The Collector,
Erik
Strömdahl,
Special
Jury Award, 1990
'I don't
think it meant very much. Of course it was an honour for the film and me as a
director and probably it did improve my possibilities to make new films. I
never expected the award and left the festival before the ceremony. Instead I
collected it at the Dutch embassy in Stockholm. It's just the half award
you see. It consisted of two pieces, one "filmstrip" made of iron
and a huge iron star. But I must confess that I have "lost" the
huge iron star, as I didn't have enough room for it. Sorry for that. Will not
happen again!'
Dreams and Silence, Mr. O. Al-Qattan, VPRO Joris Ivens Award, 1991
'This is was my first major prize and it gave me tremendous confidence to carry on. Thank you!'
Mit
Verlust ist zu rechnen, Ulrich
Seidl,
Special
Jury Award, 1992
'No. We
put it in a bag and threw it in the danube.'
The Belovs, Victor Kossakovsky, Joris Ivens Award & Audience Award, 1993
'It was a big deal for me that closing night of IDFA '93. I was happy! But for a very short moment. Because next morning first Dutch customs officer at Amsterdam airport did not want me to cross a border with such huge piece of art and I almost lost my plane. Then Russian customs officers stopped me for 7 hours at St.Petersburg's airport, because they did not understand what was in my hands? Now after 20 years and hundred other prizes I still believe that Joris Ivens Award and Audiens Award were most important prizes in my carrier.'
Mr. Behrmann - Life Dream Death, Mr. A. Voigt, NPS Silver Wolf, 1996
'I was a young film director when I got the "Silver Wolf" in 1996 and I was very proud to get this prize at the famous IDFA. Later on it didn't help directly for my career. But when I am looking back now it supported me to find my way as a director. For me documentary film making is not simply a job. It is a profession, and a chance to find a way to go through my own life. And I do it by today. Maybe this prize encouraged me on this way.'
Atman, Mrs. P. Honkasalo, Joris Ivens Award, 1996
'Here is a photo of the Award. It is located in the sink section of my working room next to the orginal photo of the poster of my film "Da Capo". It stands in its original box as in the box of Pandora, which might conceal all hope in this troubled and stricken world. Who dares to open it? At the time of the festival I had a heavy disagreement on the final cut with the German producer. I took the big risk of showing the director's cut at IDFA without a notice to the producer. Without the Award I would have been in really serious trouble. Now the dispute was settled.'
Two
Dads
, Dhr. K.
van Reenen,
IDFA
Audience Award, 1998
'In 1998
I won the IDFA-Audience Award for
my first documentary Two Dads. The prize-winning changed lives. The two dads
started a foundation to get their household financially running. Just after
this prize I was asked by a chief editor to try and make an Urbania-portrait.
Since then a lot happened (I made more long documentaries) and things changed
(Urbania disappeared). But making documentary-portraits continued to this
day. And I remained as proud, even if the award itself (print on cheap wood)
is now at the bottom of my mood board.'
Photographer,
Mr. D.
Jablonski,
VPRO
Joris Ivens Award, 1998
'Photographer is a film which I directed against my decision not to direct anymore. That was due to the huge costs my relatives have paid for my life passion. I was lucky to have occasion to show the film to Tue Steen Miller and Nick Fraser. They said: send it to IDFA. I remember my every day here in Amsterdam, fantastic organisers and viewers, and my disbelief that what I am doing has any sense. And I believed you only when you gave my film main prize. Thank you for this. For the film it was a beginning of a long the beautiful journey through many, many festivals.'
Zij gelooft in mij, John Appel, VPRO Joris Ivens Award, 1999
'It’s a great honour to be recognised by an international jury. And a great birthday present: I received the IDFA Award for The Player on my birthday; and Zij gelooft in mij not only won the Joris Ivens Award, but was IDFA’s opening film – also on my birthday! The success of the Hazes film really gave my career a boost and was a great motivation to carry on making films the way I want to make them. Even after having such a tremendous public hit, I’ve stayed true to my choice of topics that are close to me – sometimes for a broad audience, sometimes for the real enthusiast.'
A cry
from the grave,
Mr. L.
Woodhead,
Special
Jury Award, 1999
'The
Special Jury prize was the first of several awards for the film and it
encouraged us to enter it for festivals around the world. I still get regular
international requests to screen the film.'
The Sea
That Thinks,
De heer
G. de Graaff,
VPRO
Joris Ivens Award, 2000
'Winning
the Joris Ivens Award was a surprising and joyful delight! It made the film
instantly famous and after IDFA it was shown at more than 80 festivals all
around the world. Out there it won several other prices as well. And still
people mail me about it, show it at festivals or buy the DVD. I am still very
gratefull and happy that the jurymembers were so brave to grant me this
price. I am especially gratefull to Victor Kossakowsky, head of the jury. And
Ally Derks for giving me the opportunity to show my film. For my filmcareer
it really was a boost.'
The Wives of Haj Abbas, Mr. M. Abdolvahab, NPS Silver Wolf, 2001
'Since the time I used to make documentary films and now that for the past several years I make fiction films, it’s been an honor for me to receive the IDFA award. Of course I always mention this award in my resume as a privilege and I am very proud to have it.'
Family, Mr. S. Saif, VPRO Joris Ivens Award, 2001
'We were Young. Winning IDFA was dreamlike being in the mid twenties and the documentary-star of the day. Travelling the world's festivals with an IDFA Grand Prix winner was a wild and crazy ride.'
Surplus - Terrorized into Being Consumers, Mr. E. Gandini, NPS Silver Wolf, 2003
'Surplus was a very experimental project. I remember, while shooting it, how bored my friends looked like when I told them I wanted to make a film about consumerism. They all yawned. Expectations were very low, especially mine. Although I felt very strong about the subject I thought this would end up as a totally marginal film soon to be forgotten. Then came IDFA and the wonderful recognition of the Silver Wolf... Surplus got a whole new life and spread world wide for years. I will always be thankful to IDFA and to that year’s jury members who chose to award Surplus. Still today It reminds me how important it is to follow your instinct as a filmmaker.'
Checkpoint,
Mr. Y.
Shamir,
Joris
Ivens Award, 2003
'Checkpoint
is my first feature length documentary, i was in IDFA 2 years
before with a film in the first appearance section, it was
during my student years and i was not sure if being a film maker is for me.
when Checkpoint got accepted into the main competition i was so happy. then a
buzz started, then i was among the 3 finalists, and then finally i got the
award. In a way it was the best proof i could have get that film making might
be the right thing for me , and i keep doing it ever since. Thank you IDFA-
you helped me choose the best job a man can have (besides being a F1 driver,
or a barcelona football player of course... ).'
Stand van de maan, Leonard Retel Helmrich, VPRO
Joris Ivens Award, 2004
'Because of winning the 2004 VPRO Joris Ivens Award for Best Feature Length Documentary I got screening and workshop invitations from allover the world. I spent about 3 years of travelling the globe, conducting workshops on Single Shot Cinema at filmfestivals, film academies and universities as well as job offers as DOP for Dutch and also Australian documentaries and one Fiction film in Taiwan. After winning the VPRO Joris Ivens Award, VPRO IDFA Award for Best Feature Length Documentary 2010 I got offered a job as "Associate Professor of Film practice and New Media" at the NYU (New York University).'
Podul
Peste Tisa / The Bridge
Ms. I.
Stanculescu
First
Appearance Award, 2004
'After
receiving this award I have established a production company in Romania and
till today I work in the documentary field, as a director and project manager
of "Docstories Black Sea", a training initiative for documentary
filmmakers from the Black Sea region - in partnership with IDFAcademy.'
My
grandmother´s House, Mr. A.
Aliaga,
VPRO
Joris Ivens Award, 2005
'It was
one of the most important awards for the film, and the beginning of a long
history of festivals and awards, which culminated with the nomination of the
European Film Academy.'
Shadya,
Roy Westler,
IDFA
Doc U Award, Moviesquad Doc U! Award, 2005
'After
winning in IDFA my film was screening in festivals all over the globe and
winning more prizes. The film was broadcast ed in the U.S and got
so many responses and different feed-backs. I made another
documentary that was broadcast ed in
Israeli satellite Chanel. since, I took a brake from making docs
and concentrated at writing and directing T.V shows, reality
programs and social documentaries episodes for Israeli prime
time Television.'
Butterfly
Man,
Samantha
Rebillet,
Silver
Cub, 2005
'Winning
the SILVER CUB for my short documentary BUTTERFLY MAN opened many doors, and
paved the way for more Festival wins. I was also approached by many
amazing producers to work both in the documentary and commercial realm.
A wonderful opportunity, and very fond memory. Thank you all so
very kindly!!!'
A Lesson
of Belarussian,
Mr. M.
Dembinski
Moviesquad
Doc U! Award, 2006
'It was
the first award for the documentary and after that the film won 17 other
prizes and one unofficial - sentence of Belorusian court: “the film include
extremist content and is forbidden in Belarus”. After court action DVD was
burnt. It’s a pity to burn films instead watch them in Belarus.'
The
Tailor,
Mr. O.
Pérez,
Silver
Cub, 2007
'As I
said many times, I was born a second time the 1st of December 2007 in Idfa,
the Netherlands. The award for ‘The tailor’ was an explosion that is still
having consequences in my life. A few years have passed, and that date
continues immovable as the most important moment in my artistic career. I
know by now that whatever film I make, I will always be the director of ‘The
tailor’ and ‘The tailor’ can’t be conceived without Idfa. That’s a fact!'
Forgetting
Dad,
Mr. R.
Minnich,
Special
Jury Award, 2008
'Winning
the Special Jury Award at IDFA was a door opener for both the film and me in
many ways. It was a real stamp of approval, which put "Forgetting
Dad" on industry people's radar screens. This led to many festival
invitations and TV sales, and probably helped get people to return my phone
calls and emails. It hasn't made it any easier getting new work funded,
however. But hey, the prize makes a great paperweight and bookend and would
fend off any burglar who tried breaking into my office!'
Boris
Ryzhy
Ms. A.
van der Horst,
NPS
Silver Wolf, 2008
'After
premiering at IDFA and winning the Silver Wolf Award, Boris Ryzhy, was shown
on more than 30 festivals (and is still touring here and there after 4
years!) and won 3 more award, among them the Best Documentary Edinburgh
Filmfestival. Audiences across the world saw this film and were touched by
the story of a poet and the Russian Perestroika times.'
Lady
Kul- el Arab,
Ms. I.
Mara'ana,
NPS
Silver Wolf, 2008
'It was
a great honor to win the award from IDFA. The award helped to expose my film
to audiences around the world, sending it to festivals worldwide. Further, on
a personal level, it helped to increase my visibility as an international
director by commending the quality of my work.'
Iron
Crows,
Bong-Nam
Park,
NTR
IDFA Award for best Mid-Length Documentary, 2009
'So many
things has been changed after winner of IDFA award. It was my first int'l
debut, and Korean independent filmmakers were so proud of that.
IDFA award gave us courage and hope.'
Lixin Fan, Last train Home, VPRO Joris Ivens Award, 2009
'It was like a dream that I've never dreamed that came true.'
Six Weeks,
Marcin
Janos Krawczyk,
IDFA
Award for Best Short Documentary, 2009
The Most Dangerous Man in America, Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Mrs. J. Ehrlich, Special Jury Award, 2009
'Winning the IDFA Special Jury Award was the beginning of a ride that ended at the Oscars. It was the first clear indication this film moved people, people who understood the value of documentary. It was already a great honor to screen at IDFA. Winning this award came as a tremendous surprise. The honor started us on a roll that included The Peabody Award, a primetime Emmy nomination, a dozen other festival prizes and many international TV broadcast sales. It was a transformational moment for the film and for my career.'
Colony,
Ross
McDonnell,
First
Appearance Award, 2009
'Winning
the IDFA First Appearance Award was a wonderful recognition of effort. Making
our first feature film 'Colony' was a long and enjoyable process during which
were granted great freedom to follow our visions as first-time
filmmakers. The audiences at IDFA - and the Dutch people in general -
are so incredibly passionate about documentary filmmaking, more so than
anywhere else we traveled with the film. Even one driver in Amsterdam during
IDFA said to us "we are factual people the
Dutch...documentaries suit us". To go to
such a temple of non-fiction filmmaking and emerge as the winners in our
category was the highest honor we received for our film.'
Redemption,
Sabrina
Wulff,
IDFA
Award For Best Student Documentary, 2009
'It
meant that my protagonists’ voice and stories were heard and taken home with
the festival guests for further thoughts and discussions in their countries –
at least I hope so.'
People I Could Have Been and Maybe Am, Dhr. B. Gerrets, NTR IDFA Award for best Mid-Length Documentary, 2010
'What happened? - We don’t know exactly. He disappeared. His friends claim he was sighted in places as far as New Caledonia. Others saw him in Mexico. There was even a report of him in Korea. - It seems it came as a surprise to him. Definitely, but he seems to have adapted well. - Did it change his life? No, but life changed around him.'
Position among the Stars, Leonard Retel Helmrich, and IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary, 2010
Hetty Naaijkens Retel Helmrich: 'Winning the the main prizes at the IDFA 2004 and 2010 opened the doors for us to much fame in the world. After the Joris Yvens Award for our movie Stand van de maan (Shape of the Moon) we got already a lot of requests for international film festivals, but after the victory of the two main prizes at IDFA 2010 for Stand van de Sterren (Position among the Stars), many festival requests streamed within itself. It was screened at more than 65 festivals. This brought us in many places of the world where we have gained many valuable contacts, which proved very important for our further career.'
Kano: An American and His Harem, Monster Jimenez, IDFA Award for Best First Appearance, 2010
'Winning at IDFA was a very special experience. Kano is my first work as a director and winning the First Appearance Award wasn't just a pat on the back from my friends and family, it meant that other people liked the film as well. The prize from the film is also helping me work on my next film and give some payback to my staff and the people who were in the film.'
Into Eternity, M. Madsen, IDFA Award for Best Green Screen Documentary, 2010
'Remembering what Fellini once said: "Ich glaube, ein Regisseur dreht seine filme immer für sich selbst. Wenn er sagt, er macht es für das Publikum, so lügt er. Wenn die Zuschauer den Film dann lieben, liegt es daran, dass dieselben Überzeugungen haben wie der Regisseur und nicht umgekehrt".'
900 Days, Jessica Gorter, IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary, 2011
'After winning the IDFA Award for Dutch Documentary last year I can look back on a very prosperous year for 900 Days in the festival circuit as well as in Dutch cinema’s. The award really helped to draw attention to the film and reach it’s audience which for me is the most valuable of all.'
Montenegro, Jorge Gaggero, NTR IDFA Award for best Mid-Length Documentary, 2011
'It helps to keep on making documentaries.'
Last Days of Winter, Mehrdad Oskouei, IDFA DOC U Award, 2011
'In my opinion IDFA is the biggest and most famous international Documentary Film Festival in the world and all of Iranian filmmakers know this festival very well. Actually it doesn’t help me to invest my career for getting some fund in my country, but it made me motivated to do my best for investing in documentary making. It's around 10 years I’m teaching documentary films in Iran and abroad, and this award caused my students to trust me and to be hopeful to get this award, and that their films will have more world audience like my films.'