IDFA Awards
Every year, outstanding new films compete for IDFA’s coveted awards. Explore the overview of all awards per competition as well as our cross-section awards and other prizes.
Awards in the International Competition
From the films selected for the International Competition, an international jury of five jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Film. The award is accompanied by a €15,000 cash prize. The jury also selects the winners of the IDFA Award for Best Directing (worth €5,000), the IDFA Award for Best Editing, and the IDFA Award for Best Cinematography (worth €2,500).
Awards in the Envision Competition
From the films selected for the Envision Competition, an international jury of five jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Film in the Envision Competition. The award is accompanied by a €15,000 cash prize.
The jury also selects the winners of IDFA Award for Best Directing (worth €5,000) and the IDFA Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution (worth €2,500).
Awards in the IDFA DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction
From the projects selected for the IDFA DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction, an international jury of three jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA DocLab Award for Immersive Non-Fiction. The award is accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize.
The jury also selects the winner of the Special Jury Award for Creative Technology (worth €2,500).
Awards in the IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling
From the projects selected for the IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling, an international jury of three jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA DocLab Award for Digital Storytelling. The award is accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize.
The jury also selects the winner of the Special Jury Award for Creative Technology (worth €2,500).
Award in the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary
From the films selected for the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary, an international jury of three jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Short Documentary. The award is accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize.
Cross-section awards
From the International Competition, Envision Competition, Luminous, and Frontlight, two international juries will choose the winners of the IDFA Award for Best First Feature (€5,000) and the FIPRESCI Award.
From the International Competition, Envision Competition, Luminous, Frontlight, and Masters, an international jury will choose the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Film supported by VEVAM Fund (€7,500).
From across the program, an international jury will choose the winner of the Beeld en Geluid IDFA ReFrame Award for Best Creative Use of Archive (€5,000).
Other awards
NPO IDFA Audience Award
The film that is most highly rated by festival audiences will win the NPO IDFA Audience Award. All IDFA-selected films made in the past year with a running time of over 40 minutes are eligible.
IDFA Forum Awards
From the projects selected for IDFA Forum, an international jury of three jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA Forum Award for Best Project and the IDFA Forum Award for Best Rough Cut Project.
From the projects selected for IDFA DocLab Forum, an international jury of three jurors will choose the winner of the IDFA DocLab Forum Award for Best Project.
NPO Fund - Karen de Bok Talent Award
This prize is awarded to one of the projects in the IDFAcademy & NPO Fund Workshop. It consists of a grant of €25,000 for the development of the project and €5,000 for the production of a teaser.
IDFA Spotlight Award
Awarded at international festivals and markets throughout the year, this prize goes to talented filmmakers and promising documentary projects. The award consists of free travel and accommodation during IDFA in addition to accreditation and mentorship.
Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Documentary Stipend
With this stipend, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds awards a documentary talent with a grant of €50,000 that allows the recipient to make a documentary film about a subject of their choice. The award is intended for a documentary filmmaker with a proven track record who has already earned modest recognition in the documentary field.
IDFA’s competition program is supported by Ammodo.
