Internationaal Filmfestival Assen | Vrouw & Film

What Internationaal Filmfestival Assen | Vrouw & Film does

Internationaal Filmfestival Assen (IFA / Vrouw & Film), legally Stichting Festival Vrouwenfilms Claire Obscur (KVK 41017873), is a Dutch non-profit foundation founded in 1981 that operates one of Europe's oldest intersectional feminist film festivals. Its core product is a four-day annual festival held each March at De Nieuwe Kolk in Assen, complemented year-round by IFA Presenteert screenings at partner venues across Northern Netherlands (Forum Groningen, Slieker Film Leeuwarden, Filmhuis Emmen, Usva Groningen, De Nieuwe Kolk), two short film competitions — KersVers (female/gender-diverse Dutch filmmakers) and Noordsterren (Northern Netherlands filmmakers) — in their 11th edition in 2027, a school-facing Educatie programme ('Ruimtezoekers') for PO/VO/MBO/HBO, and a Talent & Industry masterclass track. The festival also publishes the IFA Perspectief podcast and awards the annual IFA Trofee (since 1986) to individuals advancing gender equality in the Dutch film industry (2024: Renée Soutendijk; 2025: Vedette Film; 2026: Sunny Bergman).

IFA's revenue model is a non-profit mix of ticket sales (€9.50–€14.50 per screening, €49.50 strippenkaart), annual Vrienden memberships (€35/year, auto-renewing), one-time donations, school screening fees (€7.50/student, €300 minimum), and structural grants from Provincie Drenthe, Gemeente Assen, Nederlands Filmfonds, Fonds 21, Cultuurfonds Drenthe, Stichting Beringer Hazewinkel, C&W de Boer Stichting, and the Emmaplein Foundation. All surplus is reinvested into statutory objectives. The core professional team comprises 11 staff (head programmer, production leader, business leader, kwartiermaker, competition programmers, marketing, creative, education, volunteer coordinator) supplemented by volunteers. Distribution runs through De Nieuwe Kolk's own ticketing system and partner-venue channels; outreach combines owned digital channels (website, newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube) with earned media, school outreach, and partner cross-promotion. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is a curated programming and community product.

Name

Internationaal Filmfestival Assen | Vrouw & Film

Legal name

Stichting Festival Vrouwenfilms Claire Obscur

Website

https://filmfestivalassen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IFA (Internationaal Filmfestival Assen / Vrouw & Film) is a Dutch non-profit foundation that runs one of Europe's oldest intersectional feminist film festivals, with an annual March event in Assen, year-round IFA Presenteert screenings across Northern Netherlands, short film competitions, and a school education programme serving film enthusiasts, students, and emerging filmmakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival / Cultural Events

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hybrid Conferences & Conventions (In-Person + Streamed) (MPAGAOAC)

Keywords

• Film festival programming
• Arthouse cinema screenings
• Cultural event management
• Film education programs
• Short film competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: The festival generates revenue through ticket sales for film screenings during the annual festival (March) and year-round IFA Presenteert screenings. Standard tickets are priced at €12.00, opening night at €14.50, with discounted rates for Vrienden (€9.50), students/CJP (€9.50), and KersVers/Noordsterren screenings (€9.50). A strippenkaart (bundle ticket) for 5 regular films costs €49.50.
2. Vrienden (Friends) membership: Annual membership programme 'Vrienden van IFA' priced at €35/year. Members receive discounts on tickets, a free Friends film screening, one complimentary IFA Presenteert ticket, a programme magazine, and access to the annual Friends gathering. Membership auto-renews annually.
3. One-time donations: One-time donations accepted from supporters who wish to contribute without committing to an annual membership. The organisation is small and partly dependent on sponsors, funds, and volunteers.
4. Government and foundation grants: IFA receives funding from Provincie Drenthe, Gemeente Assen, Nederlands Filmfonds, Fonds 21, Cultuurfonds Drenthe, Stichting Beringer Hazewinkel, C&W de Boer Stichting, and Emmaplein Foundation. The foundation has no profit motive; any positive results are fully reinvested in the statutory objectives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

IFA operates an annual four-day international film festival held at De Nieuwe Kolk in Assen, showcasing (inter)national arthouse films with women in front of and behind the camera, complemented by Q&As, masterclasses, director talks and an industry award. It also runs a year-round IFA Presenteert programming circuit at partner venues across Northern Netherlands, plus short film competitions (KersVers, Noordsterren), a school film education programme, a podcast (IFA Perspectief), and a Friends membership programme.

Product overview

Internationaal Filmfestival Assen (IFA) is a film festival organization offering a unified portfolio centered around its core annual four-day festival. The main festival showcases films with women in front of and behind the camera, complemented by two short film competitions (KersVers for Dutch female/gender-diverse filmmakers and Noordsterren for Northern filmmakers), the IFA Presenteert year-round arthouse film program, the Talent & Industry program for emerging filmmakers, and an Educatie program for school screenings and workshops. Additional offerings include the IFA Perspectief podcast, the annual IFA Trofee award, and the Friend of IFA membership program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KersVers: Short film competition for promising female and gender-diverse filmmakers from across the Netherlands
• Noordsterren (KVNS)
• Talent & Industry
• IFA Presenteert
• IFA Trofee
• IFA Perspectief

Products and services

• Internationaal Filmfestival Assen (IFA) — Annual Festival Annual four-day film festival held at De Nieuwe Kolk in Assen, showcasing (inter)national arthouse films with women in front of and behind the camera, accompanied by introductions, Q&As with filmmakers, masterclasses, the IFA Perspectief podcast and a festival talkshow.
• KersVers Short Film Competition Annual short film competition providing a platform to promising female and gender-diverse filmmakers from across the Netherlands; the Beste Nederlandse Film directed by a female or gender-diverse director wins a €1,000 prize.
• Noordsterren Short Film Competition Annual short film competition providing a platform to filmmakers (v/m/x) from Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe; the Beste Noordelijke Film wins a €1,000 prize.
• IFA Presenteert — Year-Round Programme Year-round curated arthouse film screenings in collaboration with partner venues (Forum Groningen, Slieker Film Leeuwarden, Filmhuis Emmen, Usva Groningen, Vera Zienema), featuring introductions, post-screening discussions and special guests.
• Talent & Industry Programme Programme for young and emerging filmmakers offering masterclasses, practical workshops and conversations with film industry professionals during the festival.
• Educatie (Film Education Programme) Year-round film education programme for PO, VO, MBO and HBO schools including the Ruimtezoekers school screenings and Ruimtemakers workshops covering stop-motion, frame-by-frame and video editing, aligned with citizenship, language, art and culture curriculum.
• IFA Trofee Award Annual award (since 1986) presented to individuals or groups making pioneering contributions to the Dutch film industry, particularly in gender equality and inclusion. The trophy is based on the artwork 'Filmdoek' by Annet Haring. Recent recipients include Renée Soutendijk (2024), Vedette Film (2025) and Sunny Bergman (2026).
• Vrienden van IFA (Friends Membership) Annual Friends of IFA membership at €35/year providing €2.50 discount on festival and IFA Presenteert tickets, a Friends package with IFA Magazine, two free tickets to a Friends Film, one complimentary IFA Presenteert ticket, and access to the annual Friends gathering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 46 editions of the festival
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Provincie DrenthecoreOthersProvincial government of Drenthe, one of the primary public funders of IFA. Provides structural funding support to the festival and contributes to the festival's regional reach and cultural policy objectives.
• Gemeente AssencoreOthersThe municipality of Assen, host city of the festival, provides funding support to IFA. The festival takes place at De Nieuwe Kolk in Assen.
• Nederlands FilmfondscoreOthersThe Dutch Film Fund (Nederlands Filmfonds) is the national public film funding body that provides financial support to IFA and the broader Dutch film ecosystem.
• Fonds 21coreOthersFonds 21 is a private cultural foundation in the Netherlands that provides funding for arts and culture organisations, including IFA.
• Cultuurfonds DrentheminorOthersCultural fund for the province of Drenthe, providing project-based or structural funding to cultural initiatives including IFA.
• Stichting Beringer HazewinkelminorOthersPrivate foundation providing cultural funding support to IFA.
• C&W de Boer StichtingminorOthersPrivate foundation providing cultural funding support to IFA.
• Emmaplein FoundationminorOthersPrivate foundation providing cultural funding support to IFA.
• De Nieuwe KolkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Nieuwe Kolk is the primary venue and key operational partner for IFA's annual festival and IFA Presenteert screenings. Located in Assen (Weiersstraat 1, 9401 ET), it houses the cinema where the festival takes place and manages ticket sales through its own system. The partnership is fundamental to IFA's physical operations.
• Forum GroningenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForum Groningen is a partner venue for IFA Presenteert year-round screenings, including co-hosting the IDFA Groningen satellite edition and special events. Forum Groningen also hosts IFA's co-programmeur Jantien Kurpershoek who introduces films.
• Slieker Film (Leeuwarden)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlieker Film in Leeuwarden is a partner venue for IFA Presenteert screenings, including hosting the 'Julian' screening (December 2025) introduced by IFA's head programmer Hil van der Wal.
• Filmhuis EmmenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmhuis Emmen is a partner venue for IFA Presenteert screenings in Drenthe, such as the 'Drømmer' screening (February 2026).
• Usva (Groningen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultureel Studentencentrum Usva in Groningen is a partner venue for IFA Presenteert screenings, including the 'Four Daughters' screening (January 2025) and a special film-knit-along event for 'Drømmer'.
• Drents MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA collaborates with the Drents Museum on a joint programme around Amrita Sher-Gil. On 27 March 2026, IFA and the Drents Museum co-present the documentary 'Amrita Sher-Gil: An Indian Rhapsody' at De Nieuwe Kolk, with an introduction by Annemiek Rens (conservator, Drents Museum) and an online Q&A with director Patrick Cazals. The collaboration connects IFA's feminist film festival identity with the museum's exhibition programme on Sher-Gil.
• CinenordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional film development organisation in Northern Netherlands listed as a cooperation partner of IFA.
• Filmhub NoordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmhub Noord is a network of experienced workshop teachers and filmmakers in Northern Netherlands. Listed as a cooperation partner providing educational workshop support for IFA's school programmes.
• Filmpact NoordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional film impact organisation in Northern Netherlands listed as a cooperation partner of IFA.
• Noordelijk Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNoordelijk Film Festival in Leeuwarden is a cooperation partner and co-host of IFA Presenteert screenings, such as 'Second Victims' (November 2025). IFA team member Sander Boonstra is also involved with the Noordelijk Film Festival.
• Digital Art FactoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Art Factory is listed as a cooperation partner of IFA, possibly contributing digital or technology elements to the festival experience.
• DocuDonnaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocuDonna is listed as a cooperation partner of IFA, likely a documentary-focused women's film initiative.
• Movies that Matter FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA collaborated with Movies that Matter Festival (24 March – 1 April) on the screening of 'Die Middag' by Nafiss Nia at IFA 2023. Movies that Matter focuses on human rights films and international documentary. The collaboration aligns IFA with the broader human rights film movement.
• Eye FilmmuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye Filmmuseum Amsterdam is listed as a distributor partner of IFA, with the Korte Film Poule (short film pool) collaborating on IDFA Docs with audio description for visually impaired students.
• HERe Film FestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHERe Film Fest is listed as a cooperation partner of IFA, likely a women's film festival or feminist film initiative.
• Queer Film Festival UtrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueer Film Festival Utrecht is listed as a cooperation partner of IFA, aligning with IFA's focus on gender diversity and LGBTQIA+ stories.
• Vera ZienemaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVera Zienema (cinema) in Groningen is a cooperation partner of IFA. IFA head programmer Hil van der Wal also works as a programmer at Vera Zienema, curating silent avant-garde films for various filmhouses.
• Hotel de JongeminorOthersHotel de Jonge is listed as a cooperation partner and recommended accommodation option for IFA attendees, located in the centre of Assen within walking distance of De Nieuwe Kolk.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Internationale Frauenfilmfestival Dortmund|Köln|Freiburg: Germany's leading feminist film festival. Directly comparable to IFA in mission (women in film), non-profit model, regional anchoring, and curated competitive structure.
• Créteil International Women's Film Festival: Major international women's film festival based in France. Comparable in thematic focus (women filmmakers), curated programme, and competitive film structure, though operating at a significantly larger scale.
• Movies that Matter Festival: The Hague-based human rights film festival and IFA cooperation partner. Shares IFA's social-justice thematic focus and comparable festival model (multi-day event, ticket sales, partner venues, grants).
• Queer Film Festival Utrecht: Dutch LGBTQIA+ film festival and IFA cooperation partner. Operates on a comparable scale and community-driven model, with overlapping audience in the Dutch gender-diverse film community.
• HERe Film Fest: Dutch film festival focused on LGBTQIA+ stories. Listed as a cooperation partner of IFA; both festivals share a feminist/queer lens, similar non-profit scale, and operate within the Dutch gender-diverse film niche.

Regional players

• Noordelijk Film Festival: Regional film festival in Leeuwarden (Friesland) and IFA cooperation partner. Operates in Northern Netherlands with overlapping geographic audience, comparable regional scale, and similar programming model.

Broad incumbents

• Nederlands Film Festival (NFF): The Netherlands' national film festival. Operates as a broad incumbent across the Dutch film ecosystem, comparable in festival model but with a wider thematic scope and significantly larger scale than IFA.
• International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR): Major Dutch film festival and IFA cooperation partner. Operates at a much larger scale and broader thematic remit but serves overlapping Dutch film audiences and industry stakeholders.
• International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA): The Netherlands' premier documentary film festival and IFA cooperation partner. IDFA Groningen is co-hosted with Forum Groningen (an IFA partner venue), making it a tier-1 Dutch festival partner with overlapping themes.

Emerging players

• Athena Film Festival: New York-based film festival focused on women in leadership and storytelling. Comparable in thematic focus (women in film) and academic-festival hybrid model, though operating in a different geographic and cultural context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@internationaalfilmfestival1528
• Facebookfacebook.com/internationaalfilmfestivalassen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internationaal-filmfestival-assen-vrouw-film
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmfestivalassen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Internationaal Filmfestival Assen | Vrouw & Film