Project funding
Film still: A Girl and a Gun, dir. Arya Amber Lalloo
The IDFA Bertha Fund provides financial support to independent documentary filmmakers from IBF-supported countries by awarding grants for the development, (post-) production, and distribution of their documentary film. The Fund carries out two funding schemes: IDFA Bertha Fund Classic and IDFA Bertha Fund Europe. Additionally, selected projects with a minority Dutch co-producer partnered can later apply for a co-production grant through the Netherlands Film Fund's NFF+IBF Co-production scheme.
Overview of applications in 2025:
931 applications from 84 different countries 31 selected projects from 22 different countries
Statistics: Selected projects
Emerging talent
First-time filmmakers: 17 (57%)
Second-time filmmakers: 8 (27%)
Total first- and second-time
filmmakers: 25 (83%)
Our grantees
Women-identifying directors: 15 (50%)
Men-identifying directors: 14 (47%)
Women-identifying producers: 30 (52%)
Men-identifying producers: 28 (48%)
Press freedom
Selection from countries with Press freedom under threat: 12 projects Press freedom under severe threat: 13 projects Total: 25 projects (86%)
Click here to see the 2025
World Press Freedom Index
IDFA Bertha Fund Classic
IDFA Bertha Fund Classic offers direct support to filmmakers from and living in IBF-supported countries, for which the Fund maintains a list of eligible countries.
The IBF Classic funding scheme consists of two categories: Project Development and Production & Post-production. The Project Development grant supports directors in their research, writing and/or production of visual material for the project presentation. The Production & Post-production grant supports filmmakers in the realization of their project. If a project is selected for one of these categories, a distribution contribution can be applied for once the film is completed, either for its launch at a major festival or for distribution within the filmmaker's own region.
IDFA Bertha Fund Europe
IDFA Bertha Fund Europe seeks to encourage collaboration between independent European producers and producers from IBF-supported countries (see eligible countries IBF Europe).
Through the IBF Europe Minority Co-production grant, the Fund aims to encourage European producers to participate as minority co-producer in high-quality documentary projects by filmmakers from IBF focus countries.
If a project is selected for this grant, a promotion or distribution contribution can be applied for once the film is completed, specifically for its launch at a major festival.
NFF + IBF Co-production scheme
The NFF + IBF Co-production Scheme is a collaboration between the Netherlands Film Fund and the IDFA Bertha Fund, aimed at supporting the realization of international documentary co-productions between Dutch producers and producers from IBF-supported countries.
The NFF + IBF Minority Co-production grant is open exclusively for projects that previously received IBF support. The application and decision-making process for this grant is managed by the Netherlands Film Fund.
