Movies that Matter becomes an Oscar® Qualifying Festival
Movies that Matter Festival has been awarded the prestigious status of an Oscar® Qualifying Festival. This places the festival in a select group of film festivals worldwide that have received this recognition. 14 October, 2024
The qualification highlights the selection of documentaries with social impact that the festival programmes, as well as its ongoing contribution to and engagement with the global film community. From the festival’s 2025 edition onwards, the winning film of the Grand Jury Documentary Competition will be eligible for nomination for the ACADEMY AWARD® for Best Documentary Feature Film.
Margje de Koning, Artistic Director: “It is an incredible honour to be included on the Academy Awards’ Qualifying Festival List. For years, Movies that Matter has been dedicated to creating an internationally renowned platform for films about society, human rights, and activism. This recognition by the Academy is a significant acknowledgement of the filmmakers who, often under difficult circumstances, manage to bring their stories to life. It is also a testament to the relentless effort of our festival, which serves as a springboard for filmmakers to reach the world’s largest cinematic stage: the Oscars®.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: “Inclusion on the Qualifying Festival List is a privilege offered to organisations that are considered outstanding by the Academy not only based on the films they select but also for their continued contributions and commitments to the global filmmaking community.”
Filmmakers can still submit their films for the upcoming Movies that Matter Festival, which will take place from 21 to 29 March 2025. The submission deadline is 1 November 2024. The winner of the Grand Jury Documentary Competition in 2025 may be eligible to enter for Oscars® consideration. Click here for the qualifying and eligibility rules of the Academy.
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Meet the Team: Viewing Committee
Movies that Matter is thrilled to announce the new members for the viewing committee. We warmly welcome Amelia Hanibelsz, Berke Göl, Vess Chua and Wambui Gathee. Let's get to know our viewing committee members.
Positive Feedback from the Film Fund, City of The Hague, and Recognition by the Council for Culture
We are delighted with the positive feedback we have received from the Film Fund, the City of The Hague, and the Council for Culture. These recognitions confirm the importance of our work and provide us with valuable insights for further improvement.
Ripples of Change: Meninaputri Wismurti and the 100% Manusia Festival
At our festival this March we met up with Meninaputri Wismurti, who gave several workshops for international festival organizers during the Cinema without Borders programme. A veteran of the film industry, she is the co-founder and programme director of the yearly international 100% Manusia festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. She discusses some of her greatest challenges and victories in organizing her human rights festival with us.