Board of Directors

Isabel Arrate Fernandez holds an MA in Film Studies from the University of Amsterdam and began her career in festival production, programming, and film financing. Joining IDFA in 2002, she has been instrumental in amplifying diverse global perspectives in documentary film. Until 2024, she served as Executive Director of the IDFA Bertha Fund, which under her leadership grew into a highly respected international platform supporting over 700 documentary projects and film organizations across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. She was deeply involved in the selection process and provided hands-on mentorship to filmmakers throughout their creative journeys.

From 2020 up to July 2025, Isabel also held the position of Deputy Director of IDFA (part-time), where she oversaw the Filmmaker Support Department, further strengthening the festival’s commitment to fostering creative development and international collaboration. Beyond IDFA, she has collaborated with organizations such as Berlinale Docstation, Chiledoc and Docs by the Sea and regularly contributes as a consultant to workshops and pitching forums worldwide. Isabel is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Cees van ‘t Hullenaar is the Managing Director of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Born in 1964, Van ‘t Hullenaar studied Communication and Film Studies at the University of Nijmegen. Before he came to work for IDFA, he worked as a spokesman for the City of Amsterdam. Van ‘t Hullenaar founded a communication agency and was a freelance cultural journalist and filmmaker. In 1997 he joined IDFA as communications manager. He became Festival Manager in 2004 next to founding IDFA Director Ally Derks. After her departure in January 2017 he was appointed Executive Director. Cees was Board member of the IDFA Bertha Fund, Member of the Ford Foundation’s BUILD network and is board member of ICFR and member of the European Filmacademy and the Dutch Academy of Film.