Talent development
Photo: IBF-supported filmmakers participating at IDFA Project Space 2024 in summer in Amsterdam
In addition to providing financing, the IDFA Bertha Fund—as part of IDFA’s Filmmaker Support department—offers filmmakers access to training opportunities that support them throughout the creative and production processes. With training and funding as the two pillars of the Filmmaker Support department, the Fund is committed to helping emerging talents develop their projects and deepen their understanding of the documentary industry. To this end, the IBF invites selected filmmakers to participate in IDFA’s professional training programs. In 2024, 22 IBF-supported filmmakers took part in IDFA’s two international training initiatives: IDFA Project Space and IDFAcademy.
IDFA Project Space
Carefully tailored to filmmakers’ individual needs, IDFA Project Space offers first- or second-time directors the combined experience of project workshopping and longer-term organic support, all under the guidance of experienced mentors.
Over the course of four months, IDFA Project Space offers diverse activities such as Filmmaker Talks—taking inspiration as its starting point, in-depth one-on-one meetings with assigned tutors and sessions with a psychotherapist specifically focussed on filmmakers. Participants and tutors are encouraged to exchange experiences and share feedback—and most importantly, to walk away with new creative inspiration and drive to complete their compelling and urgent projects.
In 2024, the fifth edition of IDFA Project Space welcomed sixteen international filmmaking teams with projects in development, production or editing, eight of which were previously supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund.
Read more about the 2024 edition of IDFA Project Space here.
IDFAcademy
Taking place every November during IDFA, IDFAcademy offers emerging international documentary filmmakers and producers the opportunity to connect with a broad range of highly esteemed documentary professionals who are willing to share their knowledge of the industry. From November 14 to 17, 2024, the filmmakers of five IBF-supported projects in production participated in IDFAcademy.
The four-day program includes sessions such as Filmmaker Talks, where well-known directors and leading industry professionals from IDFA’s film selection share their experiences to inspire participants in their own creative processes. The program also features a combination of round table discussions, group sessions, and case studies designed to provide insight into the international documentary market and current trends, helping participants develop a broad understanding of the sector. Social events take place daily to encourage new collaborations and increase the network of the participants.
Additionally, two IBF-supported projects were presented during the IDFA Project Space showcase, launched in 2023. During this showcase, ten IDFA Project Space alumni present their projects to an audience of international industry professionals, followed by round tables to connect the filmmakers to potential partners to get feedback on their ideas.
Read more about IDFAcademy 2024 here.
Talent development in numbers
SINCE 2008
106 IDFA Bertha Fund projects participated in IDFA's talent development program; 71 of these projects have since been realized; 62 of which were selected for the IDFA program, of which, 23 in one of the festival's competitions,
12 of them won awards at IDFA and 1 being IDFA's opening film.
SINCE 2015
91 IDFA Bertha Fund projects participated in IDFAcademy during IDFA since 2015.
Photo: Producer of The Amateur Photographer's Family Portrait, Irina Gelashvili at IDFAcademy 2025
"It reignited my passion to fight for my film again, and to strive to do the best I can."
Ricardo Martensen, director of Regarding Memory and Neglect on his participation in IDFA Project Space
Film still: Regarding Memory and Neglect, dir. Ricardo Martensen