Werner Herzog, one of the most influential documentary directors, once said: "Documentary filmmaking shows the world as it is, in all its wonder and rawness. "Documentary filmmakers carry a mirror in their cameras, screening history and showing the world as it is, whether pleasant or not. This art of framing the complicated and intricate reality is why red carpets are rolled out for documentary filmmakers each year. So, if you are a documentary filmmaker willing to show the reflection of reality and believe the world should see what you reflect, this article introduces the three most important documentary film festivals in the world and the submission requirements for each.

The Way to the Festivals: 

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

When you see the names of Martin Scorsese and Michael Moore among the attendees of a nonfiction film festival, it means we are encountering one of the most professional platforms for the documentary world. The Full Frame festival gathers non-fiction filmmakers every year for short and feature films in historic downtown Durham, North Carolina.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival was founded by Nancy Buirski in 1998. In the beginning, it was working under the name the “DoubleTake Documentary Film Festival”, and later it expanded to rank among the top festivals of documentaries in the USA.

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is a known spot with a cozy environment that motivates deep dialogue between viewers, industry professionals, and filmmakers. The progressive and fearless choice of documentaries, with a focus on character-based narratives that impress viewers on an intimate level, led this festival to stand among the best. Full Frame is a highly professional event in the documentary cinema world, having qualified for the Academy Award for Documentary Short Subjects. The festival is famed for its avant-garde methods of producing documentaries as well as its dedication to community involvement, which includes providing educational opportunities for students from affiliated institutions and universities.

Before submitting, note that films 40 minutes or less are considered shorts, and films 41 minutes or longer are considered features. The festival rejects films over 180 minutes and about the deadline, all submission materials should be delivered by the beginning of December.

Eligibility: Short and feature documentary films completed after January (each year for the next year's festival) are eligible for submission to the festival.

IMAGO / Werner Schulze I Teenagers planning their route through a theme park.

IMAGO / Brigani-Art / Work Heinri I Trip Tombstone Nickname The Town Too Tough To Die.

IMAGO / GRANGER Historical Picture Archive I JAPAN: LAND RECLAMATION. A young settler family in their new home on the island of Hokkaido.

IMAGO / teutopress I Time of Innocence Martin Scorsese 11 93.

IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Atlanta Journal-Constitution TNS I Scottie Scheffler hits from the bunker on the 15th hole during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

IMAGO / ALLstar / Mary Evans AF Archive Warner Bros I Michael Moore Film: Roger And Me (1989) Director Michael Moore 09 September 1989.

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)

If we want to point out the most influential festival in documentary movies, undoubtedly, we should address IDFA. This festival was founded in 1988 by Ally Derks, who is an icon in documentary filmmaking. If your work is of high quality or innovative, what are you waiting for to submit to IDFA? 

IDFA was established in 1988 and is known for amazing programming and dedication to creative innovation and offers a noteworthy venue for documentaries, presenting a diverse range of works from skilled and new directors and independent voices. The festival is renowned for its wide range of offerings, which include creative new media initiatives, shorts, and feature-length documentaries.

Eligibility: There are various deadlines for submission, and also IDFA considers documentary films, performances, and new media projects in any format and of any duration. Films completed after July are eligible for the next year's festival.
Premiere Status: Depending on the program segment, IDFA has different premiere standards. Films that haven't been extensively viewed online or in public galleries typically have a higher probability of being chosen.

Submission Procedure: As mentioned in the festival's guidelines, filmmakers must submit a screener, complete the online entry form, and deliver any other necessary materials.
IDFA offers filmmakers an extraordinary chance to participate in a festival that observes artistic approaches in the documentary field, as well as hanging with a community of documentary figures, and last but not least, increase international visibility and send your message to the world.

IMAGO / Richard Wareham | Banners for the International Documentary Film Festival IDFA.

IMAGO / Pond5 Images | People in the cinema before watching a movie.

IMAGO / Pond5 Images | Tables of the referees during the International Documentary Film Festival IDFA.

IMAGO / Martin Bertrand | RED CARPET Opening night of Tapis Rouge, the French Film Festival in Amsterdam.

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

We would like to discuss the largest documentary film festival that features emerging talent in North America. In 1993, the Canadian Independent Film Caucus established Hot Docs. Numerous independent documentarians congregate in Toronto annually to compete for their works. In addition to emphasizing artistic expression, this festival features a professional market where several filmmakers can obtain support for their upcoming projects. One of the festival's most well-known practices is its acceptance of female filmmakers, a frontier in gender parity for all festivals. The festival's year-round screenings and significant side events outside of the main event are another notable differentia.

If you want to submit your movie to this festival, we have good news for you. There are various deadlines for this festival including early, late, and extended, that you can check on their website. 

Eligibility: To be eligible, a film must have been completed after January 1st of the year before the festival. Features, mid-length films, and television series must have their Ontario debuts, at the very least; that is, they must have been screened in public in Ontario before the festival. Short films must at least have their Toronto debuts.

Online Availability: No features, mid-length films, or television series in any format are available for viewing online in Ontario, Canada. This restriction does not apply to short film submissions.

IMAGO / SOPA Images I People on the stage at the Hot Docs Film Festival 2024 in Toronto. 

IMAGO / SOPA Images / Shawn Goldberg I Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, April 2024.

IMAGO / SOPA Images / Shawn Goldberg I Hot Docs Festival Press Conference in Toronto, Canada.

Lastly, one vital element in any documentary is pictures. Using photographs as a form of visual history tends to add life and credibility to the reality of documentary films. If you desire to make your work more appealing to the eyes then you should try out IMAGO which contains an extensive collection of images in Archive, Sport, and Editorial categories. To be able to capture the attention of your audience and also make them know that what they are seeing is true, IMAGO has a lot of resources for documentary filmmakers.