Inclusion & Solidarity at IDFA: articles and perspectives

IDFA signs 5050x2020 Pledge

In September 2018, IDFA proudly signed the 5050x2020 Pledge for Gender Parity and Inclusion in Film Festivals.

Inclusive Strategy

Artistic Director Orwa Nyrabia talks to Melanie Goodfellow about his ambitions for gender equality as part of a longer-term inclusion drive.

Framing of Us: Call to shape a new perspective on our cultural ethics as a documentary industry

Dutch filmmakers Tessa Boerman and Shamira Raphaëla have launched the initiative "Framing of Us" for a drastic change in the handling of documentary narratives, including an urgent call to action.

Showgirls of Pakistan director Saad Khan: "We are always the subjects, not the viewers of our own stories"

An interview with the Lahore-born director on everything from the making of his film and drawing inspiration from Pakistani culture to the fluidity of gender performativity and why mujra dancers deserve to have their story told in their own way.

To Say Nothing At All

Inspired by the IDFA 2020 Program Pathway Show Me Your ID, writer Simon(e) van Saarloos speaks out on the silencing and emancipation of LGBTQ+ experiences.

Choosing culture over oppression

During IDFA 2019, the Spotlight: Sudan program focused on creative filmmakers working in severely restricted circumstances in Sudan. Read more about the program.

Venezuela: Taking Responsibility

With a two-film program, IDFA shined a spotlight on Venezuelan filmmakers, whose country is in the grips of a humanitarian crisis. Read the full story from IDFA 2019.

Docubox: Africa will only be properly represented when we tell our own stories well

Vladan Petkovic interviews Kenya-based Docubox, the only documentary fund in East Africa. How are they streamlining the entire filmmaking process—from training and development to placement and distribution—for African filmmakers?

What we can do to help refugees gain media creation skills

Fresh from our Filmmakers for Refugees session during IDFA 2019, filmmaker and ReFOCUS Media Labs founder Douglas Herman offers critical insight into his work helping refugees gain modern media creation skills. Vladan Petkovic reports on ReFOCUS Media Labs, and how you can help them.

A World United

IDFA demands more films from a broader spectrum of global filmmakers, in the process redressing the imbalance of geo-diversity, Nick Cunningham reports.

Open Forum

IDFA's co-financing Forum is attempting to be more inclusive on all fronts, Melanie Goodfellow reports.

African Eye

West African filmmakers are bringing fresh perspectives to IDFA, Melanie Goodfellow reports.

Urgent call for the release of Hajooj Kuka

The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk and its founding institutions call for the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release filmmaker Hajooj Kuka and the four artists imprisoned with him.

Call for the Immediate Release of Moataz Abdelwahab

The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk and its founding institutions, together with a wide network of film bodies, call for the Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release film producer Moataz Abdelwahab.

IDFA calls for release of Mohammad Rasoulof

IDFA joins film festivals and organizations around the world in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof.

Statement in support of Kamal Ramadan and Ganja Mohamed Ali

Artistic Director Orwa Nyrabia signed a global statement in support of Sudanese actors Kamal Ramadan and Ganja Mohamed Ali (Chakado), who were denied the opportunity to travel to film festivals and enhance their careers.

Statement in support of Oleg Sentsov

IDFA's work to raise awareness about the plight of the Ukrainian political prisoner and award-winning filmmaker.

Release Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi

IDFA and IFFR led a global petition for the immediate release of Myanmar filmmaker and festival director Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi.

Statement on the killing of Russian film team in the Central African Republic

IDFA's response to the murder of the Russian documentary director and producer Alexander Rastorguev, journalist Orkhan Dzhemal, and cameraman Kirill Radchenko.