IBF Classic Selection
Creative documentaries
IBF Classic Selection 2018
IBF Classic offers development and production support to filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, and parts of Eastern Europe. In 2018 11 projects received development support and 10 projects received support for production and post-production.
Project Development
Blood in the Eye by Toia Bonino, Argentina
After leaving prison where he spent the last 14 years, Leo remains imprisoned with an idea: to avenge the death of his younger brother, Ale.
Embodied Chorus by Mohamad Sabbah & Danielle Davie, Lebanon/Germany
An HIV positive woman and a gay man with HPV open a cinematic conversation about their experiences with Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Inhabitants by Mery Aghakhanyan, Armenia
Living in metal wagons 30 years after the earthquake in Armenia, a displaced community continues its perpetual dream of home.
The Kingdom of Malika by Hassen Ferhani, Algeria
Malika lives alone in the middle of the Algerian desert. For a cigarette, a coffee or eggs, she welcomes truckers, wandering beings and dreams...
Lily by Arun Bhattarai, Bhutan
Lily desires to go into Bhutan's politics. A woman's struggle to overcome her own inner demons as well as gender stereotypes in a traditional society.
Loving Martha by Daniela López, Colombia
After 39 years married to an abusive man, Martha gives her granddaughter a journal and audio tapes that contain heart-breaking moments of violence.
The Nights Still Smell of Gunpowder by Inadelso Cossa, Mozambique/Germany
Concerned with his fragmented memories, the director returns to his village 30 years after to document the traumatic effects of the Civil War.
No Gold for Kalsaka by Michel K. Zongo, Burkina Faso
The inhabitants of Kalsaka are fighting for compensation from a British multinational, which excavated more than 18 tons of gold, causing an environmental disaster.
The Other Side by Ivan Guarnizo, Colombia
Two brothers are searching the traces of their mother who was kidnapped some years ago by the FARC Guerrilla.
Under Influences by Germán Scelso, Argentina
Argentina, the seventies: a businessman spends two months in captivity until the Army kills the guerrilla soldier that had kidnapped him. Forty years later: the son of the guerrilla soldier meets the son of the businessman.
Anonymous Project
Production and Post-production
Aswang by Alyx Ayn G. Arumpac, Philippines/Norway/France
When men turn up dead, the old folks whisper of the aswang, a shape shifting beast from folklore. In the city, bodies pile up and lives entwine as the state wages a brutal war against drugs and crime.
Brother on Paper by Carlos Hernández, Colombia
The director's family lived through 40 years of armed conflict in Colombia. Some of them were warriors, others were victims, others were witnesses. Hernández seeks to understand the different stories.
Fly So Far by Celina Escher, El Salvador/Sweden
Teodora Vázquez is the spokesperson of the group of women imprisoned in El Salvador for having a miscarriage. Her case has become the symbol of the extremism in the criminalization of abortion.
How Big is the Galaxy? by Ksenia Elyan, Russia/Estonia
Zakhar is a seven-year-old boy living in the remote north of Siberia. This year, a teacher is moving in with his family to homeschool him.
People’s Hospital by Siyi Chen, China/Finland
As the Chinese society criticizes dysfunctional hospitals, a doctor’s daughter revisits the small-town hospital where she grew up -- this time with a camera, in the middle of a chaotic ER.
The Platform by Nino Orjonikidze, Vano Arsenishvili, Georgia
An old railway station in a remote valley of Georgia suddenly becomes a site for a big change, when hundreds of Chinese settle around it to build the New Silk Road.
Radiograph of a Family by Firouzeh Khosrovani, Iran/Norway
A Pre- and Post-revolutionary story of the daughter of a secular father and a devout mother as they co-exist under one roof.
A Rifle and a Bag by Arya Rothe, India/Romania
After fighting in the guerrilla for the rights of the tribals of India, Somi and her husband handed over their rifles. They now live in a settlement in an attempt to become civilians and secure their children’s future.
Smog Director by Meng Han, Vincent Du, China
He’s outspoken, persistent, and tough, but he’s also got that human touch – local official, Li Chunyuan, is in charge of improving air quality in one of China’s most polluted cities.
Trees Floating by Salome Jashi, Georgia
Giant ancient trees are traded for much desired cash and sent to an adventurous journey through land and sea.
Geographical Spread:
541 applications for IBF Classic 2018
21 selected IBF for Classic 2018
All the 541 applications are from 79 different countries
The 21 selected projects are from 15 different countries
Total awarded amount for IBF Classic: € 222,057
The Selection Committee
1st IBF Classic selection round:
Rebecca Lichtenfeld (Director of Social Impact Media at Bertha Philanthropies)
Mikael Opstrup (Head of Studies at EDN)
Camille Laemlé (Producer Les Films d’Ici)
Mohamed Siam (filmmaker)
Adriek van Nieuwenhuijzen (Head of Industry IDFA)
Isabel Arrate Fernandez (Managing Director IDFA Bertha Fund)
2nd IBF Classic selection round:
Rebecca Lichtenfeld (Director of Social Impact Media at Bertha Philanthropies)
Alex Szalat (Deputy Director of the Society and Culture Program Unit, commissioning editor ARTE France)
Rada Sesic (film consultant, filmmaker, film curator, critic and lecturer)
Mohamed Siam (filmmaker)
Jorge Caballero (filmmaker)
Isabel Arrate Fernandez (Managing Director IDFA Bertha Fund)
Project Development
11 Projects
€ 55,000
Production and Post-production
10 projects
€ 167,057
Women filmmakers
Female directors: 13 (52%)
Female producers: 23 (56%)
In total: 36 women / 30 men
Emerging Talent
Debut directors: 9 (36%)
Second-time director: 7 (28%)
Total 1st and 2nd time directors: 16 (24%)
Press Freedom
Selection from countries
with press freedom under threat: 8 projects
with press freedom under severe threat: 3 projects
In total: 11 projects (52%)
Low Income Countries
Projects from least developed countries on DAC-list:
Applications: 41 (7%)
Selected: 2 (10%)