This year marks the 35th edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. From November 9–20, get ready for a trend-setting program of films, talks, performances, and interactive and immersive projects throughout Amsterdam. For professionals, our markets and industry programming will return in full swing, with plenty of goodies to be announced in the lead-up to the festival. Till then, mark your calendar with these important dates and deadlines to make sure you don't miss a beat.

Key Dates for Filmmakers and Professionals

IDFA 2022

Festival dates: November 9–20

Accreditation deadline: October 1

IDFA Forum

Market dates: November 12–16

Observer accreditation deadline: October 1

IDFA DocLab Forum

Market dates: November 13–16

Observer accreditation deadline: October 1

Docs for Sale

Market dates: November 11–16

Accreditation deadline: October 1

IDFAcademy

IDFAcademy during IDFA program dates: November 10–13

IDFA DocLab

Festival dates: November 11-20

Accreditation opens: July 1

Key dates for visitors

Announcement opening film and competition: October 20

General ticket sale starts: October 31

Program Sections

IDFA’s program sections are a testament to the evolving world of documentary film. From emerging art forms to established cinematic traditions, our slate of competitions and non-competitive sections offer something for every filmmaker and film lover.

International Competition

The best of the art. Singular films that are artistically confident, well-rounded, and universally relevant. An international jury of five jurors will award the best film as well as other films that champion the craft and innovation of filmmaking.

Envision Competition

With stylistic integrity and courage, these films traverse our current reality, offering visions of a documentary art form that can, might, and will be. An international jury of five jurors will award the best film as well as other films that champion the craft and innovation of filmmaking.

IDFA DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction

A testament to the power of exceptional non-fiction storytelling across media and technologies, the selected works for the IDFA DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction reveal the full spectrum of immersive art. An international jury of three jurors will award the best project in addition to handing out a special jury award.

IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling

The selected projects in the IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling illustrate all the different ways to create stories in new ways to innovate and re-imagine the potential of interactive storytelling, often moving between the digital and the physical. An international jury of three jurors will award the best project in addition to handing out a special jury award.

IDFA Competition for Short Documentary

The IDFA Competition for Short Documentary has titles that showcase a healthy boom for the short film form. A mosaic of styles and themes defines this selection, exploring everything a short documentary can be. An international jury of three jurors will award the best film.

IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary

The IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary (formerly the IDFA Competition for Kids & Docs) presents a world-class offering of documentary films for audiences aged eight to thirteen. An international jury of three jurors will award the best film.

Luminous

The premiere-only section’s lineup includes a wide range of styles and formalist approaches, from observational to personal to experimental.

Frontlight

The premiere-only section take an artistic approach to exploring the urgent issues of our time.

IDFA on Stage

The IDFA on Stage selection presents a boundary-breaking program of live cinema events—bridging film, new media, and the performing arts.

IDFA DocLab Spotlight

Documentary art across disciplines, presenting emerging media works and research projects by masters and new talents.

Paradocs

Pushing the limits of the documentary form. A showcase of the year’s best experimental documentary art.

Masters

The latest films by today’s auteurs of documentary cinema, whose renowned names and careers never disappoint.

Best of Fests

Prize-winners, public favorites, and high-profile titles from the international festival circuit.

Top 10

Ten films selected by IDFA’s Guest of Honor, from influential masterpieces to hidden documentary gems.

Retrospective

A tribute to the festival’s yearly Guest of Honor with a celebration of their oeuvre.

Focus Programs

A selection of new and canonical films curated around a thematic point of focus.

Ticket Sales

The ticket sale for the IDFA Specials of IDFA 2022 has started! You can now buy tickets for the Best of IDFA programs: the Audience Favorites and the Award Winners. Two programs that you don't want to miss!

Best of IDFA: Audience Favorites offers a full day program consisting favorite documentaries as chosen by the festival audience, all in the running for the NPO IDFA Audience Award. Best of IDFA: Award Winners offers a full day program consisting of a selection of films that received an IDFA Award, selected by an international jury of professionals from the documentary, film and art world.

The other IDFA Specials, among which the Volkskrantdag, the VPRO Preview- and Reviewdag and the Groene Amsterdammerdag, will go on sale Friday 21 October at 12:00. Friends and Special Friends of IDFA will be able to buy tickets one day earlier, on Thursday 20 October at 12:00.

Source: idfa.nl/en