Empowering creative documentaries and filmmakers
Film still: The Brink of Dreams, dir. Nada Riyadh, Ayman El Amir
The IDFA Bertha Fund (IBF) is dedicated fully to stimulate and empower the creative documentary sector in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania (IBF focus regions).
An integral part of IDFA's Filmmaker Support department, the Fund supports independent, critical, and artistic voices—by creating space for artistic expression without limitations and safeguarding critical and relevant filmmaking. IBF-supported films use strong visual treatments to tell compelling stories that can resonate with a global audiences and can create meaningful impact in the country of production.
On the following pages, we outline the Fund's activities for 2024, organized into three chapters that reflect the core pillars of the IDFA Bertha Fund: Project funding, Talent development, and Professional support and networking—each closely interconnected with the others.
In addition to financial support, the Fund offers a wide range of activities to empower filmmakers throughout the creative and production processes. These include tailored consultancies, participation in IDFA’s talent development programs, and access to IDFA’s markets. For example, training programs are available for early-career filmmakers who need guidance in developing their stories, restructuring
their rough cuts, or navigating the documentary film industry. Filmmakers seeking (co-)producers or sales agents are introduced to IDFA's international network and meeting platforms, increasing their chances of making valuable connections and securing partnerships.
The Fund also provides more specialized support, such as guidance on fair co-production practices, as well as reviewing materials and providing feedback upon the filmmaker's request.
Recognizing that every project follows its own unique path, the Fund is committed to tailoring its support to meet the specific needs of each project.
The overview below details the types of support a project can receive during development and the various trajectories a supported film might follow.
The life of A Brink of Dreams
1. Received IBF Classic - Project development grant in 2020 and IBF Classic - Production & post-production grant in 2021
€5,000 for project development
€17,500 for production & post-production
2. Received IBF Europe grant in 2021
€40,000 for international co-production
3. Received travel support and advice to participate in IDFA Forum 2021
Pitching the project together with IBF director during IDFA festival as part of IDFA Forum
4. Received co-production
advice in 2024
Facilitating co-production arrangements to prepare the film for its World Premiere.
5. Received IBF Europe promotion support for World Premiere at Cannes 2024
6. Received travel support for Dutch Premiere at IDFA 2024
Selected for IDFA's Best of Fest section
The life of No Other Land
1. Received IBF Classic grant in 2021
€17,500 for production & post-production
2. Received IBF Europe grant in 2022
€40,000 for international co-production
3. Received travel support to network at IDFA 2022
Invited and supported to visit IDFA for networking within the international documentary film industry
4. Received IBF Europe promotion support for World Premiere at Berlinale 2024
Winning the Panorama Audience Award for Best Documentary Film and the Berlinale Documentary Film Award
5. Received travel support for Dutch Premiere at IDFA 2024
Selected for IDFA's Best of Fest section and winning the IDFA NPO Doc Audience Award
6. Won Academy Award in 2025
Winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature
Film still: No Other Land, dir. Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor