Get to know IDFA
What is IDFA?
Since its founding in 1988, IDFA has grown into a leading international institution for creative documentary film. It offers an inspiring meeting place where filmmakers, artists, the public, and professionals from all over the world come together. IDFA’s broad offering includes a public film festival in November, as well as new media, talent, and education programs, funds, two markets, and a documentary hub in Vondelpark that is active year-round. First and foremost, IDFA stands for creative documentary art. Versatility in representation and perspectives, equality, and accessibility form the foundation, with a special focus on new generations of filmmakers and audiences.
Mission
IDFA believes in the power of creative documentary as a free, personal, and artistic lens on the complexities of society. These documentaries shape opinions, reveal what is fragile and valuable, and serve as a catalyst for meaningful public debate.
Vision
IDFA is committed to strengthening the international documentary landscape by supporting the creative development and visibility of independent filmmakers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, ensuring they have both a voice and an audience.
What makes IDFA unique?
Scale
Large reach
IDFA is the largest documentary film festival in the world and is one of the top three largest cultural events in the Netherlands. We attract 250,000 to 300,000 visitors each year who participate in the many programs, screenings and activities around Amsterdam
Impact
New perspectives
Through the selection of artistic, urgent and socially relevant stories, IDFA spreads its social impact. By supporting authentic and independent voices from all over the world, we strive to provide a platform for storytellers who enable new dialogues.
Quality
Artistic documentary
IDFA stands for quality, the best of the best in documentaries and is a renowned international quality mark. IDFA is an arena for film and public debate on socially engaged themes and subjects, so that we offer everyone who visits IDFA new insights, perspectives and an unforgettable experience.
Social media
48,9K Instagram followers 19K LinkedIn followers 90K Facebook followers
33,7K X followers
Website
1.786.000 website visitors 7.100.000 unique page views
Newsletters
Public 73.661 subscribers, 46% open rate
Friends 3413 subscribers, 58% open rate
Industry 25.000 subscribers, 53% open rate
IDFA at Vondelpark
The Documentary Pavilion in Amsterdam's city park is a place full of film history. In the spring of 2023, IDFA moved to this special building where we are visible all year round as an international festival.
At this beautiful location, IDFA is able to play a greater role in the cultural life of the capital as a physical documentary institute and documentary hub. The new cinema and the adjacent multifunctional spaces offer IDFA plenty of opportunities to organize public screenings, private workshops and meetings for professionals, talents and film students.
This also gives Club IDFA members the opportunity to organize their own screenings and events in the cinema (70 seats) and its 2 beautiful spaces.
