The world’s 6 best documentary film festivals

For those keen to see the most innovative documentary films of the moment, while rubbing shoulders with award-winning filmmakers and fellow enthusiasts, here are the six most prestigious film festivals you can attend.

IDFA in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The world’s leading documentary film festival, IDFA, screens more films than any other event of its kind. From the 14th to the 25th November 2018, documentaries from a variety of genres (often disseminating political and social issues), will be shown at venues around Amsterdam. The festival offers a special platform for filmmakers, given that criteria for selection puts a strong emphasis on creativity and interactivity; expect Q&As, debates, workshops and an unparalleled opportunity to mingle with the international documentary community. Stay at the Albus Hotel Amsterdam City Centre, just around the corner from one of the festival’s main venues, Pathé Tuschinski.

Visions du Réel in Nyon, Switzerland

Another spring event, the respected Visions du Réel (Visions of Reality) festival in the Swiss town of Nyon has an interesting and important backstory. It was founded in 1969 as a way to make accessible the largely unavailable documentaries of the Eastern Bloc. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the festival has remained relevant with a programme of international films, essays and historical inquiries. And as a meeting place for the movers and shakers of the documentary film world. As proof of the festival’s pedigree, its founder – Moritz De Halden – later became the director of the Berlinale and the Venice International Film Festival. Base Nyon is a modern accommodation in the town centre, with views over Lake Geneva.

CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, Denmark

The youngest documentary film festival to make this list (founded in 2003), CPH:DOX is already a major player in the industry. Held annually in Copenhagen, it’s an event for those with an eye for experimental cinema, exploring special themes, film techniques and –, sometimes –, controversial topics. It’s the biggest of its kind in Scandinavia and spans 10 days, offering exhibitions, Q&As and concerts alongside the documentary premieres. Check into Sankt Annæ 10, a highly rated, central accommodation where suites have flower-filled terraces andwith city views.

Sheffield Doc/Fest in Sheffield, UK

Attending Sheffield Doc/Fest is a sought-after opportunity for those interested in the world of documentaries; it’s the biggest documentary festival in the UK, and the third biggest in the world. Not only does it showcase the world’s most promising new documentary talent, it also has a Marketplace – dubbed the MeetMarket – where filmmaker teams can pitch to executives. And at the 2018 edition (from the 7th to the 12th June 2018), those pitching will be invited to collaborate with those involved in the Alternate Realities market for the first time, encouraging interactive work and virtual reality in the documentary sphere. Check into the Leopold Hotel, in a stately, honey-coloured stone building just a short walk from the Showroom Cinema, one of the festival’s main venues.

Hot Docs in Toronto, Canada

This prestigious Toronto festival certainly lives up to its catchy name; it’s the biggest documentary festival in North America and screens over 200,000 expertly-selected films across 11 days each spring. As well as defining the must-sees of the coming year, the festival is hugely influential thanks to its Doc Shop (a large documentary market with thousands of delegates) and the Hot Docs Forum (a dynamic pitching event for filmmakers). Expect conferences, workshops, panel discussions and the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, one of very few documentary-only cinemas worldwide. Stay just down the road from the Ted Rogers at the delightful Rose Garden B&B.

Cinéma Du Réel in Paris, France

As well as championing the future of documentary filmmaking, Cinéma Du Réel takes an interesting, retrospective look at the industry’s history. Highlighting the best documentary cinema throughout the ages, it’s a great place to find an appreciation for this particular art form. It also has an artistic slant, having been the brainchild of famous filmmakers Jean Rouch and Jean-Michel Arnold in 1978, with screenings taking place in Paris’ Centre Pompidou, which houses one of France’s most prized art collections. Stay minutes from the Pompidou at Hotel Agora, where bedrooms decorated with patterned wallpaper and poinsettia pots will remind you of a Wes Anderson set. The festival straddles the end of March and the beginning of April each year.