Mission & vision
Creative documentary films provide insight into society, open eyes, and stimulate critical thinking. IDFA is committed to addressing urgent social issues by presenting documentaries from around the world that reflect on the most pressing questions of our time. See what further drives us below.
Mission
DFA is committed to strengthening an international, interdisciplinary documentary field by supporting the creative development and visibility of independent filmmakers and artists, enhancing their economic resilience, and connecting them with an engaged audience.
Vision
IDFA believes in the power of creative documentary as a free, open, and artistic lens on the complexities of society and the perception of reality. These films can shape opinions, reveal what is fragile and valuable, and serve as a catalyst for both personal reflections and meaningful public debate.
Core values
At its core, IDFA is dedicated to creative documentary filmmaking. Through artistic and socially urgent films and new media projects, DFA strives to engage a broad public audience, filmmakers, artists, industry professionals, students and scholars. A plurality of representation and perspectives, along with a strong focus on equality and accessibility, form the foundation of IDFA's work—with special attention to new generations of filmmakers and audiences. More about these and other strategic priorities can be found in our 2025–2028 policy plan.
