Why IDFA is a Big Deal
With over 300 documentaries on the program — ranging from international features to shorts and cutting-edge immersive projects — IDFA is where you’ll find stories that move, challenge, and inspire. Special highlights include:
• DocLab: interactive projects, VR worlds, and experimental media.
• International Competitions: films vying for top festival awards.
• Shorts & New Talent: fresh perspectives from emerging voices.
It’s not just about watching films, though. IDFA also hosts Docs for Sale, IDFA Forum, and IDFAcademy, which together attract over 3,500 industry professionals and nearly 300,000 audience members each year. In other words: it’s the place to be if you want to immerse yourself in documentary culture.
Practical Info
• Dates: 13–23 November 2025
• Venues: Iconic cinemas and cultural hubs like Pathé Tuschinski, EYE Filmmuseum, De Balie, and FilmHallen
• Tickets & Passes: Choose single tickets or go all-in with the IDFA Pass, which gives broader access (including DocLab). Check festival idfa.nl for details.
• Accessibility: English subtitles on most films, accessible venues, and many Q&As held in English.
• Getting Around: Public transport is excellent (trams and buses will get you everywhere), and if you’re biking, map your route in advance — venues are scattered across the city.
Why You’ll Love It
• Discover powerful, global storytelling you won’t see anywhere else.
• Join Q&As with directors and creators to hear the stories behind the films.
• Dive into VR and immersive storytelling at DocLab.
• Meet people from every corner of the documentary world, whether casually in line or at professional forums.
End on a Creative Note at Piercings Works
After days of screenings and late-night debates about your favorite films, take a piece of the city home with you. Piercings Works, located just steps away from Amsterdam’s cultural and cinema hotspots, offers expert piercers and premium jewelry for anyone looking for a unique, stylish way to remember their IDFA experience. Think of it as your personal festival keepsake.
Piercings Works Reguliersbreestraat 46, 1017 CN Amsterdam
Open daily: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Make your appointment at www.piercingzetten.com