Project funding
Film still: Once Upon a Time in Shiraz, dir. Hamed Zolfaghari
The IDFA Bertha Fund provides financial support to independent documentary filmmakers from IBF-supported countries by awarding grants for the development, (post)production, and distribution of their documentary film. The Fund carries out two funding schemes: IDFA Bertha Fund Classic and IDFA Bertha Fund Europe. Additionally, selected projects with a minority Dutch co-producer partnered can later on apply for a co-production grant through the Netherlands Film Fund's NFF+IBF Co-production scheme.
Overview of applications in 2024:
710 applications from 102 different countries 30 selected projects from 24 different countries
Statistics: Selected projects
Emerging talent
First-time filmmakers: 18 (50%)
Second-time filmmakers: 9 (25%)
Total 1st and 2nd time
filmmakers: 27 (75%)
Our grantees
Women identified directors: 15 (42%)
Men identified directors: 21 (58%)
Women identified producers: 32 (51%)
Men identified producers: 31 (49%)
Press freedom
Selection from countries with press freedom under threat: 12 projects press freedom under severe threat: 15 projects Total: 27 projects (90%)
Click here to see the 2024
World Press Freedom Index
IDFA Bertha Fund Classic
IDFA Bertha Fund Classic offers direct support to filmmakers from and living in IBF supported countries, for which the Fund maintains a list of eligible countries.
The IBF Classic funding scheme consists of two categories: Project Development and Production & Post-production. The Project Development grant supports directors in their research, writing and/or production of visual material for the project presentation. The Production & Post-production grant supports filmmakers in the realization of their project. If a project is selected for one of these categories, a distribution contribution can be applied for once the film is completed, either for its launch at a major festival or for distribution within the filmmaker's own region.
IDFA Bertha Fund Europe
IDFA Bertha Fund Europe seeks to encourage collaboration between independent European producers and producers from IBF-supported countries (see eligible countries IBF Europe)
Through the IBF Europe Minority Co-production grant, the Fund aims to encourage European producers to participate as minority co-producer in high-quality documentary projects by filmmakers from IBF focus countries.
If a project is selected for this grant, a promotion or distribution contribution can be applied for once the film is completed, specifically for its launch at a major festival.
NFF + IBF Co-production scheme
The NFF + IBF Co-production Scheme is a collaboration between the Netherlands Film Fund and the IBF aimed at supporting the realization of international documentary co-productions between Dutch producers and producers from IBF supported countries.
The NFF + IBF Minority Co-production grant is open exclusively for projects that previously received IBF support. The application and decision-making process for this grant is managed by the Netherlands Film Fund.