Special programmes to also take place in a number of satellite locations spread across Amsterdam

This year’s IDFA (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) (Nov 19-30), will for the first time be focused around the Amstel river.

The main festival locations Pathé Tuschinski, Pathé de Munt, EYE and De Brakke Grond remain, but the festival buzz will move from Rembrandtplein square to Café de Jaren and Café Swych on Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Doelenstraat.

As the Compagnietheater and Arti et Amicitiae will also continue as regular festival locations, most of IDFA will now place along the Amstel river.

In addition, special programmes will take place in a number of satellite locations spread across Amsterdam, including (for the first time) De Balie on Leidseplein square.

Main locations

As in previous years, IDFA will have four main locations where its programme is screened throughout the festival period.

Pathé Tuschinski and Pathé de Munt have been main IDFA cinemas since 2007; these were joined last year by EYE. Flemish Arts Centre De Brakke Grond on de Nes has also been a major location for several years now, hosting both screenings and exhibitions.

The international co-finance market IDFA Forum (Nov 24-26), will again take place in the Compagnietheater on Kloveniersburgwal. The venue will also host the international training program IDFAcademy (Nov 20-23).

Documentary market Docs for Sale (Nov 21-28) will take place as in previous years in the Arti et Amicitiae venue on Rokin.

For the first time, this year the festival centre - where documentary lovers and makers can meet outside the cinema - will be located in Café de Jaren and Café Swych on Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Doelenstraat.

This marks IDFA’s departure from Rembrandtplein square, where the festival cooperated with a number of different catering establishments in recent years.

From this year, the main festival locations, with the exception of EYE, will be concentrated around the Amstel river and Rokin street, making the geographical focus of the festival clearer for both visitors and foreign guests.

For the first time, the NH Doelen hotel will also be one of the festival hotels where IDFA accommodates its guests during the festival.

IDFA across the city

While the main festival locations are concentrated more around the Amstel, IDFA will also spreads its wings further across the city in the form of cooperations with various other venues.

As in recent years, IDFA programming will be seen in the venues Melkweg, Ketelhuis, Kleine Komedie, Toomler, DeLaMar Theater, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Bijlmer Parktheater and Podium Mozaïek.

For the first time, a joint programme will also be presented with De Balie on Leidseplein square - for many years the regular festival hang-out.

IDFA across the country

Several cinemas outside of Amsterdam are also screening part of the festival program during IDFA.

Both Lux in Nijmegen and the Groninger Forum will be presenting selections from the festival programme.

During the two weekends after IDFA, Podium Vlieland will also program a selection of award winners and other festival hits from IDFA 2014.

The Best of IDFA on Tour, a day-long programme of award winners at IDFA 2014, will start touring shortly after the festival, visiting 67 cinemas throughout the Netherlands until the spring of 2015.

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