Indian documentary ‘Rivers of Memory’ to compete at Amsterdam docu festival

Rivers of Memory, a documentary by Indian filmmaker Shishir Jha has been selected for a competition in the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), according to its organisers.

The 72-minute film is among thirteen titles shortlisted for the Envision Competition at the 39th edition of the IDFA, which is scheduled to run from November 12 to 22.

The Indian production has been selected alongside documentaries from countries including Cuba, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

According to the festival’s programme, the competition features films in which cinematic form plays a pivotal role in storytelling, with filmmakers experimenting with visual language and narrative structures, offering fresh perspectives on their subjects.

IDFA will showcase more than 250 films and new-media projects from across the globe at its 2026 edition.

Founded in 1988, IDFA has developed into a major international platform for documentary filmmakers, presenting works that explore socio-political realities, personal histories, cultural identities, and questions of artistic expression.