IDFA Reshapes Industry Program to Elevate Artistic Documentaries

As the documentary festival IDFA's industry program, Forum, launches this week, the festival's leadership is addressing the challenges facing documentary filmmakers in the current market. IDFA's head of industry, Adriek van Nieuwenhuijzen, and artistic director, Isabel Arrate Fernandez, acknowledge a disconnect between what IDFA considers "interesting, important creative work" and the types of documentaries that broadcasters and streamers are willing to invest in.

To better support artistic documentaries, IDFA is making changes to its industry program. The festival is integrating its Producers Connection Presentations, which aim to connect producers of artistic docs with co-producing partners, with the traditional Forum Pitch sessions. This move is intended to give artistic projects more visibility and opportunities for collaboration.

Additionally, IDFA is introducing thematic panels to replace the post-pitch feedback from buyers. These panels will provide filmmakers with practical insights on navigating the evolving documentary financing landscape, covering topics such as finding broadcasters or funding in specific regions, understanding transnational funds, and exploring co-production opportunities.

The festival's goal is to "burst the different bubbles" that industry professionals often exist in and create more crossover between the artistic and commercial sides of documentary filmmaking. IDFA remains committed to elevating bold, artistic documentaries, even as the broader market seems to favor a different definition of the genre.