The Doc Next Network are putting together a cutting-edge programme to take place during the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA, 14–25 November 2012). It will showcase short documentaries by a new generation of talented European documentary makers on the themes that preoccupy them.

A selection of ten Doc Next films will be screened before IDFA documentaries throughout the festival, and can also be viewed here on IDFA.TV. The films will present these young people’s visions of life in Europe, which they want to share with a wide audience. Their independent, self-produced films tell small stories that have a big effect – from local heroes to critical video remixes about media and politics. From the UK we have 3 films being screened in this selection.

The first is Astronauts, which was made by Tara Manandhar and Jaha Browne as part of the BFI's Doc Next Media Lab. The 8 participants were given 2 days to conceive, plan, shoot and edit a short documentary in pairs and Astronauts was one of the resulting films.

The second film is another one made through the BFI's Doc Next programme of activities. Recover & Rebuild: Croydon was made as part of a previous bursary scheme, in which we worked with BAFTA to support 4 young filmakers to create new documentaries with a £400 bursary and mentoring from a BAFTA member. Rebecca was in the process of creating her documentary when the London Riots broke out, and she decided to change the subject matter last minute and hasn't looked back since. 

The final film from the UK that will screen in the main programme is Hoodforts. This was not created specifically for the Doc Next Network, but was instead scouted by us to add to the media collection, as we found it to be an interesting insight into youth stereotypes shot beautifully and incredibly well put together. The film has already picked up several awards, including that for the Best Film on the theme of Understanding at this year's We The People's Film Festival Young Film for Development Day here at the BFI.

Throughout IDFA, the Doc Next Mini Cinema on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam will also be screening an on-going programme of 30 Doc Next films. Admission to the Mini Cinema is free. You can view the full programme for these films on the Doc Next Network website.

Do It Yourself Nowadays anyone can be a filmmaker: affordable materials and the internet as a distributor allow us all to tell our stories and share them with others. In this way, we can see the visions of ‘normal’ young Europeans from all corners of the continent. Voices that perhaps wouldn’t have been heard through the traditional distribution channels. DIY media-makers can make their own decisions, make their own combinations and, above all, they can make themselves heard. How does this DIY movement relate to the traditional documentary industry? www.docnextnetwork.org