Thursday, November 27-----While the accent at IDFA is on the new crop of documentaries being created around the world, there is also a healthy respect for career retrospectives to showcase for both filmmakers and audiences alike the themes and techniques of earlier non-fiction masters.

At this year’s event, the Festival is presenting two such retrospectives. 110 Years of Joris Ivens, named for the most famous Dutch documentarian Joris Ivens, is celebrating the 110th birthday of the Dutch pioneer. Every day at the Filmmuseum, Amsterdam’s fantastic cinematheque located in Vondelpark, a classic film from the master documentarian will be shown. This retrospective is timed for the release of a DVD boxed set, featuring 20 digitally restored films from Iven’s oeuvre, including the silent avant-garde classics The Bridge (1928) and Rain (1929), social documentaries New Earth (1933), The Spanish Earth (1937) up to his final film Une Histoire de Vent (1988). Other films being shown in the retrospective include Against Fascism (1937), China: The Cultural Revolution (1976), Industrial Architecture: Cities, Ports (1963) and Vietnam: War/Survival (1967).

Another Dutch master filmmaker is also being honored at the event. Frans Bromet is a prolific contemporary documentarian known for his independent-minded and committed work. The Festival is presenting a broadbased retrospective including the filmmaker’s work for the big and small screens, including 1,2,3 Rhapsody (made together with fim academy friends including Jan de Bont and Rem Koolhaas) and several episodes from the 1990s television series Neighbors. More recent films, including Escaping The Flood (2006), Shared Children (2008) and In Love At Old Age: Gre and Jaap (2008) will also be seen. A filmed portrait of Bromet, highlighting his unique approach to subject matter and film execution, directed by David de Jongh will have its world premiere.

Sandy Mandelberger, IDFA Dailies Editor