IDFA Bertha Fund: Production & Post-Production

The grant can be spent on all forms of production and post-production, from filming and editing to making the films suitable for screening in cinemas, on television, and at international festivals. Applications must be submitted by the director or producer.

Documentary films supported by the IBF express the artistic vision of filmmakers, using strong visual treatments to tell compelling stories that can reach a global audience. They take risks on unknown and seasoned filmmakers, supporting their breakthrough from marginalized positions to the most respected platforms. Many IBF-supported films have gone on to win awards across cinema and television.

In addition to the funding schemes, the IBF puts IDFA’s power and reach at the service of its filmmakers. They offer a range of activities to empower filmmakers throughout the creative and production processes, including tailored consultancies, talent development opportunities, and access to IDFA’s markets.

Funding Information

• Maximum contribution of €25,000 per project.

General Eligibility Criteria

• Projects from Bahrain, Brunei, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and Western Sahara are only accepted when they address political or human rights-related topics within the country itself.
• A project can be submitted only once for each category. There is one exception: if a project was rejected within the Production and Post-production category when it was in production stage, it can be re-submitted only when all filming is completed, the project is in post-production stage ánd there is a rough cut available to submit. A project can be submitted for Project Development and, at a later stage, for Production or Post-production, regardless of whether the initial Project Development submission was successful.
• Entry forms must be filled out in English, with the exception of submissions from French-speaking African countries and Haiti, which have the option to fill out the entry form in French.
• All applicants have the option to submit a short video by the director introducing themselves and explaining their motivation for the project (instead of providing this in written form). If you prefer to make use of this option, the link to the short video can be pasted in the entry form.
• The project must be in line with IDFA’s mission statement. Documentary series or films that are part of a study curriculum are not eligible.

Specific Eligibility Criteria for IBF Classic – Production & Post-production

• Applications must be submitted by the director and/or producer of a project.
• The main producer attached to the project must be based in a country on the IBF Classic Country List.
• In case a co-producer from Europe, North America, or Australia is attached to the project, this producer cannot be the main producer of the project. The application must be filed by the main producer from a country on the IBF Classic Country List. In case the project is pre-selected, the applicant should provide a deal memo or co-production agreement which needs to contain detailed provisions on the following aspects: the participation of each co-producer in the financing of the project; joint ownership of all the rights; sharing of the revenues between the co-producers.
• Requirements for submitted audiovisual material:
  • If your project is in the production stage, you must submit a trailer, demo, edited sequence, or other audiovisual material from the project with a minimum length of 3 minutes and a maximum length of 20 minutes.
  • If your project is in the post-production stage, you must submit an edited sequence or a selection of the rough cut of approximately 20 minutes. Projects that have finished shooting will be considered post-production applications.
  • If your material is longer than 20 minutes, please indicate which part they need to watch or make a selection of 20 minutes which you think is most representative and/or complementary to the end result.
  • The material must be in English or have English subtitles.

For more information, visit IDFA Bertha Fund.