Submit to IDFA Forum

IDFA Forum 2022 will be a live event on site. We very much look forward to hosting a physical market in Amsterdam in the new venue Felix Meritis, welcoming professionals and film teams from the Forum and Docs for Sale under one roof. Take note: in 2022, IDFA will take place one week earlier in the calendar year, which means the Forum will run from November 12 to 16. Read more about this year's format on the IDFA Forum activities and IDFA DocLab Forum setup pages.

On this page, you can find all information about submitting to IDFA Forum, including entry regulations, eligibility, fees, and practical info for the Forum Pitch, Rough Cut Presentations, and Producers Connection. As part of the submission process, we encourage you to read through our submission checklist and FAQ.

Key submission dates for IDFA Forum 2022

• Updated rules and regulations available: June 13
• Entry form available: June 13
• Submission deadline: August 1, 23:59 CEST
• Projects informed of outcome of first selection round: week commencing August 22
• Pre-selected projects informed of outcome of final selection round: week commencing September 19
• IDFA Forum: November 12-16

General entry regulations

What we're looking for

1. Producers with new documentary projects (one-offs and series) looking for co-producers, funds, television and platform commissions, distribution, or a combination of these, are encouraged to submit. We are specifically looking for artistic and innovative ways of storytelling and cutting-edge stories. Projects aiming for cinema release are especially invited to submit. Documentaries made for children aged nine to twelve and family audiences are also invited to submit to the Forum. Please consider the production status of your project and your goals to determine the program to apply to.

2. Immersive/interactive projects in all stages of production and financing. IDFA DocLab Forum is open to all sorts of formats that tell a documentary story or explore unknown realities, including web docs, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, physical installations, multimedia journalism, and live performances. Artists looking for co-producers, creative input, and financing possibilities are invited to submit.

3. For Producers Connection: Launched in 2021, the Producers Connection category welcomes independent producers with a proven track record in international co-producing who are looking for new projects to collaborate on. Interested producers who fit these criteria are invited to apply for accreditation to the Producers Connection.

Below, you can find all general eligibility criteria and specific eligibility criteria per category.

Eligibility criteria and practical information for Forum Pitches

Eligibility criteria

• One-off (TV or feature length) or series format creative documentaries intended for theatrical distribution, TV broadcasting, and/or other platforms are eligible.
• Projects can be in all stages of production, except post-production/rough cut stage (please see Rough Cut Presentations).
• Immersive/interactive projects in all stages of production and financing.
• Projects should have strong visual material to present during the pitch.
• There are no restrictions regarding the amount of financing already in place.
• In cases where a fund, TV station, or platform is already on board, their presence at the presentation is welcomed. Commitment from financial partners is not required to apply or be selected.
• Please note that short films are not eligible.

Practical information

• Forum pitches are presented live in Amsterdam. Project teams who are unable to travel can join the event via video conferencing tool upon discussion with the IDFA team.
• Pitches for film projects take place November 13 to 15. Pitches for new media projects will take place November 14 to 15.
• Only two team members can present, preferably one producer and the director.
• A moderator is present to coordinate post-presentation discussion and stimulate connections.
• Each project will have one-on-one meetings with professionals interested in the project. These are arranged by the Forum staff based on preferences of the project team and Industry representatives and financiers, as well as input from the Forum staff.
• For project teams and industry representatives/financiers attending the event in person, pre-arranged meetings take place November 14 to 16.
• All projects are featured through the IDFA Forum online project collection (with a trailer or other sample material, project information, and a still), where they can be securely viewed by industry representatives/financiers who have a password.
• All projects are also featured in IDFA Forum's printed publication which is distributed to IDFA Forum passholders.

All projects undergo a stringent selection process. Only projects that have been submitted according to the IDFA Forum entry regulations below will be considered.

Eligibility criteria and practical information for Rough Cut Presentations

Eligibility criteria

• Creative documentaries intended for theatrical distribution, TV broadcasting, and/or other platforms.
• A minimum of 75% of your material must be shot and the project must be in post-production/rough cut stage.
• Project teams wanting to apply in this category need to have a rough cut file available by October 26.
• Projects that previously presented at IDFA Forum or Producers Connection are encouraged to submit.
• Projects must be looking for festivals, distributors/sales agents, and/or TV buyers. Preference is given to projects without a world sales agent.

Practical information

• Rough Cut Presentations will take place on November 13.
• During the event in Amsterdam, the Forum will host Rough Cut Presentations Pathé City cinema (Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 15-19), where project teams briefly make a moderated introduction and show an excerpt of twenty minutes. Project teams who cannot travel to Amsterdam will still be able to show their rough cut in the cinema, accompanied by recorded introduction, upon discussion with the IDFA team.
• The presentation format allows you to feature your full rough cut on IDFA’s online platform, where it is made available to key groups of acquisition and exhibition professionals. It is also possible to include a short introduction to the rough cut file, to give context on e.g. what stage you are in and what work still will be done on the film.
• Each project will have one-on-one meetings with professionals interested in the project. These are arranged by the Forum staff based on preferences of the project team and industry representatives and financiers, as well as input from the Forum staff.
• For project teams and industry representatives/financiers attending the event in person, pre-arranged meetings take place November 14 to 16.
• All projects are hosted online in a secure environment where they can be viewed by industry representatives/financiers who have a password and an IDFA Forum or Docs for Sale accreditation.
• All projects are also featured in IDFA Forum's printed publication, which is distributed to IDFA Forum passholders.
• If you are selected, your rough cut file (the twenty-minute excerpt and potential presentation) must be delivered by October 26 in order to be included on our website and shown in the cinema.

Eligibility criteria and practical information for the Producers Connection

Eligibility criteria for projects

• Creative documentaries or series looking for international co-production partners as part of their financing strategy are eligible.
• Preference is given to projects aimed at theatrical distribution, however, projects intended for TV broadcasting and/or other platforms are eligible as well.
• Projects must be in development or late development.
• The Producers Connection is presented live in Amsterdam. Project teams who are unable to travel can join the event via video conferencing tool upon discussion with the IDFA team.
• While a strong visual trailer is not mandatory at this stage, the project should be able to demonstrate a developed visual language (mood board, research footage etc.)
• There are no restrictions regarding the amount of financing already in place.
• Short films are not eligible.

Eligibility criteria for independent producers

• Producers must have a proven track record with international co-productions and must be interested in co-producing as part of their business model.

Practical information

• Presentations are live in Amsterdam and will take place on November 12. A recording of the event will be provided after it has taken place.
• A moderator is present to establish a friendly atmosphere in the room and assist the team in introducing themselves, their project, and the kind of collaboration they are looking for in a conversation-style format.
• Each project will have one-on-one meetings with independent producers interested in the project. These are arranged by the Forum staff based on preferences of the project team and independent producers as well as input from the Forum staff.
• Pre-arranged meetings between projects and independent producers take place November 13 to 15. Potential online meetings to happen on Wednesday November 16.
• All projects are featured online through the IDFA Forum online project collection (with a trailer or other sample material, project information, and a still), where they can be securely viewed by independent producers who have a password.
• All projects are also featured in IDFA Forum's printed publication, which is distributed to IDFA Forum passholders.

​General entry regulations for all categories

• It is only possible to apply for one Forum category with the same project. If you are uncertain which category to apply in, please get in touch with the Forum team.
• IDFA Forum is open to independent production companies and producers from all over the world.
• Providing visual materials (trailer or other examples of your project) is highly recommended. Depending on the category, this can be a trailer, mood board, or other visual examples of the project. Incomplete applications without sufficient documentation will not be considered for selection.
• By submitting a project to IDFA Forum 2022, you agree that the project will not be withdrawn after selection.
• Please make sure to complete the IDFA accreditation form as well. The accreditation form offers producers the opportunity to indicate if they would like to attend the IDFA Forum even if their project is not selected. You can find the accreditation form in your MyIDFA account starting July 1.
• If your project was previously selected for one category, you can only apply again for another category relevant to your stage of production. E.g a Producers Connection project can apply to IDFA Forum, and then to Rough Cut Presentation.
• Unfortunately, due to the high number of entries we cannot give feedback to projects that are not selected.
• To make a balanced selection regarding geography, gender and point of view, the selection committee takes into consideration: the artistic quality, uniqueness of the content, stage of development, subject, team, extent of exposure at other international markets, country of production, amount of financing in place, and genre, among other criteria.
• If you have submitted or are planning to submit to IDFA and/or Docs for Sale 2022, the project is not eligible for IDFA Forum.
• There is an entry fee of €25 (excl. VAT). Exemptions can be made for countries on the the IDFA Bertha Fund Country List. Please e-mail the Forum staff to request a fee waiver.
• The applicant will guarantee to have secured clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted film/project and any photographs submitted relating to the film/project for all purposes for which the material will be used by IDFA. The applicant will guarantee to hold IDFA harmless from any claims from copyright holders in relation to use of the submitted film by IDFA for the agreed purposes. IDFA reserves the right to disqualify any film with unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted materials.

​Entry fee

• All Forum entries will be charged an administration fee of €25 (excl. VAT) per entry. Exemptions can be made for countries on IDFA Bertha Fund Country List. Please e-mail the Forum staff to request a fee waiver.
• In case you fill in a company which is based outside the Netherlands in the billing address, you will not be charged additional VAT by IDFA, but you will have to pay your VAT duties in your own country.
• If this country is a member of the European Union, you need to fill in your VAT details in the billing address field. For general VAT rules within the EU, please go to EU Tax and Customs info.
• If you have a company based outside the EU, IDFA will not charge VAT but you will need to check the tax regulations in your own country and act accordingly.
• All Dutch submissions and all submissions done by private persons only (with no company attached) will need to pay VAT and will be charged in the IDFA invoice.

Disclaimers:

• Your entry or accreditation will not be taken into consideration until we receive your payment.
• We apply a no-refund policy to which we can make no exceptions.
• Your payment will be handled by Adyen. This name may appear on your bank statement.

​General selection regulations

• A maximum of two projects can be selected per company. For each selected project, two participants (the team presenting the project) are allowed to attend the Forum, as included in the project fee.
• The project team (producer and director) must be present for the full Forum activities, including for their presentation and meetings. The exact days of participation depend on presentation format and whether the team can attend in person in Amsterdam. The Forum will run from Saturday, November 12 to Wednesday, November 16.
• If your project is selected, you must include contracts or letters that prove any financial investment listed in your entry form. These contracts or letters of commitment from broadcasters and financiers must state the amount of the investment and must be written in English. The letters must be dated and signed.
• After selection of the project, the participation fee must be completed online by October 6, 2022, so within two weeks of the selection results.
• The Forum staff strongly advise first-time project presenters at IDFA to register for the pitch training (for selected projects only).
• After IDFA Forum, all participants are asked to participate in a guest survey and a questionnaire of the financial impact of the Forum to help us evaluate the year’s edition.
• By providing your trailer or other visual material and stills, you give IDFA permission to publish the material on www.idfa.nl and use the material for promotional purposes for IDFA Forum 2021. If, for safety reasons, the material cannot be published, let us know immediately after selection.
• If the selected project is completed in due time, IDFA Forum will be referred to in the credits as 'This film was presented at IDFA Forum 2022” or “This project [or work] was presented at IDFA DocLab Forum 2022.” The Forum logo can be provided by the Forum staff. All participating projects are invited to add their film (upon completion) for free to the Docs for Sale catalogue, IDFA’s sales market and distribution incubator for creative documentaries.
• All participating projects are offered a fee waiver code to submit to the IDFA festival (upon completion). Please contact the Forum staff on forum@idfa.nl.

Selection process

Selecting projects for IDFA Forum is a collaborative process that involves a dedicated team of experienced industry professionals. Assessing each and every project thoroughly, these experts from around the world join in the discussion that leads up to the Forum’s final project selection.

Forum Pitch and Producers Connection

• Projects submitted to the Forum Pitch and Producers Connection categories are subjected to a two-fold selection process. First, projects are sent to teams of two readers that assess the projects solely based on artistic and innovative merits and international potential. All preselected projects are then discussed in a five-member selection committee that examines artistic merit as well as financial and distribution strategy documents.
• Preselection and selection committees are changed every year and consist of new and returning industry professionals and leading experts. The names of the 2022 committee members will be announced later in the year.
• All projects must be submitted through an entry form in MyIDFA. All submissions are reviewed thoroughly and carefully by our selection committee members.

Rough Cut Presentations

• Projects submitted to the Rough Cut Presentations category are subjected to a two-fold selection process. First, projects are sent to teams of two reviewers that assess the projects solely based on artistic and innovative merits and international potential.
• All preselected projects are then discussed in a three-member selection committee that examines artistic merit as well as financial and distribution strategy documents.
• Preselection and selection committees are changed every year and consist of new and returning industry professionals and leading experts. The names of the 2022 committee members will be announced later in the year.
• All projects must be submitted through an entry form in MyIDFA. All submissions are reviewed thoroughly and carefully by our selection committee members. Priority will be given to projects without a world sales agent attached.

DocLab Forum

• Projects submitted to the DocLab Forum are also subjected to a two-fold selection process. First, projects are sent to one team of two readers that asses the projects solely based on artistic and innovative merit and international potential.
• All pre-selected projects are then discussed in a four-member selection committee that examines artistic merit as well as financial and distribution strategy documents.
• Preselection and selection committees are changed every year, as we continuously strive to invite (new) professionals from different backgrounds and fields of expertise. The names of the 2022 committee members will be announced later in the year.

​Selection fees

All selected projects are charged a presentation fee for their participation in the Forum. Here below an overview of what the fee covers.

Presentation fee per project: €450 (€544.50 incl. VAT 21%). This fee includes:

• Presenting your project at the IDFA Forum event, taking place November 12 to 16, 2022.
• Featuring your project in the official Forum selection, as published in our online and print catalogue.
• Curated (in-person and/or online) one-on-one meetings.
• A maximum of two IDFA Forum accreditations for the project team*.
• Access to social and networking events arranged during the Forum in Amsterdam.
• Access to IDFA's Industry Program of talks, sessions and networking events**.
• Online access to company profiles, strand profiles, and contact information of accredited guests.

*Additional for Rough Cut projects:

• Two Docs for Sale Participants passes for the project team.
• The rough cut will be featured on the Docs for Sale webpages.

** Additional for DocLab Forum projects:

• Access to a special interactive program and social hubs organized in collaboration with IDFA DocLab.

Fee for attending Producers Connection as an independent producer without a project: €360 (€435.60 incl. VAT 21%). This fee includes:

• Access to the Producers Connection event.
• Curated (in-person and/or online) one-on-one meetings with the selected Producers Connection projects.
• One IDFA Forum accreditation that also gives Observer access to Forum Pitches and Rough Cut Presentations.
• Access to social and networking events arranged during the Forum in Amsterdam.
• Access to IDFA's Industry Program of talks, sessions and networking events.
• Online access to company profiles, strand profiles, and contact information of accredited guests.

Fee waivers for teams participating from countries on the IDFA Bertha Fund List are available. Please inquire with the Forum team for more details.

Fees for the pitch training, which require separate registration after selection, will be announced.

For questions about pitching and training fees, please e-mail the Forum team.