Why has IDFA's decision to exclude state-backed organizations from Israel, Russia, and Iran sparked controversy?

IDFA's decision to exclude state-backed organizations from these countries has sparked controversy, but the festival's artistic director, Isabel Arrate Fernandez, defends the move as part of IDFA's commitment to being "a committed institution with a socially critical perspective."

Who are some of the renowned documentary filmmakers showcasing their work at IDFA 2025?

Some of the acclaimed documentary filmmakers featured at IDFA 2025 include Laura Poitras, Vitaly Mansky, Victor Kossakovsky, Mstyslav Chernov, and many others.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / IDFA 2025 Showcases Documentaries Confronting War and Injustice

IDFA 2025 Showcases Documentaries Confronting War and Injustice

Q: What is the focus of the documentaries featured at IDFA 2025?

The documentaries featured at IDFA 2025 focus on addressing global conflicts and human rights issues, including the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

16 Nov

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Summary

IDFA features films by renowned directors addressing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine
Festival director defends decision to exclude state-backed organizations from Israel, Russia, and Iran
IDFA aims to be a "committed institution with a socially critical perspective"

IDFA 2025 Showcases Documentaries Confronting War and Injustice

The 38th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), taking place in 2025, is set to feature a diverse lineup of powerful documentaries addressing global conflicts and human rights issues. Under the leadership of new artistic director Isabel Arrate Fernandez, IDFA is bringing together some of the greatest documentary filmmakers of our time, including Laura Poitras, Vitaly Mansky, and Victor Kossakovsky.

Many of the films in the IDFA program focus on the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, with directors like Mohammed Sawwaf, Abdulrahman Sabbah, and Mstyslav Chernov offering intimate, human-centric perspectives on these crises. Fernandez emphasizes that these filmmakers "really go further than what we've seen in the news in the last two years" by highlighting the stories of individuals and families affected by the violence.