Today is the first day of the 36th edition of IDFA, the world's largest documentary film festival - a twelve-day event in Amsterdam featuring more than 250 titles in 22 sections. 

Earlier this week, I sat with Orwa Nyrabia, the Artistic Director of the festival, to speak with him about the role, responsibility and relevancy of film festivals and how IDFA is meeting the current moment. 

We also discuss some of the new sections in the program, including SPECIAL SCREENINGS,  SIGNED, and the highly anticipated introduction of CORRESPONDING CINEMAS, a unique program featuring a series of films from filmmakers who have inspired one another, including Sky Hopinka, Basam al-Sharif, Jumana Manna, Ibrahim Shaddad, and Abderahmane Sissako.  We end the conversation with an amusing story of how Wang Bing came to be this year’s Guest of Honor. 

[Image from the short film, Deep Sleep by Basma Al Sharif, which is screening in the Corresponding CInemas section on Saturday 11 November]

Time codes and Films Referenced

• 00:03:30 How is IDFA meeting the current moment
• 00:08:22 Films in the Program on Orwa's mind
• Occupied City (2023) by Steve McQueen
• Socialist Realism (2023) by Raul Ruiz
• Arna's Children (2003)
• 00:12:00  SPECIAL SCREENINGS
• 00:13:34  SIGNED
• 00:16:28 16 WORLDS ON 16, including works by Agnes Varda, Sarah Maldoror, Chantal Akerman, Maya Deren, Robert Frank, and The First Year (1972) by Patricio Guzman and First Case. Second Case (1979), by Abbass Kiaristami 
• 00:21:30 FABRICATIONS, including notable works from Shirley Clarke, Rosine Mbakam, Safi Faye, and David Schickele
• 00:26:26 CORRESPONDING CINEMAS, including works of Sky Hopinka, Basma al-Sharif, Jumanna Manna, Ibrahim Shaddad Abderahmane Sissako 
• 00:40:00 - 00:46:00 WANG BING, Guest of Honor and his curated TOP 10 films

For show notes, visit docsinorbit.com and be sure to follow us on social media @docsinorbit