The International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA) is the largest documentary festival in the world. It emerged in 1988 and is held since than at the Leidseplein area in the centre of Amsterdam. Cinemas and other institutes that have hosted the festival are: de Balie, Pathé City Theater, Filmmuseum Cinerama, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Paradiso, the Ketelhuis and the Hotel Americain.

The objective of the IDFA is to promote the creative documentary and to present this to as wide an audience as possible. It started as a small festival, which grew to an eleven day festival screening over 200 documentaries and attracting nearly 120.000 visitors.

Prizes

• The Joris Ivens Award granted to the best documentary longer than 60 minutes. Consisting of 12,500 euro.
• The silver wolf granted to the best documentary shorter than 60 minutes. Consisting of 10,000 euro.
• First appearance for the best debut film. Consisting of 2,500 euro.
• The Audience Award the audience gets ballots to rate the documentary they have just seen, the highest rated film receives the award consisting of 4,500 euro.
• The Amnesty Award for films dealing with human rights issues, consisting of 5000 euro.

External link

• http://www.idfa.nl

Film festivals

International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam