Insights from the Doc Talk Podcast at IDFA: Isabel Arrate Fernandez on Leading the World’s Largest Documentary Festival and Petra Costa on Her Oscar-Nominated Film

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the largest documentary film festival in the world, concluded over the weekend, showcasing a diverse lineup of over 250 films, including numerous world and international premieres.

This year’s 38th edition was significant for the debut of Isabel Arrate Fernandez as artistic director, following the departure of Orwa Nyrabia, who had led the festival for seven years. The festival drew notable talents from the documentary field, including Gianfranco Rosi, Raoul Peck, Laura Poitras, Tia Lessin, and Stanley Nelson, among others. However, the event was not without its controversies, highlighting the ongoing discussions surrounding documentary storytelling.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa, who premiered a new project at IDFA, is currently a contender in the Oscar race with her acclaimed documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics. The film, a follow-up to her previous work The Edge of Democracy, explores the rise of Christian nationalism in Brazil. Costa noted that the film’s release on Netflix in July had significant repercussions for its subject, pastor Silas Malafaia, a prominent Christian nationalist and supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Following Bolsonaro’s conviction for attempting to stage a coup after losing the 2022 election, Malafaia has also become a target of legal scrutiny.

Costa’s footage of Malafaia has put him at risk, spotlighting a particular scene in her documentary that may lead to further legal consequences for the pastor.