Amsterdam At Night

Monday, October 30----The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, one of the most prestigious film events devoted to the non-fiction form, will take place this year from November 23 to December 3, 2006 in the beautiful city of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

Known for its acronym of IDFA, the Festival brings together filmmakers, buyers, programmers, critics and the general public in a mix of professional and audience events that highlight the trends and accomplishments in the current renaissance of international documentary film.

The core of the event is the presentation of exciting new international documentaries, many of them world or international premieres, to enthusiastic Amsterdam audiences. IDFA audiences have a reputation as among the most sophisticated, involved and enthusiastic on the international film festival circuit.

Audiences At IDFA

Aside from the films from around the world that will be shown during the 10 day event, IDFA sponsors two unique professional events that bring together filmmakers and film buyers from all over the globe.

The FORUM is an international co-financing conference that brings together European television commissioning editors and independent documentary producers in a productive and stimulating series of sessions and "meet and greets". Since 1993, IDFA has created networking opportunities for these two groups, stimulating co-production and co-financing liaisons for many films and television projects. The 14th edition of the FORUM will take place from November 27 to 29.

The IDFA FORUM

Another key initiative is DOCS FOR SALE, a professional market sidebar that allows documentary filmmakers to network with sales agents, television stations, film distributors and festival programmers. The goal is to stimulate the sales and distribution of exciting and creative documentaries from all over the world in a professional atmosphere. Films included in this unique initiative are new works that IDFA has selected for its competition sections.

IDFA Screenings

With documentary films experiencing a worldwide renaissance and becoming viable contenders for theatrical box office coin, the focus on non-fiction works is more intense than ever. Those interested in charting the current crop of outstanding documentaries and in mapping out the future for the non-fiction form, will be assembling in Amsterdam in a few weeks. International Media Resources and fest21.com will be on the scene to provide our readers with in-depth coverage of this important and influential film event.

Sandy Mandelberger
Festivals Editor