IDFA Head of Industry on Hunger for Collaboration and Political Projects: ‘To Reflect on the World as a Filmmaker Takes Time’

variety.com:

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor Last year’s industry program at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) placed great emphasis on the livelihood of documentarians as the industry sees budgets shrink and European funding bodies like public broadcasters invest less.

Have things changed in the past year as the festival prepares for another edition? Unfortunately not, says Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen, the head of the industry office at IDFA. “Looking at what is happening in the documentary landscape in Europe and beyond, I don’t think things have become much better,” she tells Variety. “There is also the fact that there are countries with a political climate that is making it more difficult for documentarians to make the films they want to make.

It’s very difficult for filmmakers to make money to continue in the industry. Livelihood hasn’t improved at the same time as the work of these filmmakers is becoming more and more important.” Nested within the IDFA dates of Nov.

14-24, the festival’s co-production and co-financing market, the Forum, takes place between Nov. 17-20. The Forum encompasses the Forum Pitch, Rough Cut Presentations, Producer Connection and IDFA DocLab Forum strands.