Creative and Professional Support
Photo: Participants of IDFA Project Space 2022 in a Filmmaker Talk
More than just a Fund
In addition to financing, the IDFA Bertha Fund offers filmmakers tailor-made consultancies and training programs to support them in their creative and production process. Additionally, filmmakers are invited to participate in the different industry events that IDFA has to offer, and broaden their international network and knowledge of the documentary industry.
Talent Development
In 2022, 32 IBF-supported filmmakers took part in IDFA's training programs: the year-round IDFA Project Space and the IDFAcademy program during the festival.
IDFA Project Space 2022
The third year of IDFA Project Space welcomed sixteen international filmmaking teams with projects in development or the editing phase, seven of which were previously supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund. In 2022, IDFA Project Space expanded its program taking place both in Amsterdam and online from June to September, providing tailored support to the selected projects, adapting the guidance to their creative development and specific needs.
IDFA Project Space kicked off in June with an online module with meetings, a session with psychotherapist and documentary producer Rebecca Day and Filmmaker Talks with Saeed Taji Farouky & James Bulley (A Thousand Fires) and Radu Ciorniciuc (Acasă, My Home).
Following the online launch in June and for the first time since COVID-19, the filmmaking teams came together in Amsterdam from July 4 to 9 for a week-long program of in-depth and tailored tutoring, complemented by a program of high-profile plenary sessions, film screenings, and inspirational Filmmaker Talks.
The renowned tutors consisted of the editors Ollie Huddleston, Gladys Joujou, Qutaiba Barhamji; editor and filmmaker Maya Daisy Hawke; producer Gema Juárez Allen; director Aliona van der Horst; film consultant Gitte Hansen; and director Audrius Stonys. Next to providing in-depth individual consultancies, all the tutors presented a Filmmaker talk about their own experiences and collaborations. Additionally, group meetings were set up for the filmmakers to get to know each other and share experiences.
Between July and September, participants could schedule a follow-up meeting online with their tutor based on their specific needs. Followed by a last online program in September with group sessions and a Filmmaker Talk with Raed Andoni (Ghost Hunting and Fix Me).
You can read more about the 2022 IDFA Project Space here.
IDFAcademy during IDFA 2022
From November 10-13, IBF filmmakers of eighteen projects in production were invited to attend the IDFAcademy during IDFA 2022 program. The participants were able to attend sessions and round tables giving insights into co-producing, pitching a project, composing music, creative producing, finance and funding, and sales strategies. Furthermore, the participants were offered a slew of talks on topics ranging from Laura Poitras’ Master Talk on political power in documentary art and former Guest of Honor Gianfranco Rosi reflections on his method and oeuvre, to talks with up-and-coming directors such as Lea Glob, Biserka Šuran, and Niki Padidar who discussed directing the personal.
During IDFAcademy 2022 several IBF-supported projects took center stage at the Pitch & trailer workshop: Laura Basombrio (Argentina) pitched her project The Souls and Thy Nguyen (Vietnam) pitched The Living Room War. They both received feedback from a professional panel on their pitch. During the session ‘How to not lose track of your story’, IBF filmmakers Vuslat Karan, Burcu Melekoglu, and Siyi Chen reflected on making their films Blue ID and Dear Mother, I meant to talk about death—all selected to premiere in the Luminous section. Being first-time filmmakers, they had to deal with new international partners that brought new perspectives and stakes while at the same time having to deal with the changing lives of their own protagonists and their own search for the core story of the film.
Photo: Moderator Isabel Arrate Fernandez (left), Burcu Melekoglu (middle left), Vuslat Karan (middle right) & Siyi Chen (right) at IDFAcademy Talk in IDFA 2022
Network and Knowledge
61 IBF-supported directors, producers, and co-producers attended IDFA to expand their network and broaden their knowledge at IDFA 2022 by taking part in the Industry Program, the IDFA Forum, and/or by watching documentaries and Filmmaker Talks.
Participating in IDFA Forum
In 2022, six projects supported by the Fund were selected for the IDFA Forum. Four of these projects were selected for the IDFA Forum Pitch—for projects looking for financing and distribution partners. Two projects were selected for the Rough Cut Presentations—for projects nearing completion, looking for potential sales, distribution, and exhibition stakeholders.
During the Forum, each project gave a public pitch to an industry delegation of 794 film professionals from around the world. The six IBF projects had 98 one-on-one meetings with interested funders, co-producers, sales agents, and distributors. IDFA Bertha Fund facilitated the participation of all projects in the Forum and represented Welded Together and Under her Skin as a financier during the public pitch.
Forum observers
In addition to the IBF-supported projects selected for IDFA Forum, the Fund invited several producers and co-producers of IBF-supported projects to attend IDFA Forum as observers for one or more days—to broaden their networks and meet potential financiers or co-producers.
Attending IDFA
During the festival, the Industry Program gathers the world’s documentary community to discuss the evolution of the industry, offer new perspectives, and build long-lasting connections. The extensive program of high-profile talks, presentations, matchmaking, and think tanks ran for six days, open to over 3,000 documentary filmmakers and professionals attending IDFA. Examples of the overarching program: a Filmmaker Talk with IBF-supported director Nishtha Jain focused on Jain's creative credo and body of work, including her latest documentary The Golden Thread, selected to premiere in the Masters section; an Industry Talk about Filmmakers at Risk with a special focus on Iran, and also Turkey, Afghanistan, and Ukraine amongst others; Industry Sessions on How to work with a sales agent or How to position your film; and Industry Consultancies about funding, pitching, sales and distribution, impact producing, fiscal sponsorship, festival strategy, and much more. The complete IDFA Industry program can be found here.
On the next page, IBF at IDFA 2022, you can find the overviews of IBF-supported filmmakers that were selected in different IDFA activities.
Photo: Joe H. Silva, director of Ozogoche (left) & editor Oscar X. Illingworth (right) at IDFA Project Space 2022