In January 2012, DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Film Festival brings fresh and topical documentary films from all over the world to the screens of Helsinki's cinemas.The selection of documentary films dealing with the present situation and the cultural issues of the Arab World sinks its teeth into the events of the Arab Spring and the changes in the Islamic culture. For example, Tahrir - Liberation Square (2011) follows the demonstrators for two weeks at the occupied Tahrir Square showing the...
Best Documentary: Position Among the Stars, directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich (Netherlands)“Its distinguished cinematic language, the visualization and the way the life of a family is presented in this film takes us to their world and lets us experience the complexities of the society they lived in – with a sense of humor that turns their tragedy into happy moments.”-ADFF PRESSphoto by Vanessa McMahon
POSITION AMONG THE STARS (Stand van de Sterren) by Dutch/Indonesian filmmaker Leonard Retel Helmrich was the big winner at the awards ceremony of IDFA: International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The film won both the VPRO IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary (the Festival’s top honor and winner of a cash prize of 12,500 euros) and the Dioraphte IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary. The director won the same top prize at the 2004 IDFA for the second film in his trilo...
Ally Derks, the long-time director of IDFA: the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, gave the opening address on Wednesday evening for filmmakers, professionals and attending guests assembled for the official opening of the 23rd edition of the much-respected documentary festival. She used her remarks to offer a focus on the challenges facing both documentary filmmakers and supporters of the arts in these austere economic times. What follows are excerpts from her speech: "Dear frien...
Over 2000 national and international guests are descending on the historic city of Amsterdam as the 23rd edition of IDFA: the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam begins its 11-day marathon of film premieres, professional activities and special events. Showcasing more than 300 films and with evening “talk shows” and a full series of conferences and market social networking, this year’s event is a must for makers and lovers of non-fiction film. The unique challenges of producing...
Films Transit International, the premiere distributor of international documentaries with offices in Montreal and New York, is having a record year at this year's IDFA, the world's largest and most prestigious documentary film festival. The company, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, has an impressive 11 films represented in both the Festival and the parallel Docs For Sale market, including 5 films that are competing in the main Features Competition. The high number of fi...
Over 2000 national and international guests are descending on the historic city of Amsterdam as the 23rd edition of IDFA: the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam begins its 11-day marathon of film premieres, professional activities and special events. Showcasing more than 300 films and with evening “talk shows” and a full series of conferences and market social networking, this year’s event is a must for makers and lovers of non-fiction film. The unique challenges of ...
Ally Derks, the long-time director of IDFA: the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, gave the opening address on Wednesday evening for filmmakers, professionals and attending guests assembled for the official opening of the 23rd edition of the much-respected documentary festival. She used her remarks to offer a focus on the challenges facing both documentary filmmakers and supporters of the arts in these austere economic times. What follows are excerpts from her speech: ...
All eyes are turning to Amsterdam starting today when the the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the largest and most prestigious non-fiction media event in the world, kicks off its 23rd edition. The Festival, which will show nearly 250 films over 11 days, opens with the Dutch documentary POSITION AMONG THE STARS by veteran director Leonard Retel Helmrich. The film, which also competes in the IDFA Competition for Feature Length Documentary, will have its premi...
At a typically informal gathering at the Festival's resident club on Wednesday evening, the jurors in various categories in the IDFA Awards competitions announced the three-film nominees before a packed house of anxious filmmakers and guests. The Awards themselves will be annnounced on Friday afternoon at the official awards ceremony held at the art nouveau palace, the Tuschinksi. Film screenings of the winners and other titles continues through Sunday. IDFA Competition for Feature-Length Docume...
At a typically informal gathering at the Festival's resident club on Wednesday evening, the jurors in various categories in the IDFA Awards competitions announced the three-film nominees before a packed house of anxious filmmakers and guests. The Awards themselves will be annnounced on Friday afternoon at the official awards ceremony held at the art nouveau palace, the Tuschinksi. Film screenings of the winners and other titles continues through Sunday.
IDFA Competition for Fe...
Retrospective Leonard Retel Helmrich’s films at Visions du Réel – Nyon 2007The director’s ‘Single Shot Cinema’ method in focus The international documentary film festival Visions du Réel – Nyon will screen a retrospective of the works of Dutch filmmaker Leonard Retel Helmrich at the festival’s 2007 edition which runs from April 20 – 26.Leonard Retel Helmrich has achieved worldwide success with his feature documentaries THE EYE OF THE DAY and SHAPE OF THE MOON both part of a tri...
Thursday, November 23----The International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA), the largest showcase and market for non-fiction films, kicked off in high style this evening, with the world premiere of the film 4 ELEMENTS, the feature directorial debut of Dutch director Jiska Rickels.
Throngs crowded the City Cinemas for two almost parallel screenings of the film (one beginning at 8:00pm, the other beginning at 8:30pm), followed by the Festival's Opening Night bash....one of the major events o...
The 7th Jakarta International Film Festival will open December 9 and will conclude 9 days later on the 18th! Words from Orlow Seunke, JiFFest Director JiFFest has always included documentary films, but this year, for the first time, we’ve created a special section for documentaries. These days, the documentary form is enjoying an exciting revival. Captivating and entertaining, they no longer resemble that dry ‘serious’ genre we love to hate. We’ve selected the best documentaries of recen...
