IDFA 2023 opens with A Picture to Remember in Amsterdam’s Royal Theater Carré
The 36th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) officially opened in Royal Theater Carré on November 8 with the world premiere of A Picture to Remember by Olga Chernykh.
During the Opening Night ceremony, IDFA’s Artistic Director Orwa Nyrabia took the stage to officially welcome all filmmakers, documentary professionals, and guests to Amsterdam:
“With more than 3000 professionals arriving to Amsterdam and an edition that is the most international to date, we are looking forward to sharing films that will live long, travel the world from here, and filmmakers whose careers will shape the future of this field. It is at such terrible times that a film festival proves its worth, accepting that we are many and we are not in agreement, but we can still think together about this world that we share.”
During the opening evening, IDFA’s Artistic Director Orwa Nyrabia was taken by surprise by activists who took the stage. Orwa Nyrabia gave them the space for a short period of time, and proceeded to continue the evening’s activities. IDFA would like to expressly state that it distances itself from the slogan stated on the activists’ canvas, and reiterate that IDFA is a platform for global freedom, empathy, and compassion that fundamentally stands for the protection of human rights across the globe. During the IDFA 2023 press conference, Orwa Nyrabia reflected also on the role of documentary film in response to urgent and devastating global affairs. Read here the full statement from IDFA and Artistic Director about the events of the Opening Night.
