IDFA appoints new chair and member of Supervisory Board
Sandra den Hamer has been appointed Chair of IDFA's Supervisory Board, succeeding Marry de Gaay Fortman, who is stepping down after eight years. Documentary filmmaker, journalist, and writer Clarice Gargard has also joined the Supervisory Board as a new member.
With the appointments of Den Hamer and Gargard, the Supervisory Board gains extensive expertise spanning film, culture, media, and social issues. Together, they will help guide IDFA as it continues to grow as an international institute dedicated to creative documentary.
Den Hamer brings decades of leadership experience in the Dutch and international film and cultural sectors. As former director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Eye Filmmuseum, and the Netherlands Film Fund, she combines broad executive experience with an in-depth understanding of the international film landscape. Gargard is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, writer, and creative director of Lilith Agency. Her work explores themes including power, resistance, progress, and injustice, with a particular focus on intersectional feminism and the transformative potential of storytelling.
IDFA Artistic Director Isabel Arrate Fernandez welcomes the appointments: "Documentary filmmakers are facing increasing pressure, while the industry itself is going through a period of instability. In times like these, it is essential to have voices on the Supervisory Board with a clear, forward-looking vision for the future of the film sector. Sandra and Clarice bring exactly that."
Reflecting on her appointment, Sandra den Hamer said: "It is an honour to succeed Marry de Gaay Fortman as Chair of the Supervisory Board. IDFA remains an essential institution—urgent, thought-provoking, and of the highest quality—and one that Amsterdam and the Netherlands can be proud of. I look forward to contributing to its future in the years ahead."
After eight years as Chair, Marry de Gaay Fortman is stepping down from the Supervisory Board. During her tenure, IDFA continued to evolve as an international documentary institute, transitioned to a Supervisory Board governance model, and successfully established its year-round home at Het Documentaire Paviljoen.
Managing Director Cees van 't Hullenaar said: "Marry has played a pivotal role in the professional development of IDFA. She was instrumental in the transition to our Supervisory Board model and in guiding the organisation's move to Het Documentaire Paviljoen. She led these important changes with exceptional expertise, dedication, and conviction."
IDFA warmly thanks Marry de Gaay Fortman for her many years of commitment and welcomes Sandra den Hamer and Clarice Gargard to the Supervisory Board.