Alongside IDFA DocLab's main location at de Brakke Grond, the exhibition continues just a short walk away at gallery @droog. Here, you can explore even more interactive documentary works. Free entrance.

Alongside the VR Gallery (ticket required), a free-to-use VR booth is located in the DocLab exhibition in De Brakke Grond. Anyone can queue for this booth, but priority will be given to wheelchair users, people with mobility needs and holders of an industry pass.

Play, explore, and experience interactive documentary projects that use VR, AR, AI, games, new media, digital storytelling, and performances. Free entrance. Please reserve online to secure your spot.

During the festival, IDFA headquarters Het Documentaire Paviljoen welcomes all guests and visitors to its Festival Living Room for breakfast, lunch or coffee. A place to meet with colleagues or friends over a snack or drink, get some work done between events, or simply hang out after a screening.Open from Friday November 15 to Wednesday November 20, 08:30 to 16:00.

Docs for Sale is IDFA's sales market and distribution market incubator for creative documentary cinema. Visit Docs for Sale website for more information.

A Polish family takes in a Syrian refugee who is trapped in the grim border area between Polish and Belarusian pushbacks. Time is running out and there are few options. Despite the language problems, they develop a bond.

Can touch can be a powerful remedy for the modern epidemic of loneliness? When the Body Says Yes invites the audience to reflect on the meaning of touch and intimacy in relation to their own bodies.

The Netherlands Society of Cinematographers (NSC) and IDFA have initiated a Prof Talk Camera at this year’s festival, marking the fulfilment of a longstanding wish. During this inaugural edition, we will dive into the work of Victor Kossakovsky.

The very pregnant Lucy gives up her music studies in England, driven by financial struggles and the desire for a family life. What will her future look like now? A sensitive portrait of an unconventional artistic Sicilian family.

What is life? This film is a nuanced and playful philosophical reflection on that question. The narrative thread concerns Marius, a young giraffe in a Danish zoo whose planned euthanasia sparked global outrage a decade ago.

Sales agents provide insights into sales and distributions strategies and share their secrets through case studies.

Shortly before his death, the celebrated Syrian playwright Saadallah Wannous reflects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A poetic farewell to a generation of intellectuals whose political identity is based on conflict and disillusionment.

The DocLab R&D Summit is a think tank event for professionals in the interactive and immersive sector. The plenary program at Tobacco Theater features research findings from R&D partner MIT, and other sector updates, followed by a networking lunch.

The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) returns to IDFA to amplify Palestinian narratives in the face of genocide. This year, we are proud to showcase projects by four Palestinian female directors.

In a Lebanese beauty salon, Bouba injects her clients with Botox and fillers. The close-ups of the tortured and bleeding faces are gruesome and intriguing. Customers vent their worries as they paralyze their expressions. Meanwhile, war is at the door.

Ten alumni of the IDFA Project Space program present their projects to the international and local industries. The showcase aims to give these emerging new voices the chance to connect with potential partners and get feedback on their ideas.

Master essayist Grimonprez unravels the colonial and capitalist motives behind the involvement of Belgium and the US in the murder of Congo’s first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Jazz features as both a smokescreen and a means of protest.

Seven projects in the final stages of production or at the rough cut stage will be presented to IDFA Forum and Docs for Sale professionals.

Ernest Cole (1940-1990) was one of the first photographers to capture what apartheid meant to Black South Africans like himself. During his exile in the US, he photographed scenes of untold freedom next to scenes of overt racism.

What is the function of art in a country that is constantly on the verge of collapse? In Haiti, a poverty-stricken country ravaged by social unrest and natural disasters, a theater festival is bravely hanging on in the capital Port-au-Prince.

A contemplative journey through the twentieth century, composed entirely of archival film footage. In this wordless film, full of beauty and bitterness, the excitement of adventure becomes a curse, and tears of joy mingle with the pain of despair.

As Edhi and Alice deal with the realities of gender reassignment, they face rejection and misunderstanding in South Korean society. An elegant portrait of two women in transition, with a distinct role for the film crew.

Powerful audiovisual report on two years in Ukraine, close to and far from the front line. From the panic surrounding the invasion to the resigned acceptance of war as a part of everyday life.

Filmmaker Farah Kassem is just as loving, funny and hardheaded as her father, the elderly poet Mustapha. She returns to Tripoli after many years and tries to bridge the generation gap by surprising his poetry club with a poem of her own.

This hour-long session is conducted with a small number of participants, creating networking opportunities and time to ask Elisabeth Klinck questions about archive production and music clearances.

The global film industry is increasingly developing tools and guidelines for sustainable filmmaking. This practical session, led by Green Filmmaking pioneer Katja Schwarz, serves to inform filmmakers of various initiatives that support these efforts.

Victoria Verseau travels back to the hotel room in Thailand where she stayed during her gender-affirming surgery. Her memories provide the loose structure for reflections on femininity, loss, and death.

An intimate portrait of Najiba Noori’s Afghan mother, who was married off at the age of 13, and 40 years later wants to learn to read and write to start her own business. Meanwhile, a new Taliban takeover is looming.

A coffee plantation owner of multi-ethnic origin expands his enterprise together with members of his tribe. Is he a neo-colonialist taking advantage of his Ganiga family, or a new-style tribal leader who can bring economic prosperity?

None of the children in Ilkay Idiskut’s class are native German speakers, all needing extra attention. There’s a major shortage of teachers in Vienna. What this means for the children becomes clear when their teacher goes on maternity leave.

Two films for 13+. In Hey Dad, a young boy finds his father in an enchanted forest. Can he finally tell him his secret? In Hard to Break, Instagrammer Atte (18) tries to juggle his socials, addiction and relationship. Is all this freedom a blessing, or a curse?

This year, thirteen projects in development looking for international co-production partners will be presented to independent producers.

Using DNA extracted from a hat worn by actors in Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble, this interactive installation explores the past and present of genetics and synthetic biology. A documentary in a drink, Drinking Brecht is a celebration of science for the people.

The round table conversations and industry sessions invite participants to go in-depth with fellow professionals and IDFA’s R&D partners. A program to discuss research insights, case studies, and current topics facing the new media industry. Invite only!

An in-depth conversation with award-winning Iranian filmmaker and editor Farahnaz Sharifi, delving into her use of archival resources and personal stories to bring powerful, synchronous storytelling to life.

Sales agent Estelle de Araujo and director Nada Riyadh, along with director/producer Ayman El Amir, dive into their preparation and strategy for the successful release of The Brink of Dreams.

The discovery of unmarked graves leads to a searching investigation into the abuse of indigenous children placed in a boarding school by the Canadian state. The film gradually exposes the role of the Catholic Church in a colonized society.

After the project presentations, IDFA Project Space alumni meet with industry professionals and potential partners to receive feedback and establish future collaborations.

The Bovenfoyer is available for you to network with other participants or industry professionals.

A Palestinian and an Israeli filmmaker travel together along the partition lines that divided Palestine according to the UN resolution of 1947. The people they meet each have their own way of evoking the frontiers that separate them from their neighbors.

“How can I best support my participants while also supporting myself?” Docs are facing a crisis in mental health and ethical practice – but what can we do about it? We invite you to help us co-design our support service for documentary makers.

OneWorld hosts the talk following the screening of Union with filmmakers Brett Story and Stephen Maing. The film tracks an attempt to unionize an Amazon distribution center in New York City over a period of one year. Amazon tries to torpedo the initiative through disinformation and litigation.

Tens of thousands of young, well-educated Kenyans are hired online by undergraduates and doctoral students at Western universities to write their essays and theses. Oxford professor Patricia Kingori embarks on a search for these “shadow scholars.”

As a living part of her performance/installation, Lisa Schamlé confronts both herself and her audience. Is it possible to look at her body without judgement? As you watch, she looks back.

Terrifying account of the rise and enormous political influence of evangelical fundamentalism in Brazil. TV evangelists and ultraconservative politicians seem to be leading the country toward a theocracy, with sometimes fatal consequences.

Images of devastation in Ukraine accompany phone calls between Russian soldiers and their loved ones—intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence. The combination creates a disturbing sense of the sinister psychology of war.

A playful, live documentary about how Keith Wilson failed to make a film portrait of performance artist and shaman Frank Moore (1946-2013). Can a conventional film about such an unconventional person actually be made?

This year’s Guest of Honor at IDFA, artist and filmmaker Johan Grimonprez, will deliver an extensive Talk entitled “Maybe the Sky is Really Green, and We’re Just Colorblind”, followed by a conversation with IDFA’s Artistic Director, Orwa Nyrabia.

Using DNA extracted from a hat worn by actors in Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble, this interactive installation explores the past and present of genetics and synthetic biology. A documentary in a drink, Drinking Brecht is a celebration of science for the people.

Round table meetings with renowned professionals.

Round table meetings with renowned professionals.

In a haunting, autobiographical essay, Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari questions what it means to be an artist, as censorship drains the color from his home city of Tehran, and from his life.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, activist and filmmaker Oleh Sentsov enlisted with the Ukrainian forces. Real-time footage from a battlefield trench brings home the reality of war.

In a pastel-colored musical about a women’s prison in Buenos Aires, a diverse cast of non-professional actors reenact their prison lives. Through fictionalization, the ex-convicts share their fears and dreams.

Stories in every flavor: Get a taste of Colombia’s documentary delights!Organized by Proimágenes Colombia in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge of Colombia and with the support of the National Film Development Fund (FDC), the Colombian delegation shows a compelling array of documentary projects, led by visionary female creators, with a special focus on indigenous and afro-Colombian filmmakers.

As a living part of her performance/installation, Lisa Schamlé confronts both herself and her audience. Is it possible to look at her body without judgement? As you watch, she looks back.

Building on the international symposium hosted by IDFA in August 2024 under the same title, we invite IDFA guests to continue the examination process in the form of an open discussion.

During Operation Condor, opponents of various US-backed dictatorships in Latin America were kidnapped, tortured and murdered. It paved the way for today’s “soybean republic” and its violent repression of indigenous people and landless farmers.

IDFAcademy 2024 comes to an end with closing drinks.

Using DNA extracted from a hat worn by actors in Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble, this interactive installation explores the past and present of genetics and synthetic biology. A documentary in a drink, Drinking Brecht is a celebration of science for the people.

All Docs for Sale and IDFA Forum passholders are invited to this daily happy hour. Thank you to Autlook Filmsales, Lightdox, Mediawan, Millennium Against Gravity, Rise and Shine World Sales and See NL for sponsoring the Happy Hours.

Closing a full day of Producers Connection activities, these drinks bring all participants together for a celebratory toast.

All participants in the DocLab R&D Summit are invited to come together for closing drinks at the end of the afternoon in De Brakke Grond. Let's, for one casual moment, turn R&D into Relaxation and Drinks!

During this screening, the short film Tokkotai Paquetá will be followed by The Iron.

Brian Eno, former keyboard player with Roxy Music and producer of Bowie and U2, has been at the forefront of using generative computer systems to create his music. In keeping with this spirit, Eno is a film that changes with every screening.

It’s the year 2073, and a woman is struggling to survive in a devastated world. Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy) compiles the calamities of recent decades to form the prologue of a sinister science fiction film with a crystal clear message.

Bringing together IDFA passholders daily, the Guests Meet Guests cocktail events are a great moment to connect with other delegates and keep your finger on the pulse of the festival.Hosted by hosted by Polish Docs.

A visual symphony in concrete and stone, with many epic drone shots in which ancient architectural masterpieces contrast with the ephemerality of modern concrete construction.

During this screening, the short film Machine Boys will be followed by CycleMahesh.

Closely following volunteers offering practical help, Nicolas Philibert compassionately, respectfully and patiently focuses on Goulven, Muriel, Gad and Frédéric, four figures from his earlier films about psychiatric patients in Paris.

Animated film about three women living in Kenya, India and Saint Martin who are forced by climate change to move from the countryside to Nairobi, Dubai and Paris, respectively. Instead of a better life, they face bureaucracy and exploitation.

The Bunong, indigenous inhabitants of Cambodia, are trying to maintain their traditional way of life. But their efforts are being thwarted by deforestation, land grabbing and the construction of a dam. An account of depopulation in slow motion.

Around 150 anarchists and farmers live in ZAD, an activist community in France. In unhurried, observational style, this film captures the group from within by showing everyday scenes and direct action—the antidote to “eco-anxiety”.

Using DNA extracted from a hat worn by actors in Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble, this interactive installation explores the past and present of genetics and synthetic biology. A documentary in a drink, Drinking Brecht is a celebration of science for the people.

Andy Warhol’s grave has become a tourist attraction that’s live streamed 24 hours a day. This impressionistic desktop film comprising screen recordings shows the grave at various times.

A hypnotic essay film about a small border town in Bosnia where asylum seekers are attempting to cross into the EU. At the same time, the local community is  still suffering from the after-effects of the battle that took place there three decades ago.

A wave of national protests in South Korea presents Arum Nam with a stark choice: will she be a patriot like her father or an activist like her mother? A lighthearted reflection on the director’s political coming-of-age.

In three acts, each with its own character, this ambitious film examines the world of animals, plants and stones, and questions the place of humans on our planet. It's at times didactic, at times observational, at times theoretical and at times poetic.

Three residents of Agadez explain how the international migration crisis has changed their lives. Strict EU policies brought poverty, unemployment, and a drug epidemic to this historic desert city in Niger.

The Shinto shrine Gokogu in the Japanese coastal town of Ushimado is a refuge for stray cats. Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda calmly and amiably observes not only the animals, but also the people who come and go.

As a child, filmmaker Inadelso Cossa was shielded from the cruel reality of Mozambique’s civil war. Now he visits the village of his youth, in a penetrating, sensory search for the ghosts of the past.

An intimate portrait of Najiba Noori’s Afghan mother, who was married off at the age of 13, and 40 years later wants to learn to read and write to start her own business. Meanwhile, a new Taliban takeover is looming.

An award-winning documentary about the ceaseless Israeli attacks on a network of Palestinian villages in the West Bank, heroically documented by a collective of Palestinian and Israeli journalists.

During this screening, the short film this is (not) your ocean will be followed by When the Body Says Yes.

The protagonists in these powerful films reflect on what they've gained and what they’ve lost in their search for liberation and meaning. This compilation program consists of Please Step Aside!, Mama Micra, and Am I the Skinniest Person You've Ever Seen?

In these touching films the directors use cinema, dance and poetry to explore emotions and stories that cannot fully be expressed in words. This compilation program consists of Unwritten Letter, Before Then, and Paci.

Celebrating the future of documentary storytelling. The IDFA Markets will kick off this year's editions with an informal meet and greet.

A warm observational portrait of daily life in a shelter for Ukrainian refugees in the Dutch city of Weesp. The central kitchen is where memories are shared, and where cooking and eating offer comfort as well as an escape from homesickness.

Valentina lives in rural Sicily. She is 27, and wants to escape the sometimes suffocating love of her parents. On the nearby American military base, meanwhile, communications satellites are causing dangerous radiation.

A film made up of archive footage about how the US has handled climate issues since the 1970s. The fossil fuel lobby has turned the broad consensus on the need for intervention into a political battleground.

Nasreen wants to become a singer—a far from obvious choice for a woman in Iran. Her sister Leila films Nasreen’s transformation from a vulnerable stay-at-home mother to a woman who takes matters into her own hands.

Four years prior to 9/11, Grimonprez made this film essay rewriting the history of plane hijackings in parallel with the rise of a catastrophe culture. The emerging television era turned terrorism into a spectacle while hiding the bigger picture.

A documentary filmmaker dives into the nightlife of the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv with a simple, yet thorny, political and deeply loaded question: would you have sex with an Arab?

Following on from his 2011 film Two Years at Sea, Ben Rivers returns to the remote farmhouse belonging to hermit Jake Williams, where he captures the enchanting everyday wonders of the Scottish highlands on 16mm black-and-white film.