IDFA on Stage’s Jasper Hokken Reflects on the Year That Defied Expectations
Damon Wise In a year when so many international film festivals have gone dark, it comes as no surprise that, as soon as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, IDFA’s annual public performance strand—IDFA on Stage—came very close to being canceled. Ironically, however, not only did it survive to see another day, this year’s selection is bigger and more diverse than last year’s, with nine projects in its non-competitive program.IDFA on Stage curator Jasper Hokken admits that initially, like everyone else in the festival business, he underestimated the staying power of COVID-19.