YOUTH DOC TRAINING @ IDFA 2025
17. – 21. November 2025 | Amsterdam
The D4K-Alliance is launching its first European Training focusing on children’s documentaries in cooperation with the IDFA-International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (NL) organised by DOXS RUHR (DE) and the Forum für Kultur und Bildung Leipzig (DE). The initiative is open to directors and producers from Germany, Flanders and Poland who are passionate about making and promoting documentaries for children. Furthermore three local filmmakers from the Netherlands will join the program.
The program will be taking place in Amsterdam from November 17th – 21st 2025. It consists of screenings, workshops and personal tutoring at the Goethe-Institute Amsterdam. Additionally, the program packages offers free entry to selected IDFA youth screenings and access to industry events.
The initiative focuses on networking, inspiration and project development with the aim to foster international co-productions, encourage mutual exchange within the industry, thereby and to strengthening the children’s documentary genre as a whole.
Information for Participants
Arrival: Monday, 17th Nov 2025 – Departure: Friday, 21st Nov 2025
Earlier arrival / later departure possible at own expense
Workshop Program: Tuesday through Thursday
Expenses Covered
Travel Costs by Train
Stay at Single Room including Breakfast and Lunch Snack
Local Public Transport Ticket
Out of Pocket Expenses: 50 €
Participants consent to writing a short report after participation
How To Apply
Application is open from 3.07. – 15.08.2025 midnight, CEST/UTC+2.
The program can facilitate up to twelve attendees from Flanders, Germany and Poland. Furthermore, three local producers and directors from the Netherlands will join. We especially encourage applicants who are currently working on a documentary project for children (6 to 12 years) to apply. Filmmakers without a project who are generally interested or have a rough idea are very welcome to apply, too.
We kindly ask you for a short video (up to 3 minutes, in English) in which you introduce yourself and tell us why you would like to participate as well as share some details about your current project, if applicable.
Please send the video and your application via the following platform: https://fkubform.typeform.com/D4K-training
Contact
The application process varies according to country of origin. In case of further questions, you may get in touch with the following D4K-representatives:
Germany
Anne Rehfeldt | DAE:
Gudrun Sommer | DOXS RUHR:
Flanders / The Netherlands
Meike Statema | IDFA:
Signe Zeilich-Jensen:
Poland
Karolina Śmigiel | The Wajda Film Center/LET’S DOC:
Viola Gabrielli | Young Horizons: