Exploring the 2025 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA): A Sneak Peek at the Selected Films
The 2025 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has announced the first titles for its upcoming event. Among the selected films are Gianfranco Rosi’s Below The Clouds and Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’s Cover-Up, which will be part of the Signed strand showcasing the work of innovative filmmakers. Below The Clouds offers a glimpse into the lives of people in Naples, Italy, while Cover-Up delves into Seymour Hersh’s investigative journalism on US Army torture scandals. Other Signed selections include Aboozar Amini’s Kabul, Between Prayers, Kamal Aljafari’s With Hasan In Gaza, and Claire Simon’s Writing Life – Annie Ernaux Through The Eyes Of High School Students.
The festival’s Best of Fests section features films like Deni Oumar Pitsaev’s Imago, Mamadou Khouma Gueye’s The Attachment, David Bingong’s The Travelers, and Brittany Shyne’s Seeds. This year, the youth-focused films will be presented in a cross-section programme called Current Future. Additionally, the Paradocs strand will include Kahlil Joseph’s essay film BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions.
The IDFA Film Fund DocLab Interactive Grant has announced four winners for its 2025 edition, all set to premiere at IDFA DocLab. The selected titles are Jeroen van Loon’s Life Needs Internet 2010-2025, Claudix Vanesix’s Feedback, un musical antifuturista, Sjef van Beers’ Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece #2, and Victorine van Alphen’s The Oracle: Ritual for the Future. The festival has also revealed 16 films for the short documentary competition.
Stay tuned for the full IDFA selection, including feature competition titles, which will be unveiled at a press conference on Tuesday, October 14. Don’t miss the chance to experience these captivating documentaries at the 2025 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam.