International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam

The International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA) is the largest documentary film festival in the world. It emerged in 1988 and was held at the Leidseplein area in the centre of Amsterdam. Since 2007 festival spread to a number of new locations. Cinemas and other institutes that have hosted the festival are: de Balie, Pathé City Theater, Filmmuseum Cinerama, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Paradiso, the Ketelhuis, the Hotel Americain, Tuschinski Cinema, Pathé De Munt multiplex, Theatercompagnie and Arti et Amicitiae.

The objective of the IDFA is to promote the creative documentary and to present this to as wide an audience as possible. It started as a small festival, which grew to an eleven day festival screening over 200 documentaries and attracting nearly 120.000 visitors.

Prizes

Five prizes are awarded at IDFA:

• The Joris Ivens Award granted to the best documentary longer than 60 minutes. Consisting of 12,500 euro.
• The silver wolf granted to the best documentary shorter than 60 minutes. Consisting of 10,000 euro.
• First appearance for the best debut film. Consisting of 2,500 euro.
• The Audience Award the audience gets ballots to rate the documentary they have just seen, the highest rated film receives the award consisting of 4,500 euro.
• The Amnesty Award for films dealing with human rights issues, consisting of 5000 euro.

Award winners 1988 - 2005

VPRO Joris Ivens Award

• 2005 My Grandmother's House, Adán Aliaga, Spain, 2004
• 2004 Stand van de maan, Leonard Retel Helmrich, Netherlands, 2004
• 2003 Checkpoint, Yoav Shamir, Israel, 2003
• 2002 Stevie, Steve James, USA, 2002
• 2001 Family, Phie Ambo & Sami Saif, Denmark, 2001
• 2000 De zee die denkt, Gert de Graaff, Netherlands, 2000
• 1999 André Hazes - Zij gelooft in mij, John Appel, The Netherlands, 1999
• 1998 Fotoamator / Photographer, Dariusz Jablonski, Poland, 1998
• 1997 Auf der Kippe, Andrei Schwartz, Germany, 1997
• 1996 Atman, Pirjo Honkasalo, Finland / Germany, 1996
• 1995 Délits Flagrants, Raymond Depardon, France, 1994
• 1994 Solo, de wet van de Favela, Jos de Putter, The Netherlands, 1994
• 1993 Belovy / The Belovs, Victor Kossakovsky, Russia, 1993
• 1992 La Memoria del Agua, Hector Faver, Spain, 1992
• 1991 Dreams and Silence, Omar Al-Quattan, Belgium, 1991
• 1990 Christo in Paris, D. Maysles, USA, 1990
• 1989 Skierskala, Ivars Seleckis, Latvia, 1988
• 1988 Birthplace Unknown, Karin Junger, The Netherlands, 1988 en Ksjsiner, Ruben Gevorksjanz, USSR /Armenia, 1988

Special Jury Award

• 2004 Liberia: an Uncivil War, Jonathan Stack & James Brabazon, USA, 2004
• 2003 The Corporation, Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott, Canada, 2003
• 2002 On Hitler's Highway / Lech Kowalski, France, 2002
• 2001 Elsewhere, Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Austria, 2001
• 2000 Keep the River on Your Right: a Modern Cannibal Tale, Laurie Gwen Shapiro & David Shapiro, USA, 2000
• 1999 A Cry from the Grave, Leslie Woodhead, England, 1999
• 1998 Pavel and Lyalya / a Jerusalem Romance, Victor Kossakovsky, Russia, 1998
• 1997 Little Dieter Needs to Fly, Werner Herzog, Germany, 1997
• 1996 The Typewriter, the Rifle and the Movie Camera, Adam Simon, England, 1996
• 1995 Picasso Would Have Made a Glorious Waiter, Jonathan Schell, USA, 1994
• 1994 Choice and Destiny, Tsipi Reibenbach, Israel, 1993
• 1993 Mit Verlust ist zu Rechnen, Ulrich Seidl, Austria, 1992
• 1992 Black Harvest, Robin Anderson & Bob Connolly, Australia, 1992
• 1991 Djembéfola, Laurent Chevallier, France, 1991
• 1990 The Collector, E. Strömdahl, Sweden, 1989
• 1989 The Power of Solovki, Marina Goldovskaya, USSR, 1988
• 1988 , Marcel Ophüls, France / USA, 1988

Silver Wolf Award

• 2005 Before flying back to the Earth, Arunas Matelis, Litouwen, Duitsland, 2005
• 2004 Georgi and the Butterflies / Andrey Paounov, Bulgaria, 2004
• 2003 Surplus - Terrorized into Being Consumers / Erik Gandini, Sweden, 2003
• 2002 Interesting Times - the Secret of my Success / Jinchuan Duan, China, 2002
• 2001 Haj-Abba's Wives, Mohsen Abdolvahab, Iran, 2001
• 2000 Jung (War) in the Land of the Mujaheddin, Fabrizio Lazzaretti & Alberto Vendemmiati, Afghanistan / Italy, 2000
• 1999 Les Enfants du Borinage - Lettre à Henri Storck, Patric Jean, Belgium, 1999
• 1998 Hephzibah, Curtis Levy, Australia, 1998
• 1997 Gigi, Monica...& Bianca, Yasmina Abdellaoui & Benoït Dervaux, Belgium, 1996
• 1996 Mr. Behrmann - Leben Traum Tod, Andreas Voigt, Germany, 1995
• 1995 6 Open, 21 Closed, Amit Goren, Israel, 1994

Zapper Award

• 1996 Grenzeloze Liefde - Made in Japan, Puck de Leeuw, The Netherlands, 1996
• 1995 My Vote is My Secret Chroniques Sud Africaines 1994, Julie Henderson & Thulani Mokoena & Donne Rundle, France, 1994
• 1994 Death of a Nation - the Timor Conspiracy, David Munro, England, 1994

First Appearance Award

• 2005 The Angelmakers, Astrid Bussink, Netherlands/Scotland, 2005
• 2004 Podul Peste Tisa / Ileana Stanculescu, Roemenia, 2004
• 2003 My Flesh and Blood / Jonathan Karsh, USA, 2003 & the very best day / Pavel Medvedev, Russia, 2002
• 2002 Barbeiros, M. Junkkonen, Finland, 2001
• 2001 Suka, Igor Voloshin, Russia, 2001
• 2000 Hybrid, Monteith McCollum, USA, 2000
• 1999 Zwischen 2 Welten, Bettina Haasen, Germany, 1999
• 1998 Les Amoureux de Dieu / Howling for God, Dan Alexe, Belgium, 1998
• 1997 Anthem, an American Road Story, Shainee Gabel & Kristin Hahn, USA, 1997

DOC U! Award

• 2005 Shadya, Roy Westler, Israël, 2005
• 2004 Nabila, Berthas, Sweden, 2004

Audience Award

• 2005 Sisters in Law, Kim Longinotto / Florence Ayisi, Engeland, 2005
• 2004 The Yes Men, Dan Ollman, Sarah Price & Chris Smith, USA, 2003
• 2003 My Flesh and Blood, Jonathan Karsh, USA, 2003
• 2002 Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore, USA, 2002
• 2001 Offspring, B. Stevens, Canada, 2001
• 2000 Desi, Maria Ramos, Netherlands, 2000
• 1999 Crazy, Heddy Honigmann, The Netherlands, 1999
• 1998 Twee Vaders, Ko van Reenen, The Netherlands, 1998
• 1997 Vision Man, W. Long, Sweden, 1997
• 1996 Blue Eyed, B. Verhaag, Germany, 1996
• 1995 Anne Frank Remembered, Jon Blair, England, 1995
• 1994 Choice and Destiny, Tsipi Reibenbach, Israel, 1993
• 1993 Belovy, V. Kossakovsky, Russia, 1993
• 1992 Black Harvest, Robin Anderson & Bob Connolly, Australia, 1992
• 1991 Djembéfola, L. Chevallier, France, 1991
• 1990 In Memory of the Day Passed By, Sharunas Bartas, USSR, 1989
• 1989 Skierskala, Ivars Seleckis, Latvia, 1988
• 1988 The Last Judgement, Herz Frank, Latvia, 1987

External links

• Official site
• Docs That Inspire Coverage of IDFA 2006

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