07/11/2003

November 20 will see the start of the new edition of the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA), which will continue in the Dutch capital until November 30, 2003. IDFA is an important showcase for documentary production and distribution and it features three competitions, one for feature length films, once for short works and once for first works. In the Joris Ivens competition there are unpublished documentaries competing from 17 different countries. The jury will have to select one of the 21 entries as the winner of the €12,000 prize. The competitors include three Dutch films: Dame la mano by Heddy Honigmann, The Last Victory by John Appel and Arna’s children by Danniel Danniel & Juliano Mer Khamis. The prize for the Silver Wolf competition is for €10,000 and will be given to one of the 20 short films entered from 16 different countries, while the jury for the Fipresci prize will choose the best first work from the entries in the First Appearance section, awarding a prize of €2,500. And the audience will also have the chance to vote for the Best Documentary to be given the Public Prize, and an Amnesty International jury will award a prize worth €5,000.

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The festival will also be organising workshops aimed at stimulating production and creativity, and there will be a study grant offered by the Jan Vrijman Fund.

(Translated from French)