John Webster’s documentary about the workplace and its effect on human well-being was among 13 projects selected for IDFA Forum’s Central pitch.

The Happy Worker - or how bullshit took over the workplace was a hot title at IDFA Forum and had received similar positive responses at earlier pitch sessions at Nordisk Panorama and Helsinki’s Finnish Film Affair. The film focuses on “how empty corporate jargon, management fashions and self-serving bureaucracy masquerading as efficiency, have hijacked the purpose of work, how it came to be and above all, how we can break free from it”. Webster’s thought-provoking documentary produced by Yellow Film & TV is in development.

Other Nordic wins announced yesterday include the Icelandic co-production In Touch by Polish director Pawel Ziemilski, awarded the €2,500 IDFA Special Jury Award for Mid-Length Documentary. In their statement the jury members said: "In a visual, almost tactile way, this intimate and artistic film connects Polish villagers and their many family members who have immigrated to Iceland". In Touch was produced by NUR in co-production with Iceland’s Join Motion Pictures and Polish pubcaster TVP.

IDFA’s main Feature-Length Documentary prize was handed out to India’s Reason by Anand Patwardhan, exploring the rise of the far right in India. The First Appearance award went to Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva’s Giacinto Scelsi-The First Motion of the Immovable (France/Italy).

Amsterdam’s 31st IDFA festival closes on Sunday.

For the full list of IDFA awards, check: www.idfa.nl