More than just a fund
Photo: Director Olga Chernykh and editor Kasia Boniecka working on A Picture to Remember at IDFA Project Space 2023
In addition to financing, the IDFA Bertha Fund offers filmmakers tailor-made consultancies and training programs to support them throughout the creative and production processes. Additionally, filmmakers are invited to participate in the various professional events that IDFA has to offer, where they can broaden their international network and knowledge of the documentary industry.
Talent Development
In 2023, 25 IBF-supported filmmakers took part in IDFA's two international training programs, IDFA Project Space and IDFAcademy.
IDFA Project Space 2023
The fourth year of IDFA Project Space (IPS) welcomed sixteen international filmmaking teams with projects in development or editing, six of which were previously supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund. In 2023, IDFA Project Space once again took place both in Amsterdam and online, running from June to September. Over the course of these four months, IPS provided tailored support to the selected projects, adapting the guidance to their creative development and specific needs.
IPS kicked off with an online module full of meetings, a session with psychotherapist and documentary producer Rebecca Day, and Filmmaker Talks with Alina Marazzi (For One More Hour with You) and Lea Glob with editor Andreas Bøggild Monies (Apolonia, Apolonia).
In July, the filmmaking teams came together in Amsterdam 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.
This edition’s tutors included editors Ollie Huddleston, Gladys Joujou, and Anne Fabini; editor-director Qutaiba Barhamji; producers Gitte Hansen and Bianca Oana; and directors Ester Gould and Audrius Stonys. In addition to providing in-depth individual consultancies, several tutors gave Filmmaker Talks about the experiences and collaborations that marked their own successful filmmaking careers. Finally, group meetings allowed filmmakers to get to know each other and share first-hand experiences.
From July to September, participants had online follow-up meetings with their tutors based on their specific needs. September also saw all filmmaking teams virtually gather for group sessions and one last Filmmaker Talk with Shaunak Sen of All That Breathes, a successful film that previously received support from the IDFA Bertha Fund.
Read more about the 2023 edition of IDFA Project Space here.
IDFAcademy 2023
From November 9 to 12, the filmmakers of eleven IBF-supported projects in production attended IDFAcademy, the international training program held during IDFA. There, participants took part in sessions and round tables that offered insights into co-producing, pitching a project, director-producer relationships, creative producing, financing and funding, and sales strategies. A slew of IDFAcademy Talks were also on offer, including an in-depth conversation with celebrated filmmaker Anand Patwardhan about his expansive oeuvre, a discussion with esteemed director-cinematographer Joan Churchill, and talks with both seasoned and up-and-coming film professionals such as Lina Soualem, Gladys Joujou, Lea Glob, and Maëlle Guenegues.
During IDFAcademy, several IBF-supported projects took center stage at the Pitch & Trailer Workshop, as seen when Hideki Nagazaki (Peru) pitched his project The Light of Masao Nakagawa, and received feedback from a panel of pitch experts. Meanwhile, the IDFAcademy Talk: How to collaborate in a (co-)production took a deep dive into the making of the IBF-supported film Motherland, with director Hanna Badziaka, co-director and producer Alexander Mihalkovich, and co-producer Mario Adamson all present.
New in 2023 was the IDFA Project Space showcase, which included the IBF-supported project Morro Grande. In this showcase, ten IPS alumni presented their projects to an audience of international industry professionals, and round tables connected the filmmakers with potential partners to get feedback on their ideas.
Photo: Moderator Selin Murat (left) with director/producer Alexander Mihalkovich (middle left), director Hanna Badziaka (middle right) & co-producer Mario Adamson (right) of Motherland at their IDFAcademy Talk in 2023
Professional support
During the festival, 54 IBF-supported directors, producers, and co-producers expanded their networks and broadened their knowledge—whether at film screenings, Filmmaker Talks, IDFA Forum, the Industry Program, or all of the above. For the first time, the IBF invited an African Delegation to the festival, consisting of fifteen filmmakers and documentary professionals who participated in IDFA’s Markets and greeted the international industry.
Attending IDFA
IDFA’s 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 runs for six days and is open to over 3,000 documentary filmmakers and professionals attending IDFA. Highlights of this edition’s program included IBF-supported filmmaker Tatiana Huezo (The Echo) speaking about her latest cinematographic work, evidencing it to be a delicate craft; The Oxfam Novib Special of Queendom, followed by a talk with the main protagonist Gena Marvin and the filmmakers; and the screening of Our Land, Our Freedom, which was followed by an extended talk with the filmmakers and hosted by Mama Cash. There were also Industry Sessions on how to work with a sales agent and how to position a film, and Industry Consultancies about funding, pitching, sales and distribution, impact producing, fiscal sponsorship, festival strategy, and much more. An overview of the IDFA Industry program can be found here.
Participating in IDFA Forum
In 2023, ten projects supported by the Fund were selected for IDFA Forum. Four of these projects were selected for the Forum Pitch—for projects looking for financing and distribution partners. Four projects were selected for the Rough Cut Presentations—for projects nearing completion, looking for potential sales, distribution, and exhibition stakeholders. Two teams of IBF-supported projects were selected for the Producers Connection—for projects exploring creative and financial co-production opportunities.
In addition to presenting before a curated audience industry representatives from around the world, the ten IBF-supported projects attended a total of 153 one-on-one meetings with interested funders, co-producers, sales agents, and distributors. The IDFA Bertha Fund financially facilitated the participation of all IBF-supported projects in the Forum and represented Shadows of the Forest as a financier during the Forum Pitch.
For a complete overview of the IBF-supported filmmakers selected for various IDFA activities, see the page IBF at IDFA 2023.
Photo: Director Iryna Tsilyk and producer Darya Bassel presenting their project Red Zone at IDFA Forum: Producers Connection 2023