IDFA signs the 5050x2020 pledge

Nine weeks before the opening of its 31st edition, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, IDFA is proud to announce it has signed the 5050x2020 Pledge for Gender Parity and Inclusion in Film Festivals.

Launched at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, and previously signed by the festivals of Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Locarno, Annecy, and Sarajevo, the 5050x2020 initiative requests that film festivals around the world promise greater gender equality by undertaking a strict series of measures on transparency and accountability.

In signing the Pledge, IDFA commits to the 5050x2020 objectives and invites all festivals to join the collective effort.

According to IDFA’s statement on its sign of the Pledge: “Together, we can work to end injustice in the film industry, promote practices of inclusion, and enable a new generation of under-represented filmmakers.

“At IDFA, we believe that meeting quotas in the film program is not enough. As the world’s largest documentary film festival, IDFA is in a position to do more. We seek to create long term change, which requires examining and transforming an industry built on inequality.

“In addition to the IDFA film program, it is through the IDFA Bertha Fund, IDFAcademy, IDFA Forum, Docs for Sale, Doc School, and all the other IDFA activities that we seek a solid policy of inclusion. With these efforts, IDFA hopes to enable and empower a new generation that is more inclusive, and provide more opportunities to build a new and different reality.

“We strongly believe that equality begins with gender, but doesn’t end there. To act inclusively is to ensure a fair representation of filmmakers from the global south, from marginalized communities, and from all under-represented communities and regions in the four corners of the world. All these groups should have the opportunity to make good films, take ownership of their narrative, and share their work with the world, equally.

“Finally, we would like to extend our appreciation to the 5050x2020 movement, for fighting on behalf of under-represented filmmakers, and challenging IDFA and our colleagues around the world to be accountable for our actions.”