International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam has selected its up-to-date artistic director: Isabel Arrate Fernandez, a prominent figure in non
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam has selected its up-to-date artistic director: Isabel Arrate Fernandez, a prominent figure in nonfiction filmmaking with deep ties to IDFA.
Arrate Fernandez succeeds Orwa Nyrabia, who steps down July 1 after serving as IDFA’s artistic director for the last seven years. IDFA is the largest documentary festival in the world, annually attracting the industry’s top talent for the mid-November cinematic event. It’s also an imperative destination for filmmakers in the hunt for Academy Awards.
“With more than two decades of experience as Executive Director of the IDFA Bertha Fund and head of IDFA’s filmmaker support department, Isabel Arrate Fernandez has a keen eye for talent, an impressive international network, and is driven by a deeply inclusive mindset,” notes a release announcing her appointment. “Under her leadership, the Fund has become one of the leading platforms for documentary filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Oceania. Her commitment to independent filmmakers and other perspectives has had a lasting impact on the documentary landscape.”
Matthew Carey
Marry de Gaay Fortman, chairman of IDFA’s supervisory board, said in a statement, “After several rounds of interviews with a large number of candidates, Isabel emerged as the best candidate. Her vision, her way of thinking and her ideas convinced both the Supervisory Board and the Advisory and Selection Committees that she is the right candidate for this position. We are confident that Isabel will take IDFA one step further, especially in the artistic field, both nationally and internationally.”
Arrate Fernandez obtained her master’s degree in film studies from the University of Amsterdam. During her tenure as manager of the IDFA Bertha Fund (formerly known as the Jan Vrijman Fund), the fund has supported 500 documentary projects and film organizations around the world.
“I am honored and excited to take on this role,” Arrate Fernandez said of her appointment as artistic director. “Documentary film and art has always touched me deeply – especially for its power of imagination and its capacity for reflection and wonder. The creative ability and commitment of filmmakers to bring to life compelling stories that offer a deeper understanding of the world is an enduring inspiration. IDFA is the place where it all comes together: a space for both artistic freedom and social engagement. And now more than ever, documentary is a powerful tool to open new perspectives, build bridges and stimulate critical thinking. I look forward to working with the team to continue IDFA’s rich tradition and shape its next step.”
Arrate Fernandez becomes only the third artistic director in the nearly four-decade history of IDFA. Before Nyrabia, it was led from 1988 to 2017 by Ally Derks, founder of the festival.
Orwa Nyrabia
Roger Cremers
Nyrabia led the festival through two significant challenges – the Covid pandemic and, more recently, protests over Israel’s invasion of Gaza following the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel. “His influence in the artistic field lifted IDFA and has driven the festival as well as the organization to places we never knew existed,” de Gaay Fortman said after Nyrabia announced his decision to resign. “[W]hile his departure saddens us on the one hand, we also want to give him the opportunity to pursue his ambition and discover new paths.”
The 38th edition of IDFA will be run from November 12-23 in the Dutch capital.
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