The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) Bertha Fund has announced its spring selection for the IBF Classic scheme, with thirteen new documentary projects receiving a total of €219,700 in support. Among the selected projects are four African films.
The selected African projects include Stereoman directed by Sheriya Twana from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bardi by Tala Hadid from Morocco, Born a girl by Kady Traore from Burkina Faso, and Pure Madness by Ines Arsi from Tunisia. These films, along with 9 other projects from around the world, were chosen from 475 eligible applications. According to the IDFA, two projects remain anonymous for the time being.
Stereoman, tells the story of a young recordist’s journey to create a sound installation after losing his equipment. The film receives €7,200 in funding. Meanwhile, Bardi is a documentary that follows an itinerant brotherhood of riders across central Morocco, exploring the world of horses and men. The film receives €25,000.
Born a girl is a personal exploration of the sexual lives of three generations of Traoré women, delving into themes of pleasure, genital mutilation, and family secrets. The film receives €25,000. Lastly, Pure Madness is a documentary that uncovers the buried story of the filmmaker’s great-uncle, who disappeared in 1970s France and was later found in a psychiatric hospital. The film receives €7,500.
According to Selin Murat, Executive Director of the IDFA Bertha Fund, “This selection celebrates thirteen projects that tell necessary stories, each contributing to a chorus of courageous independent thought and creative storytelling. The Fund is committed to supporting filmmakers’ artistic visions and ambitions—not just with financial support, but through the strength of our community network and knowledge sharing.”
Here is a list of films selected for the IDFA Bertha Fund
- STEREOMAN (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – directed by Sheriya Twana
- Bardi (Morocco) – directed by Tala Hadid
- Born a Girl (Burkina Faso) – directed by Kady Traore
- Pure Madness (Tunisia) – directed by Ines Arsi
- Chronicle in the Darkness (Hong Kong, South Korea) – directed by Tze Woon Chan
- The Expansion (Argentina) – directed by Facundo Rodriguez Alonso
- The Amateur Photographer’s Family Portrait (Azerbaijan) – directed by Nurlan Hasanli
- Baby Jackfruit Baby Guava (Vietnam) – directed by Quang Nong
- How Love Moves (India) – directed by Pallavi Paul
- The People Outside (Philippines) – directed by Jewel Maranan
- Todo Lo Sólido (Cuba) – directed by Luis M Gutiérrez Arias, Zaina Bseiso
