé Tuschinski 4
VPRO Extra's
In addition to the VPRO Previewdag, VPRO is also presenting a VPRO Extra and VPRO Cinema Live:
- VPRO Cinema Live: The Siege of Paradise + Talk, Sunday November 15, 20:30, Eye 1 (sold out)
- VPRO Extra: De documentaire van de toekomst, Tuesday November 17, 20:00, Kriterion 1 (in Dutch)
IDFA in Amsterdam Noord
Also this year, you can visit IDFA in Pathé Noord and Eye, where, in addition to the Best of IDFA program, more than 100 screenings will be held.
National Geographic Selection
Through beauty and the power of documentary films, National Geographic Documentary Films aims to tell current, provocative, and globally relevant stories. This year is no exception: the films Time and Water by Sara Dosa and Everest: The Other Side by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
NPO Doc Special
NPO Doc presents the screening of How Much Longer on Monday, November 16. The screening will be followed by an in-depth discussion with filmmaker Niels van Koevorden.
- How Much Longer + Talk hosted by NPO Doc, Monday, November 16, 13:30, The Pulse 1
Talks hosted by Follow the Money
Follow the Money takes you behind the facade of power and financial flows in five films that reveal what often remains hidden. From political cover-ups to the power of Big Tech. With sharp journalistic and critical questions, the FTM journalists engage in conversations with creators and experts about the stories behind the stories. On the program:
- Musk + Talk, Saturday November 14, 19:30, Carré (sold out)
- They're Here & Union Town + Q&A, Tuesday November 17, 19:15, The Pulse 1 (sold out)
- Small Expectations + Q&A, Wednesday November 18, 20:15, The Pulse 1
Talks hosted by De Correspondent
During IDFA, De Correspondent will present two exceptional documentary films closely connected to the work of its journalists. After the screenings, they will also reflect on the films’ themes and explore them from different perspectives.
- The Illusion of an Everlasting Summer + Talk hosted by De Correspondent's Jelmer Mommers, Monday, November 16, 17:30, Tuschinski 1
- Just Look Up + Talk hosted by The Correspondent's Lynn Berger, Thursday, Thursday, November 19, 18:00, The Pulse 2
CJP Young Adults Program
CJP presents CJP Young Adults Program, a full-evening program featuring two remarkable films from the IDFA Young Adult label. Wrap up your week with two beautiful, inspiring films that celebrate solidarity and connection: Everybody to Kenmure Street and Still Night, Burning House.
You don't need a CJP card to attend this event, but CJP cardholders do receive a discount. Visitors of this evening will receive two CJP cards as a gift, valid for one year and worth a total of €35.
Opening film
IDFA selected White Tiger Column as the opening film of IDFA 2026. A training camp for Myanmar’s resistance movement lasts 45 days. Up close, we follow a group of young people who have decided to fight for their freedom. A moving and visually striking portrait of a courageous generation.
The opening night is by invitation only, but you can book a ticket for this remarkable film at other moments!
Shorts Marathon
Step into the world of short documentary with the Shorts Marathon: two film blocks packed with surprising stories, fresh perspectives, and bold filmmaking.
IDFA Audience Award Winner
Come join the festive presentation of the IDFA Audience Award Winner. The winning film, chosen by the audience, will be screened immediately after the ceremony.
IDFA Junior: Kijk Wijzer (in Dutch)
The best IDFA screening for kids aged 9 and up! Three fully grown-up short documentaries about children, chicks, and artists. Dutch spoken screening.
Guest of Honor Talk: Tatiana Huezo
In-depth conversation with IDFA’s Guest of Honor 2026 Tatiana Huezo, whose films move between documentary and fiction, using close observation to explore how violence and political turmoil shape intimate lives and communities. Moderated by IDFA’s Artistic Director, Isabel Arrate Fernandez.
Sensory-friendly screenings
During IDFA, several screenings include accessibility features such as sensory-friendly screenings, and films with audio description and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Tickets are available for a number of sensory-friendly screenings of: The Brush in Your Hand, For the Moon, Hazara Town, Ragazzi al fiume, The Siege of Paradise and Transition.
The Invisible Woman: an Immersive Opera in the Making (sold out*)
A preview of the live version of this multimedia opera about the spiritual connection between the 17th-century free Black woman Francisca de Angola and her 21st-century fellow Amsterdammer Idil. A work in progress, followed by a talk with the makers.
The Mayor: Halsema & Amsterdam hosted by Het Parool (sold out*)
Curated by Het Parool, this evening presents a special screening of The Mayor: Halsema & Amsterdam. After the film, Parool editor David Hielkema will talk with director Mijke de Jong.
Edward Said: Between Worlds + Talk hosted by OneWorld (sold out*)
OneWorld hosts the talk following the screening of Edward Said: Between Worlds. Edward Said (1935–2003) held world leaders to account, cut through dehumanizing language, and tirelessly spoke out against injustice. Archival material interweaves his personal and intellectual journey with the history of his homeland, Palestine. Moderator and film journalist Omar Larabi discusses the film with journalist and Middle East expert Lotfi El Hamidi.
De Groene Amsterdammerdag (sold out*)
The editorial team at De Groene Amsterdammer magazine brings you a full day program of extraordinary and urgent documentaries on themes including politics, society, history and culture.
VPRO Previewdag (sold out*)
Kick off the festival with an inspiring and carefully curated full day program put together by documentary experts from VPRO.
Please note: The VPRO Preview Day is sold out. A few tickets may still become available in the lead-up to the festival. Please keep an eye on the website.
de Volkskrantdag (sold out*)
Enjoy a full day of highlights from the festival presented by de Volkskrant’s film editor Bor Beekman and media and culture reporter Aimée Kiene. Their personal selections offer a distinctive take on the festival program.
WePresent Night (sold out*)
This evening, WeTransfer's editorial platform, WePresent, presents the film Once Upon a Time in Harlem and takes you on a creative voyage of discovery through stimulating stories and visual experiences on Friday, November 20 at 20:45 in Eye.
This posthumous masterpiece by William Greaves, completed by his son David, captures a unique gathering at Duke Ellington’s home in 1972. It is a rare privilege to be present as the surviving icons of the Harlem Renaissance converse, laugh, and reminisce. With an introduction by WePresent.
Oxfam Novib Specials (sold out*)
During IDFA, Oxfam Novib will as ever present the most beautiful films from IDFA touching on important, urgent themes. These screenings will be followed by an extensive discussion with the creators and experts.
- IDFA Hit: Everybody to Kenmure Street + Talk, Sunday, November 15, 10:15, Carré (sold out)
- Edward Said: Between Worlds + Talk, Tuesday, November 17, 17:30, Pathé Tuschinski 1 (sold out)
The screening of Everybody to Kenmure Street is followed by an in-depth discussion with director Felipe Bustos Sierra, Nori Spauwen (writer, political philosopher, and activist) and Rukia Cornelius (Oxfam Novib). Moderated by journalist Natasja Gibbs.
Program sold out?
* Is a program sold out? Sometimes tickets become available on the day of the program! Keep an eye on the website.
