Coming together at IDFA 2023
Photo: Main protagonist of Queendom on stage for the Oxfam Novib Special
Every year, the Fund invites all filmmakers of IBF-supported films in the IDFA program to attend the festival. Additionally, the Fund financially facilitates the participation of IBF-supported projects and filmmakers selected for IDFA Forum and IDFAcademy. In 2023, an extra group of filmmaking teams from Africa, as well as an African Delegation of documentary programmers, film critics, and other industry professionals attended the festival thanks to the Fund.
Below, you can find an overview of all these films, projects, and people at IDFA 2023.
IBF in the IDFA Program
IBF-supported films in the IDFA selection
Twelve films realized with the support of the IDFA Bertha Fund made it into the official festival selection, including five that celebrated their world premiere. The other seven films, selected for the Best of Fests and Signed sections, had their world premieres at prestigious film festivals such as the Berlinale, Sundance, Cannes, Visions du Réel, and Venice Film Festival.
Photo: director Joe Houlberg Silva (right) with producer Andrés Cornejo (left) celebrating the World Premiere of Ozogoche
Photo: director Simon Mozgovyi and producer Eugene Rachkovsky (end right) receiving an award for Militantropos
Awards
Milisuthando by Milisuthando Bongela got a Special Mention for the Beeld & Geluid IDFA Reframe Award.
Militantropos, created by a collective of Maksym Nakonechnyi, Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova and Simon Mozgovyi, was recognized with an Honorable Mention for the IDFA Forum Rough Cut Award.
IDFA special screenings
In addition to the regular screenings, a lot of IBF films were included in special programs at IDFA.
Best of IDFA - Audience Favorites: Queendom
Female Economy selection: The Mother of All Lies
Groene Amsterdammer Dag: The Mother of All Lies
IDFA at home (online): Alis, Children of the Mist and Zinder
IDFA Opening Film: A Picture to Remember
Mama Cash selection: Our Land, Our Freedom
Oxfam Novib Selection: Queendom and Against the Tide
de Volkskrantdag: A Picture to Remember
VPRO Preview: A Picture to Remember
Sensory friendly screening: Mud and Ozogoche
Photo: Sarvnik Kaur giving an extended Q&A about Against the Tide at the Oxfam Novib Special
Photo: Director Agniia Galdanova (middle) with main protagonist Gena from Queendom
IBF directors in IDFA Talks
With all filmmakers present at the festival, several Q&A sessions were organized after the screening of their films. Eight IBF-supported directors participated in more extended talks during the festival, including Filmmaker Talks and IDFAcademy Talks:
Agniia Galdanova (Queendom)
Alexander Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka (Motherland)
Olga Chernykh (A Picture to Remember)
Sarvnik Kaur (Against the Tide)
Tatiana Huezo (The Echo)
Zippy Kimundu and Meena Nanji (Our Land, Our Freedom)
"It is an honour having the IDFA partnership during the production of Morro Grande. It is not the kind of help that only happens in a specific point of the process. IDFA supports the project in different dimensions, having a thorough approach and taking in account the multiple aspects of the film. They have taken me by the hand and I feel I am not alone in this journey."
- Isabel Joffily
IBF in the IDFA Industry Program
Photo: IDFA Meet & Greet of the Africa Delegation at IDFA 2023
African Real Collective x IBF Africa Delegation at IDFA
In 2023, the Fund invited a delegation of filmmakers from Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and South Africa to increase the African presence in the international documentary industry. In total two directors, six producers, and seven other documentary professionals attended the festival by way of IDFAcademy or IDFA’s Markets.
Experiencing IDFA 2023
"My first IDFA in person was a memorable experience, meeting industry people from all over the world and observing how the global discourses are taking place either through the films or activism surrounding the festival. I can see why this is the documentary mecca, and I'm eager to return."
- Quang Nông Nhật
"Screening my film in the sold out Tuschinski Theater at IDFA was a legendary day for me. I had the honor of being an IDFA child, who benefited from the whole IDFA package - IDFA Academy, the Forum, the fund etc. - and coming back to show my film at the festival was a dream come true."
- Asmae El Moudir
