The 34 IDFA Award for Best Short Documentary goes to
HANDBUCH | HANDBOOK by Pavel Mozhar

"We give the award to a film we found to be an urgent work that illuminates an ongoing tragedy, one that has received negligible attention. The filmmaker uses the limitations of a pandemic lockdown to create a piece so flawlessly executed that each moment offers the spectator a fresh and unexpected experience. By mirroring the language and methods of the oppressor, this filmmaker hands the power back to the oppressed, making this piece itself a powerful instrument of protest. The author’s impressive displays of ingenuity serve as a brilliant masterclass in filmmaking. The jury unanimously bestows this year’s Award for Best Short Documentary to Pavel Mozhar’s Handbook" say Eliane Esther Bots, Pamela Cohn, and Sara Ishaq.

© 2021 IDFA

Find all the other jury decisions here.

With approximately 3,000 guests in Amsterdam and online, extensive health and safety measures such as reduced venue capacity were in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all present. The 34th edition of IDFA has run as an in-person event, with twelve special online screenings for audiences, and an extensive library of films, talks, and consultancies available to online guests around the world. To date, IDFA has received over 100,000 cinema visits. 
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This year’s BEST OF FESTS selection — including nine german documentaries — celebrates a year when, despite all challenges, festivals came back with a large slate of exceptional documentary films, and cinema triumphantly returned to the big screen. The program section takes a decidedly cinephile turn in 2021, honoring the year’s award winners, critics’ picks, and audience favorites. The 46-film-strong selection includes highlights out of the german documentaries catalogue such as

• ANAMNESIS by Chris Wright, Stefan Kolbe, 111min, WS: Deckert Distribution GmbH [Best of Fests]
• AS I WANT by Samaher Alqadi, 88min, coP: KASKE FILM , WS: FILMOTOR s.r.o. [Best of Fests]
• COURAGE by Aliaksei Paluyan, 90min, WS: RISE AND SHINE WORLD SALES U.G. [Best of Fests]
• LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES by Ahmet Necdet Çupur, 93min, P: JYOTI Film GmBH, WS: Deckert Distribution [Best of Fests]
• F@CK THIS JOB by Vera Krichevskaya, 104min, coP: NDR [Best of Fests]
• MR BACHMANN AND HIS CLASS | HERR BACHMANN UND SEINE KLASSE by Maria Speth, 217min, P: Madonnen Film GmBH [Best of Fests]
• TAMING THE GARDEN by Salomé Jashi, 92min, WS: Syndicado Distribution [Best of Fests]
• WHEN A FARM GOES AFLAME by Jide Tom Akinleminu, 113min, P: FILM FIVE [Best of Fests]
• ZINDER by Aicha Macky, 84min, coP: CORSO Film , WS: Andanafilms [Best of Fests]

 IDFA Masters selects sixteen must-see titles from some of the leading filmmakers of our time. Several entries speak to the growing crossover between filmmakers working in both the fiction and documentary worlds, as seen in the German co-productions Karim Aïnouz's MARINER OF THE MOUNTAINS, charting the director’s first trip to his father’s homeland, TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT by Yael Bartana, and THE FIRST 54 YEARS by Avi Mograbi, among other titles.  

• THE FIRST 54 YEARS — An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation by Avi Mograbi, 110min, coP: ma.ja.de. Filmproduktions GmbH [Masters]
• MARINER OF THE MOUNTAINS by Karim Aïnouz, 99min, WS: The Match Factory [Masters]
• TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT by Yael Bartana, 48min [Masters]

Fourteen singular films are selected for IDFA’s new International Competition: a manifestation of classical documentary at its most sublime, yet still full of surprises. These are films that use a clearly defined frame, but inside it, anything can happen. Artistically confident, well-rounded, and universally relevant, each of these titles express an unparalleled cinematic mastery that is at once both intricate and effortless. The German/Chinese co-production in this section is:

• THE ONE WHO RUNS AWAY IS THE GHOST by Qinyuan Lei, 75min, coP: MOSERFILM [International Competition]

IDFA Competition for Short Documentary  With an influx of young filmmakers, the IDFA Competition for Short Documentary has grown in scope, with twenty selected titles, that showcase a healthy boom for the short film form — including two german documentaries. A mosaic of styles and themes defines this selection, exploring everything a short documentary can be: from animation to personal archive films to classic documentary cinema, with plenty of experimenting in between.

• HANDBOOK | HANDBUCH by Pavel Mozhar, 29min [Short]
• SURVIVE | ÜBERLEBEN by Lara Milena Brose, Kilian Armando Friedrich, 30min P: HFF [Short]

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam — IDFA announced among others The Top 10 program curated by Guest of Honor Hito Steyerl includes VIDEOGRAMS OF A REVOLUTION, the cult masterpiece by Harun Farocki and Andrei Ujica, in a nod to Steyerl's long-held admiration of Farocki, who she has written about, exhibited with, and studied under at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Still elsewhere in the selection, Steyerl presents a mainstay of documentary journalism with Laura Poitras' Oscar-winning Edward Snowden film CITIZENFOUR.

Explore the complete list of documentary films, interactive and immersive artworks, and live cinema events now. Discover the IDFA selection from A to Z.

DOCS FOR SALE Among more than 420 fresh titles, there is a strong contingent of IDFA-selected films, an exciting selection of high-profile films without sales agents, and a vibrant line-up of short documentaries, including more than 30 German productions and co-productions.

DOCS FOR SALE takes place Friday, November 19 to Thursday, November 25.
This year, the IDFA team looks forward to welcoming Docs for Sale guests to an in-person market in Amsterdam where they can physically screen films, attend meetings, and network, COVID-19 regulations permitting. Nevertheless, to accommodate guests who are unable to travel, the Docs for Sale team can also facilitate online meetings, offering the possibility to participate remotely where necessary.
• Introduction to Docs for Sale for first-timers (online): Monday, November 1
• In-person meetings: November 19-24, 11:00–13:00 CET and 14:30–16:30 CET
• Online meetings: November 25-26 9:00–18:00 CET

• ANAMNESIS by Chris Wright, Stefan Kolbe, 111min, P: ma:ja:de, WS: Deckert Distribution, [Best of Fests]
• AS I WANT by Samaher Alqadi, 88min, coP: KASKE FILM , WS: FILMOTOR s.r.o. [Best of Fests]
• CABINETS OF WONDER | WUNDERKAMMERN by Susanne Kim, 78min, P: Neufilm GmbH,
• THE CARS WE DROVE INTO CAPITALISM by Boris Missirkov, Georgi Bogdanov, 93min, WS: NEW DOCS .
• COURAGE by Aliaksei Paluyan, 90min, WS: RISE AND SHINE [Best of Fests]
• DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN by Franz Böhm, 89min, WS: MAGNETFILM
• THE DEVIL'S DRIVERS by Daniel Carsentty, 90min, WS: Films Boutique,
• LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES by Ahmet Necdet Çupur, 93min, P: JYOTI Film GmBH, WS: Deckert Distribution [Best of Fests]
• THE FIRST 54 YEARS — An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation by Avi Mograbi, 110min, coP: ma.ja.de. Filmproduktions GmbH , WS: The Party Film Sales, [Masters]
• FREEPORTS – THE BEAUTY OF TAX FREE STORAGE | SCHÄTZE UNTER VERSCHLUSS – DAS SYSTEM by Martin Gronemeyer, 52min, WS: First Hand Films,
• F@CK THIS JOB by Vera Krichevskaya, 104min, WS: JOURNEYMAN TV P:BBC & NDR [Best of Fests]
• HANDBOOK | HANDBUCH by Pavel Mozhar, 29min [Short]
• INSIDE THE UFFIZI by Corinna Belz, Enrique Sánchez Lansch, P: Zero One, WS: MAGNETFILM,
• LOST WOMEN ART by Susanne Radelhof, 52min, P; Koberstein Film, WS: RISE AND SHINE,
• LUCHADORAS by Paola Calvo, 92min, WS: RISE AND SHINE,
• NUCLEAR FOREVER by Carsten Rau, 94min, WS: MAGNETFILM .
• THE ONE WHO RUNS AWAY IS THE GHOST by Qinyuan Lei, 75min, coP: MOSERFILM [International Competition]
• THE PAGEANT by Eytan Ipeker, 83min, P: weltfilm GmbH, WS: Go2Films,
• THE PAINTER | DER MALER by Oliver Hirschbiegel, 95min, WS: Picture Tree Int.
• PAUL AUSTER by Sabine Lidl, 52min, P: MEDEA, WS: RISE AND SHINE,
• A PORTRAIT ON THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS by Benjamin Rost, 59min, WS: Journeyman Pictures .
• THE RECYCLING MYTH [out of the series WHY PLASTIC?] by Tom Costello, Benedict Wermter. 51min, P: The Why Foundation, WS: DR Sales
• THE RIVER BETWEEN US by Carl Gierstorfer, 90 or 52min, P: Docdays Productions, WS: First Hand Films,
• ROAMERS – FOLLOW YOUR LIKES by Lena Leonhardt, 97min, MAGNETFILM,
• SHORT-TERM SISTER | KURZZEITSCHWESTER by Philipp Lippert, 73min, P: DRIVE beta,
• STAND UP MY BEAUTY by Heidi Specogna, 110mi,  P: ma:ja:de, WS: Deckert Distribution,
• SURVIVE | ÜBERLEBEN by Lara Milena Brose, Kilian Armando Friedrich, 30min P: HFF [Short]
• A SYMPHONY OF NOISE – MATTHEW HERBERT'S REVOLUTION by P: Kloos & Co. Medien, WS: RISE AND SHINE
• TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT by Yael Bartana, 47min, C: Studio Yael Bartana [PARADOCS]
• VILLAGE X by Dominik Bretsch, 2x30min, P: Weltrecorder Story GmbH, WS: RISE AND SHINE .
• VIRAL DREAMS by Sagi Bornstein, 86min, P: Gebrüder Beetz, WS: Dogwoof
• THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE by Andreas Wilcke, 96min P: Lupa Film, WS: Wilckefilms
• WE ARE ALL DETROIT by Michael Loeken, Ulrike Franke, 120 min, WS: NEW DOCS
• WHO WE WERE by Marc Bauder, 114min, WS: Films Boutique, P: Bauderfilm .
• ZINDER by Aicha Macky, 84min, coP: CORSO Film, WS: Andana Films .

IDFA Forum takes place from Saturday, November 20 to Friday, November 26.
62 projects are selected among them German productions and co-productions such as

• CHOMSKY VS CHOMSKY by Sandra Rodriguez [Canada, Germany]
  Chomsky vs Chomsky is a multi-user, playful and collaborative Mixed Reality experience that invites visitors on a timely quest: to debunk AI’s biggest promises, limitations and pitfalls.
• DO YOU LOVE ME (working title) by Lana Daher [Lebanon, Germany]
  Do You Love Me (working title) is Lana Daher’s personal journey through the fractured historical, social, cultural, and political landscapes of Beirut, Lebanon. By utilizing the country’s musical, cinematic, photographic, and journalistic archives, the film collages together the story of Lebanon's chaotic past, troubled present and hopes for its uncertain future.
• MYRIAD. Where we connect. | Full Dome by Lena Thiele, Sebastian Baurmann [Germany]
  What can animal migration tell us about our interconnected world? MYRIAD combines scientific research, cinematic documentary, artistic style, 3D animation and VR technology to bring animal migration stories to life. [ coP: Interactive Media Foundation, Filmtank]
• THE TWO MOUNTAINS WEIGHING DOWN MY CHEST by Viv Li [Germany]
  A witty and personal exploration of a 31-year-old woman’s sexual and cultural identity in the landscape of Chinese youth culture and gender history. [Interview with the director]

For more information please visit the website of the festival and/or download the pressreleases here. IDFA presents new festival selections from September 21 onwards. The final competition titles will be announced on Monday, November 1, during the IDFA 2021 press conference—available to stream online at www.idfa.nl. 
The LineUp of german documentaries at 34 IDFA will be published here at the beginning of November 2021.

See who will be attending 34 IDFA's guest list 2021. 

as single page
• IDFA 2021
• IDFA 2020
• IDFA 2019
• IDFA 2018
• IDFA 2017

• _ IDFA 2022 _ •
The 35th edition of the festival takes place November 9–20, 2022.
Submissions are now open for IDFA 2022!
Early deadline for films May 5 | Deadline for immersive/interactive projects and performances June 28 | Final deadline for films July 14