The West Lake International Documentary Festival (IDF) is a prestigious art platform that integrates documentary evaluation, screening, forums, proposals, and workshops. It is held each autumn at the China Academy of Art (CAA) by Hangzhou's scenic West Lake.

Guided by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Zhejiang Province and hosted by CAA, the IDF 2024 took place in Hangzhou, China, from October 25 to 27, 2024. This year's edition featured three sections: "West Lake Honor" Awards Section, "Glory of Documentary" Screening Section, and "IDF Forum" Academic Section. It gathered documentary filmmakers, production companies, distributors, scholars, and media professionals from China and abroad by the West Lake to experience the illuminating power of documentary storytelling.

The theme of this year's festival, "Co-existence", reflects on humanity's role as a young species still learning to exist humbly on this extraordinary Planet. Through documentaries from around the world, creative and courageous filmmakers examined how we might transcend societal, cultural, political, and natural boundaries.

The "Glory of Documentary" Screening Section is a dedicated segment aimed at encouraging citizens to pay attention to documentaries and spotlighting the artistic insights of outstanding documentaries from both China and beyond. This section brings high-quality international works and post-screening talks across the city. It offers an academic perspective, nurtures documentary audiences, and sparks discussions on emerging topics. The ultimate goal is to integrate the cultural appeal of global documentaries into daily life, making this feast a documentary arts festival that everyone can share and enjoy.

The "West Lake Honor" Awards Section, or the IDF Competition, aims to discover and honor "documentary makers with attitude" and "documentary works with warmth" and promote and encourage documentary filmmakers to explore and persevere on the road of creative growth. The IDF Competition received a remarkable 613 submissions from 92 countries and regions across six continents. Following preliminary and secondary evaluations, a total of 15 documentaries stood out and were finally shortlisted for the IDF Competition.

From October 25 to 27, the IDF 2024 showcased a selection of 44 exceptional documentaries from around the world, spanning ten thematic categories and including several global, Asian, and Chinese premieres. It also featured academic forums and special events, dedicated to exploring new directions in documentary creation and advancing the development of China's documentary sector.