We are incredibly excited to share that 16 WMM films and filmmakers will be part of the 39th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), taking place November 12-22, 2026! This year’s lineup features four films made with the support of WMM’s Production Assistance Program, along with new work from WMM filmmakers and Program Alumni.
Also featured in this year’s festival is ABSENCES (dir. Tatiana Huezo, prod. Anais Vignal and Julio Lopez Fernandez), originally released in 2015 and distributed by WMM. In this moving short documentary, a mother named Lourdes shares her experience of searching for her eight-year-old son, Brandon, who was kidnapped along with his father and uncles. Through her story, the film explores the lasting pain of disappearance and the impact it has on the families left behind.
Four Films Supported by WMM’s Production Assistance Program will screen at this year’s festival:
BIRDS OF WAR (dir. Janay Boulos and Abd Al Kader Habak, prod. Sonja Henrici);
A 13-year journey through personal archives follows the relationship between a London-based Lebanese journalist and a Syrian activist and cameraman as they navigate love, revolution, war, and exile.
DREAMS OF THE WILD OAKS (dir. Marjan Khosravi, prod. Milad Khosravi, Thibaut Amri, and Stephanie von Lukowicz);
Thirteen-year-old Samaneh, a Bakhtiari nomad in southwestern Iran, dreams of going to school and exploring the world. But when her father is accused of murder, ancient tradition threatens her future by demanding that she marry as compensation.
TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN (dir. Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazic, prod. Megan Gelstein);
Thirteen-year-old Nada and her aunt Gara fight to protect their home in Montenegro’s Sinjajevina mountains from plans to turn the land into a NATO military training ground. As they work to preserve their community and its landscape, the film also explores generations of family trauma, domestic violence, and the bond between women determined to protect one another
WHISPERS IN MAY (dir. Dongnan Chen, prod. Jia Zhao, Kay Xu, Malin Huber, and Heejung Oh);
Fourteen-year-old Qihuo and her two friends set off on a journey across the mountains of southern China so she can buy a ceremonial skirt making her transition into adulthood. Along the way, the girls share stories, explore their hopes for the future, and navigate the challenges of growing up while holding on to their childhood.
The festival will also showcase new films from WMM filmmakers and program alumni (bolded below), including:
LO QUE EN NOSOTROS CALLA (dir. Carmen Castillo, prod. Camille Laemle, Macarena Aguilo, Silvana Bezzola Rigolini, Pamela Varela, Michela Pini)
ONE LAST ORDER (dir. Lauren DeFilipo, prod. Lauren DeFilippo, Sam Soko, and Amanda Pollak)
TIME AND WATER (dir. Sara Dosa, prod. Sara Dosa, Shane Boris, Elijah Stevens, and Jameka Autry)
TRACES (dir. Alisa Kovalenko, prod. Olha Bregman, Natalia Libet, Dariusz Jablonski)
MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE (dir. & prod. Julia Loktev)
THE MESSAGE (dir. Guylaine Maroist, prod. Guylaine Maroist, Eric Ruel)
THEY’RE HERE (dir. Laura Poitras, prod. Laura Poitras, Rachel Lauren Mueller, and Yoni Golijov)
THE RIGHTEOUS ROAD TRIP (dir. Vanessa Roth, prod. Johnny Daniels, Stephen D. Smith, PhD, and Justin Cohen MBE)
A WOMAN’S PLACE IS EVERYWHERE (dir. Fanny Texier, prod. Alison Joy)
EVEREST: THE OTHER SIDE (dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, prod. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, Anna Barnes, Bob Eisenhardt, and Janet Yang)
Congratulations to all the filmmakers!
