IDFA Talks
Your festival experience would not be complete without extended conversations with filmmakers, in which the film and the background of the creative process are explored in greater depth. These talks form the heart of the festival, with hundreds of filmmakers from all over the world gathering in Amsterdam to present and discuss their work with audiences.
In addition to numerous Q&As, where the audience can engage directly with the filmmakers, IDFA also hosts several Talks. Experienced moderators from the Netherlands and beyond interview filmmakers, and sometimes the subjects of the films, right after the screenings. In addition there are Filmmaker Talks: extended conversations with renowned filmmakers on their work.
Below is merely a selection of this year's Talks and Filmmaker Talks. For a complete overview, go to Program per day and check per screening if it is followed by a Talk (available filter).
Filmmaker Talk: Barbara Kopple
Monday November 16, 16:30, Het Documentaire Paviljoen: De Spiegel
In-depth conversation with filmmaker Barbara Kopple on her acclaimed and highly varied body of work, which has documented social struggles and political conflict, most notably in the context of the US labour movement.
Get your tickets here
Filmmaker Talk: Isaki Lacuesta
Tuesday November 17, 17:00, Het Documentaire Paviljoen: De Spiegel
Filmmaker Isaki Lacuesta discusses his diverse body of work across fiction and documentary, exploring the intersection of personal stories and broader social realities, with music as a recurring thread.
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Filmmaker Talk: Lei Lei
Wednesday November 18, 16:00, Het Documentaire Paviljoen: De Spiegel
Conversation with experimental filmmaker and animation artist Lei Lei, exploring the many layers of his practice across film, music, and video installation.
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Guest of Honor Talk: Tatiana Huezo
Sunday November 15, 14:00, Tuschinski 1
In-depth conversation with IDFA’s Guest of Honor 2026 Tatiana Huezo, on her distinctive body of work moving between documentary and fiction, her cinematic approach rooted in close observation, exploring how violence and political turmoil shape intimate lives and communities. Moderated by IDFA’s Artistic Director, Isabel Arrate Fernandez.
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Closure + Talk
Friday November 14, 17:15, Tuschinski 4
Filmmaker Michal Marczak will be in conversation with Amsterdam-based film critic Hugo Emmerzael.
When 16-year-old Chris goes missing near Warsaw, his father Daniel embarks on an all-consuming search along the Vistula River. This immersive film follows him closely as he combs the river, suspended between hope and fear.
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Once Upon a Time in Harlem + Talk
Saturday November 15, 17:00, Tuschinski 1
William Greaves' son David Greaves and his granddaughter Liani Greaves will be in conversation with curator and creative producer Leia Amerding (OSCAM).
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.
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Bardi + Talk
Monday November 16, 12:30, Eye 1
Filmmaker Tala Hadid will be in conversation with IDFA Programmer Laura van Halsema.
An epic, visually stunning portrayal of boys coming of age in central Morocco as they are initiated into the centuries-old equestrian art of Tbourida. The horses also play a magnificent leading role in a story of their own.
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Between Revolutions
Monday November 16, 18:15, Kriterion 1
Filmmaker Ruben Desiere will be in conversation with film critic Ela Bittencourt.
Activists in Berlin push back against government repression surrounding pro-Palestine protests. Between protests, they channel their activism into rehearsing and performing the queer play The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions.
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Here Where the Fire Burns
Wednesday November 18, 14:30, Tuschinski 4
Filmmaker Juan Manuel Sepúlveda will be in conversation with IDFA Programmer María Campaña Ramia.
In a small square in Mexico City, Haitian migrants live in a makeshift tent camp. This observational film follows three women whose daily life finds its own rhythm, despite the instability.
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