The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam is the largest documentary festival in the world. Every year since 1988, more than 250 international documentaries are screened.

The festival is an exciting meeting place for directors, producers, buyers, financiers and audiences alike. IDFA is unique for its international film programme, the variety of genres, its politically committed programme and the many European and world premieres featured each year. Add to that the presence of many filmmakers, sizeable audiences, all the discussions and debates, workshops, masterclasses and the experienced staff, and it's no wonder IDFA is the pre-eminent festival for creative documentaries.

During IDFA, creative documentaries take centre stage. This means that IDFA chooses films which express the filmmaker's point of view in a creative and cinematic manner. The selection takes place on the basis of clear criteria. IDFA searches for documentaries that are cinematically intriguing or innovative, are relevant or highly topical to society at large, and stimulate the viewer to reflect, discuss and ask questions. IDFA strives for an international, diverse, topical and politically committed programme.