FAQ Friends of IDFA

Here you will find answers to questions about becoming a Friend of IDFA.

1. What dates are important to remember?

IDFA takes place from 13 until 23 November 2025.
Tuesday 2 September 12:00: start ticket sales Best of IDFA for (Special) Friends.
Wednesday 15 October 12:00: start ticket sales IDFA Specials for (Special) Friends.
Friday 24 October : Program Magazine IDFA 2025 delivered at home.
Monday 27 October 12:00 : start general ticket sales for (Special) Friends.

2. Who are Friends of IDFA?

Friends of IDFA are dear to the festival, and support IDFA with a monthly contribution or a one-time donation. To thank our Friends, they are given priority in ticket sales for individual screenings, as well as an invitation to a specially organised Friends screening during the festival.

3. What are the Friends benefits?

Friends get: priority on the presale of a number of IDFA Specials during the festival and the regular ticket sales of IDFA 2024, the program magazine will be delivered to your home, Friends discount on the IDFA Specials in the spring and autumn and free access to one of the Friends performances during IDFA 2024 In addition, Friends receive a Friends newsletter 6 times a year with film tips from IDFA's online collection and there are various competitions.

4. Is there a pre-sale before the start of ticket sales at the end of October?

Yes. The special programs have an exclusive pre-sale for Friends and Special Friends.

Best of IDFA programs: Tuesday 2 September 12:00 until Wednesday 3 September 12:00

A selection of the best films from the competition, compiled into a full-day programme. All films in the Best of IDFA Award winners program have been awarded an IDFA Award by an international jury of professionals from the documentary, film and art world. We will announce the titles in this program after the award ceremony.

Every year IDFA's visitors judge documentaries that have a chance to win the NPO IDFA Audience Award. We screen some of the highest rated films in a full-day Best of IDFA Audience Favorites programme. The program will be announced in the second half of the festival.

IDFA specials: Wednesday 15 October 12:00 to Thursday 16 October 12:00

The special programs that you can attend during the festival are also first offered to the Friends and Big Friends in a special presale. Think of full-day programs such as the Volkskrantdag, VPRO Preview and Review, but also the MasterTalk with the Guest of Honor and various other partner performances.

5. What does the Friends screening involve?

During the festival there is a special performance to thank Friends in the great hall of Tuschinski. Here we are showing one of our top documentaries that we would like to share with our Friends. As a Friend you receive a free ticket for one of these performances and a Friend discount on an extra ticket. With a donation from € 9 per month you will even receive two free tickets for one of the Friends performances. On top of that you get two free tickets for the Filmmaker Talk with IDFA's main guest.

6. How do I get a ticket for the Friends screening?

Once ticket sales have started, you can 'buy' a ticket for €0 on our website. With a monthly donation above €9, you will receive an extra ticket for the Friends performance.

7. How do I become a Friend of IDFA?

You can become a Friend of IDFA by completing the make a one-time donation. By completing the form you agree to the monthly collection of your Friends contribution. After registration you will receive a confirmation email. If you prefer not to set up a monthly direct debit, you can also make a one-time donation and enjoy the benefits of the Friends of IDFA for a year.

8. I prefer not to make a monthly donation. Can I make a one-time contribution instead?

That is certainly possible. You can do this via an iDeal payment via the website via the One-time Donation Friend form. You are then a Friend of IDFA for 12 months. Or you can transfer a contribution yourself to the Friends account NL34RABO0309614325 in the name of Stichting IDFA. Please include your name in the description.

9. I can’t log in as a Friend and order tickets.

To buy tickets on our website, you must first log into MyIDFA via the 'log in' button at the top right of your screen. Be sure to log in with the same email address you used to register as a Friend. Have you forgotten you MyIDFA password? Then click on 'Forgot Password'. You will receive an email with which you can create a new password, and log in again on the website. When you are correctly logged in, you will see 'MyIDFA' in the upper right corner.

10. Should I inform you when I have a new (email) address?

Yes, because it is linked to your MyIDFA account! Please let us know by email, and we will make sure that you can order tickets with your new email address as a Friend, and that the program magazine is delivered to the correct address.

11. Should I inform you if I have created a new MyIDFA account?

Your donation is linked to the email address you used to register as a Friend. This email address is also linked to your MyIDFA account, with which you log in to order tickets. Please let us know by email when you create a new MyIDFA account, so that you can use your new account for priority bookings and to order a free ticket for the Friends screening.

12. My bank account changed. How do I submit this change?

Please inform us of the change by email via vriend@idfa.nl and we will adjust the recurring donation.

13. Do I also get a Friends Pass?

No, IDFA Friends do not receive a pass. Your Friend benefits are linked to your MyIDFA account.

14. Do I have to renew my Friends membership every year?

If you have authorized a direct debit transaction, you do not have to renew your membership every year. You are a Friend until you stop the authorization. If you have made a one-time donation, you must renew your membership. One-time donations allow you to enjoy the Friends benefits for 1 year.

15. What do I need to order festival tickets once they're available?

Starting with the exclusive Friends pre-sale, you can order tickets on our website for individual film screenings. Be sure to log in to your MyIDFA account with the same email you used to become a Friend.

16. Do Friends get a discount?

Friends do not receive a discount on regular tickets, but they get priority booking for individual documentary screenings during the festival. Next to that, Friends receive a discount on an extra ticket for the Friends screening in the main theater of Tuschinski.

17. Can tickets be reserved?

Unfortunately tickets can’t be reserved. You can only buy tickets.

18. When will the festival selection be announced?

The selection will be made available in parts via newsletters that you will receive prior to the festival. The program can be viewed on the website from October 27th and the program magazine will be delivered to Friends by post no later than Friday October 24th.

19. How many Friends does IDFA have?

IDFA currently has about 4.000 Friends.

20. What is the time period of the Friends membership?

We ask you to become a Friend for at least 12 months. You can cancel the direct debit authorization any month after that.

21. How can I cancel the Friends membership?

This can be done by phone (020 627 33 29) or by email.

22. Does IDFA have ANBI status?

IDFA has the ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status as a cultural institution. If you make a donation to an institution with the ANBI status, it is deductible from the taxable income. To calculate your personal benefit use this calculation module.

23. What is the tax advantage of my donation?

With a periodic agreement you can receive up to half of your donation back. For this it is necessary to include the RSIN number of IDFA (008551777) in your income tax return. In addition, you also provide your transaction number that is stated on the donation agreement. If you can no longer find it, please contact us at friend@idfa.nl.

24. What are IDFA's bank details?

All donations can be transferred to:

Name: Stichting IDFA
Bank name: RABOBANK IBAN: NL 34 RABO 0309 6143 25
RSIN: 008551777
BIC / SWIFT: RABONL2U
Bank's physical address: Croeselaan 18, 3521 CB Utrecht
Registration chamber of commerce: 411 93868
IDFA VATnr: NL826332572B01

25. Does IDFA's Supervisory Board get paid?

The Supervisory Board of IDFA receives no compensation. IDFA has its own payroll for its management and permanent staff. IDFA has 2 top employees (Executive Director and Artistic Director). The salaries are tested annually against the WNT (Wet Normering Topinkomen – ‘Standards for Renumeration Act’).

Do you have any other questions? Call 020-6273329 or send an email to friend@idfa.nl.