Awards & Juries

Each year, new, extraordinary films compete for IDFA’s coveted awards. You can see a complete overview of all the Awards in each competition here. The juries will also be announced here shortly before the festival.

A five-strong international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Film from the films selected for the International Competition. The Award is accompanied by a cash prize of €15,000. As part of the same judging process, the jury also chooses the winners of the IDFA Award for Best Directing (with a €5,000 cash prize), the IDFA Award for Best Editing and the IDFA Award for Best Cinematography (both of which come with a cash prize of €2,500).

A five-strong international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Film from the films selected for the Envision Competition. This Award is accompanied by a cash prize of €15,000.

As part of the same judging process, the jury also chooses the winners of the IDFA Award for Best Directing (with a €5,000 cash prize) and the IDFA Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution (with a €2,500 cash prize).

A three-strong international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA DocLab Award for Immersive Non-Fiction from the projects selected for the IDFA DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction. The award is accompanied by a cash prize of € 5,000.

The jury also chooses the winner of the Special Jury Award for Creative Technology (worth €2,500).

A three-strong international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA DocLab Award for Digital Storytelling from the projects selected for the IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling. The award is accompanied by a cash prize of €5,000.

The jury also chooses the winner of the Special Jury Award for Creative Technology (worth €2,500).

A three-strong international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Short Documentary from the films selected for the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary. This Award is accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize.

A three-strong international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Youth Film from the films selected for the IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary, which is divided into two age categories: 9-12 and 13+. Both Awards come with a cash prize of €2,500.

From the International Competition, Envision Competition, Luminous, and Frontlight, two international juries choose the winners of the IDFA Award for Best First Feature (€5,000) and the FIPRESCI Award. View the nominated titles for the the IDFA Award for Best First Feature here. 

An international jury chooses the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Film (€7,500) from the International Competition, Envision Competition, Luminous, and Frontlight. View the nominated titles here.

An international jury chooses the winner of the Beeld & Geluid IDFA ReFrame Award for Best Creative Use of Archive (€5,000) from the entire festival program. View the nominated titles here.

NPO IDFA Audience Award
The film ranked most highly by festival audiences wins the NPO IDFA Audience Award. All films from the past year selected by IDFA are eligible.

IDFA Forum Awards
An international three-strong jury chooses the winner of the IDFA Forum Award for Best Project and the IDFA Forum Award for Best Rough Cut Project from the projects selected for the IDFA Forum. An international three-strong jury chooses the winner of the IDFA DocLab Forum Award for Best Project from the projects selected for IDFA DocLab Forum.

NPO Documentaire Talent Award
This award is presented to one of the projects in IDFA Project Space NL. The winner receives a subsidy of €25,000 for the development of their project and €5,000 for the production of a teaser.

IDFA Spotlight Award
This award, presented at international festivals and markets all year round, goes to talented filmmakers and promising documentary projects. The winner receives travel and accommodation expenses during IDFA, alongside accreditation and support. View the nominated titles here.

Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Documentary Stipendium
With this stipend, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds rewards a documentary talent with a €50,000 subsidy, allowing the recipient to make a documentary film on a subject of their choice. This award is intended for documentary makers who have a proven track record in practice and who have previously received some recognition for their work.