From Sunday 23 March until Tuesday 25 March, join us for the Take on Film & Impact segment of the Movies that Matter Festival 2025. This is a programme designed for filmmakers and NGOs. It aims to support filmmakers in refining their impact strategies and foster connections and collaborations with organisations, funders, and broadcasters in The Netherlands.  

Ten projects from four continents have been selected to participate in the programme. These projects explore a diverse range of critical topics, including environmental activism, the systemic violence against protesters, the safety of journalists in war zones and in countries where democracy is under threat, European border management and its colonial past, LGBTQ rights, and copyright challenges in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world. 

On Tuesday 25 March, the selected teams will present their projects and impact goals to an audience of NGOs, international organisations, and impact funders. Distributors, sales agents, and other professionals from the cinema and television industries are also welcome to attend. This year we are working again with impact projects from around the world, whom we are guiding towards meeting the right partners for their campaigns.

From 6 March, you can book a free ticket to attend this event via our website.

On Monday 24 March, Movies that Matter organises an inspiring afternoon programme for filmmakers at the beginning of their careers: De Missie van de Nieuwe Maker (The Mission of the New Maker). The event will begin with a panel (organized with NFF and Cobo) on the role of filmmakers. It will be followed by sessions of round tables, where participants will have the chance to sit down with various Dutch parties (including NPA, NPO, 2Doc, Beeld en Geluid, Creative Europe Desk, Screen Talent NL, Filmfonds and others) and ask questions.  

From 6 March, you can book a free ticket to attend this event via our website. In collaboration with CoBO Fund & Nederlands Film Festival.  

On Friday afternoon 21 March, we invite NGOs and other professionals to come and meet the activists from the documentaries in our Activist programme. In Meet the Activist they will be introduced and in conversation with moderator Marieke Eyskoot tell more about the work they do, how they stay motivated for their activism and what the biggest challenges are. The afternoon will be opened by human rights ambassador Wim Geerts.   

We would like to invite you on Wednesday afternoon 26 March, from 14:30 to 18:00, to Meet the Festivals of our Cinema without Borders participants.

Cinema without Borders is a workshop and networking programme organised by Movies that Matter. This interactive five-day programme brings together 12 (emerging) festival organisers from Mexico, Iraq, Georgia, Vietnam, Rwanda, Egypt, Uganda, Peru, Mozambique, Nepal, and Nigeria.

During this event, the 12 participants will showcase their human rights film festival or mobile cinema project, followed by speed dating sessions to foster connections and expand their networks.

This year, Movies that Matter is organising its annual rough cut service for the fifth time! Several documentary projects from around the world are selected for the Movies that Matter Rough Cut Service 2025. They all address relevant and urgent topics and issues with great cinematic and narrative storytelling. We partner with organisations such as Close Up, MEDIMED, DOCUBOX, Docs Up Fund and Docu Rough Cut Boutique for this event.

Selected projects are able to receive tailored feedback during the festival days. Selections will be announced in February.  

The Movies that Matter Festival welcomes press professionals from the film and human rights sectors to attend and cover the event. Applications for a press pass are open until 28 February 2025.

Are you a professional outside the press field eager to explore the festival? This year, we’re offering a 5- or 10-multi ticket instead of traditional festival or industry accreditation. These tickets, available for purchase now, grant access to your choice of industry programmes and film screenings—plus a discount.