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AIDC

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The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) - Australia's premier annual event for documentary and factual storytelling.

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Our genuine thanks to everyone who submitted an AIDC 2027 expression of interest (EOI) as part of the recent call-out.

We were humbled to receive a record number of more than 80 EOIs, featuring an incredible array of session, speaker and project ideas.

Excitement levels are clearly high for AIDC 2027 in Sydney, and we can’t wait to dive into the submissions as we build the next conference program. THANK YOU.

#AIDC2027 #AIDCSydney #AIDC40Years by @aidcdoc

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a day ago

Applications are open for the AIDC 2027 Leading Lights program - celebrating 10 years! 🌟✨

Leading Lights is AIDC’s philanthropic initiative enabling emerging and diverse Australian documentary/factual practitioners to attend AIDC for the first time, with all places generously funded by industry donors.

Since 2018, over 356 emerging and early career practitioners, First Nations, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled, neurodiverse, regional and CALD creators have been welcomed into the industry through Leading Lights.

Recipients receive a complimentary Sessions Pass to AIDC 2027 in Sydney, plus access to exclusive professional development activities, co-presented with @aftrs 🎬

“I came away with stronger connections, clearer direction, and real momentum.” - Martin Stringer, 2026 Leading Light

📅 Applications close Sunday 6 December 2026

Are you an emerging and/or diverse Australian nonfiction storyteller who hasn’t attended AIDC before? This one’s for you.

Link in bio to apply. 💛

Photos by @will.hamiltoncoates @ned_mansfield by @aidcdoc

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2 days ago

Submissions are open for the 2027 AIDC Awards! 🏆 🎬

The only dedicated awards for Australian documentary and factual, now in their 8th year - and with a refreshed set of categories for 2027.

🏆 Best Feature Documentary
🏆 Best Documentary Series (new)
🏆 Best Factual Series (new)
🏆 Best Documentary / Factual Single
🏆 Best Short Documentary
🏆 Best Audio Documentary
🏆 Best Digital First Documentary (new)

New this year: The series award has been split into two distinct categories for the first time, and the new Best Digital First Documentary category expands eligibility to include documentaries for platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, as well as interactive and immersive works.

Winners will be announced at the AIDC 2027 Awards ceremony, closing night Thursday 11 March in Sydney. 🎉

📅 Submissions close 22 November (late deadline 25 November)

Link in bio to find out more and submit 🔗 by @aidcdoc

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3 days ago

🎬 🏆 New assessment committee members and international pitch prizes announced for The FACTory International Pitching Forum at AIDC 2027!

We’re welcoming two new members to The FACTory assessment committee: Chloe Walters-Wallace (Director of Regional Initiatives, @firelight_media, USA) and Josie Mason-Campbell (Producer, Independent, AUS), joining previously announced assessors Jason Ryle (@tiff_net), Margje de Koning of (@moviesthatmatterfestival), Gunny Hyoung (EBS/EIDF) and Zoe Stinson (@tvfinternational).

All participating FACTory projects will also be in the running for international pitch prizes - with three confirmed so far:

🏆 @docsbythesea 2027 FACTory Prize (Indonesia)
🏆 @dmzdocs Industry 2027 FACTory Prize (South Korea)
🏆 @sheffdocfest Networking Award 2027 (UK)

Applications for The FACTory Central Showcase, New Talent Showcase and Rough Cut Showcase are open now, presented by @screennsw and set to take place at the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of AIDC 2027 - 8–11 March in Sydney.

📅 Regular deadline: Sunday 1 November
📅 Late deadline: Sunday 8 November

Link in bio to apply and find out more. ✨ by @aidcdoc

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9 days ago

A reminder that the window to submit an official expression of interest (EOI) for AIDC 2027 will close this Sunday 4 October (11:59pm AEDT).

We are welcoming session topics and ideas from across the documentary & factual sector, as well as proposals to participate as a speaker, moderator or session producer.

We are especially encouraging submissions that address:

💡 Creative expression and new ground in storytelling form
💡 The changing role of journalism in documentary
💡 Future funding and financing models
💡 Discoverability, audience viewing patterns and projections
💡 Archives: access, preservation, and digitisation
💡 New content strategies for social media and online platforms
💡 AI and its implications for documentary ethics and production
💡 The evolving legal landscape - i.e. ownership, copyright, and litigation
💡 Technological innovations across all stages of production and distribution
💡 The next chapter for streaming and broadcast
💡 Censorship, interference and disinformation
💡 Wellbeing, duty of care and field-building
💡 Sustainability, climate and impact

🔗 Check link in bio to find out more and to make a submission.

#AIDC #AIDCD2027

Photo by @melissa.butters_ by @aidcdoc

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17 days ago

During September, AIDC was proud to participate in three major documentary forums across the Asia Pacific - presenting pitch prizes at @docsbythesea (Bali, Indonesia), @dmzdocs Industry (Goyang, South Korea), and the @cnex.tw Chinese Documentary Forum (CCDF) in Taipei, Taiwan. 🌏🎬

Our engagement with documentary forums across the APAC region reflects our ongoing commitment to building collaboration and co-production opportunities between Australian producers and our diverse regional neighbours - and growing the representation of APAC projects in AIDC’s international marketplace.

The three AIDC pitch prize recipients were:

🏆 'Quiet Flows the River Bheri' (Nepal) — dir. Rajan Kathet, prod. Jewel Maranan | AIDC–Docs by the Sea Award
🏆 'Tongues of Fire' (Philippines) — dir. Alyx Ayn Arumpac | AIDC–DMZ Docs Award
🏆 'Goodbye Yiwu' (China / USA) — dir. Elena Li-cun Xiang | AIDC–CCDF Award

Each winning project receives a complimentary AIDC All Access Pass for two project representatives and a fee waiver for submitting to The FACTory International Pitching Forum, taking place as part of AIDC 2027 in Sydney.

Prior AIDC award-winners from these forums have gone on to pitch at The FACTory, with recent alumni including 'Home, Our Home' (pitched as 'Our Bodies') (South Korea), 'All Fixed Up' (China / USA), 'Restless Farewell' (China), and 'The Myth of Monsters' (Malaysia).

Read more about the awards, the winning projects, and AIDC's APAC cultural partnerships at the link in our bio.

Main image:
📷 Goodbye Yiwu director Elena Li-cun Xiang and AIDC Industry Manager Natalie May at CCDF-17 | Image courtesy CCDF by @aidcdoc

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24 days ago

Help us shine a light on the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. 🌟

AIDC's Leading Lights Initiative is calling for donations for 2027 - supporting emerging and diverse documentary and factual practitioners to attend AIDC for the first time and access a customised professional development program.

Since 2018, Leading Lights has raised over $214,000 and supported 356 practitioners from across Australia. At AIDC 2026, a record 50 recipients attended thanks to the generosity of 21 donors.

Your donation could open a door that changes someone's career.

All donations are tax-deductible. Tiers start from $715 (1 recipient place).

📍 The 2027 program takes place 8–11 March in Sydney as part of AIDC 2027.
Visit the link in our bio to learn more and donate. 💛

Thanks to our already confirmed 2027 donors including @sbs_australia (7 places), @minderoofoundation (5 places), @paulwiegard (2 places), and @bunyaproductions, @princesspicturesau , Above The Line Accounting, and @janablr (1 place).

📷 AIDC 2026 Leading Lights Pitch | Photo: @will.hamiltoncoates by @aidcdoc

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25 days ago

🚨 EARLY BIRD ALERT! AIDC 2027 passes are ON SALE NOW

Australia's only dedicated documentary & factual conference is bound for Sydney in 2027 for its 40th Anniversary. Save up to 25% on All Access Passes and Business Passes, but hurry - limited numbers only!

🎬 4 days of inspiring sessions
🤝 Networking with industry leaders
🌍 International marketplace
📍 @artgalleryofnsw | @statelibrarynsw | @botanicsydney
📅 Main Conference 8-11 March 2027 | Online Marketplace 23-24 March 2027

Ready to elevate your storytelling? Passes link in bio 👆

AIDC is proudly presented by Principal Partner @screennsw, Presenting Partner @screenaustralia, and Major Partners @abcaustralia and @sbs_australia

#AIDC2027 #documentary #factualstorytelling #earlybird #Sydney #storytellingcommunity #docmakers #creativeindustry by @aidcdoc

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a month ago

🏭 THE FACTORY IS OPEN FOR AIDC 2027 🏭

Applications are NOW OPEN for the 12th edition of The FACTory International Pitching Forum - AIDC's centrepiece showcase for documentary and factual projects - presented by Screen NSW and held during AIDC 2027 (8-11 March) in a striking new location - the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

✨ Submit your project in development to pitch to international commissioners, streamers & distributors
✨3 showcase strands: Central, New Talent & Rough Cut
✨Expert mentoring & pitch training

Since 2016, The FACTory has been a platform for 146 remarkable Australian and international projects, including Walkley Award winner Delikado, AACTA winner Mozart's Sister, and festival hits Replica, Spreadsheet Champions, Iron Winter, Yurlu | Country and more.

Your story could be next! 🎬

Deadlines: 📅 Regular: 1 November 2026 📅 Late: 8 November 2026

Submit today to pitch to the people who can take your project to new heights.

Link in bio to apply! ⬆️

#TheFactory2027 #AIDC2027 #DocumentaryPitching #FactualContent #FilmFunding #Documentary #PitchingForum #AustralianFilm #InternationalFilm #Filmmakers #Producers #Sydney #ScreenNSW #AGNSW @screennsw @artgalleryofnsw

📸 Photos of The FACTory 2026 by @will.hamiltoncoates & @melissa.butters_ by @aidcdoc

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a month ago

AIDC has officially opened Expressions of Interest for the 2027 conference ✨

AIDC’s 40th anniversary edition in Sydney will include a four-day program of sector-relevant and agenda-setting sessions. To ensure that the AIDC program is meeting the needs and demands of the documentary and factual practitioner community, we actively welcome your feedback and input.

We are now accepting submissions for session topics and ideas, and proposals to participate as a speaker, moderator or session producer.

AIDC 2027 is encouraging submissions that address:

💡 Creative expression and new ground in storytelling form;
💡 The changing role of journalism in documentary;
💡 Future funding and financing models;
💡 Discoverability, audience viewing patterns and projections;
💡 Archives: access, preservation, and digitisation;
💡 New content strategies for social media and online platforms;
💡 AI and its implications for documentary ethics and production;
💡 The evolving legal landscape - ie ownership, copyright, and litigation;
💡 Technological innovations across all stages of production and distribution;
💡 The next chapter for streaming and broadcast;
💡 Censorship, interference and disinformation;
💡 Wellbeing, duty of care and field-building;
💡 Sustainability, climate and impact.

🔗 Check link in bio to find out more and to make a submission.

#AIDC #AIDCD2027

Photo by @melissa.butters_ by @aidcdoc

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a month ago

Meet our new Board Co-Chair and Directors 💼

AIDC is pleased to announce the formal appointment of highly regarded screen and creative industries leader and Bundjalung woman Kyas Hepworth - the newly appointed Associate Dean, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, and Professor at UTS Faculty of Design and Society - to the role of Co-Chair of the AIDC Board of Directors.

Kyas has an expansive understanding of Australia's media and creative industries, having held senior roles with national organisations including SBS/NITV, the AFTRS, Screen Australia, and Screen NSW.

She will join AIDC Co-Chair Sarah Thornton, Head of Unscripted for Paramount ANZ - who was appointed in 2025 after the retirement of Kate Pappas - in sharing the leadership, responsibilities and official duties of running the AIDC Board of Directors.

Alongside Kyas's appointment, AIDC welcomes incoming members Stephanie King, Impact Director, @documentaryaustralia, and Michael Hilliard, Managing Director, Producer, Boardwalk Pictures Australia, to the AIDC Board of Directors.

The inclusion of three new NSW-based board members follows the recent announcement of Sydney, NSW as the location for AIDC’s 40th Anniversary edition, with support from @screennsw as Principal Partner.

The appointments come after the completion of two consecutive three-year terms by outgoing Co-Chair Paul Wiegard, and Board members Hollie Fifer and Andrew Arbuthnot. AIDC would like to thank Paul, Hollie and Andrew for their service to the AIDC Board.

Alongside fellow Directors Sarah Thornton (Co-Chair), Matthew Carter (Treasurer), Marco Angele (Secretary), Paul Williams, Kelrick Martin, Bernadine Lim and Marissa McDowell, Paul, Hollie and Andrew have supported the AIDC Management Team in achieving several milestones, including the expansion of both the Indigenous Creators Program and Leading Lights Program to record participation levels, the introduction of The Showroom production company slate pitch and the Southern Light Award for outstanding contribution to the sector, as well as shepherding in a new era for AIDC from Melbourne to Sydney.

🔗 Read more about the appointments on link in bio

#AIDC #AIDC2027 by @aidcdoc

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a month ago

Big news for Australia's documentary and factual screen sector!

The Australian International Documentary Conference (@aidcdoc) is coming to Sydney in 2027, with Screen NSW thrilled to be the principal partner of the landmark event.

Celebrating 40 years of championing documentary and factual storytelling, AIDC will bring together practitioners, industry representatives and international buyers for four days of connection, conversation and opportunity.

Hosted across iconic NSW venues, the Art Gallery of NSW, State Library of NSW and Botanic Gardens of Sydney, AIDC 2027 marks the conference's return to NSW for the first time in more than two decades.

Learn more at the link in bio.

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Images: Top (L-R): Natasha Gadd, CEO/Creative Director at AIDC and Kylie Munnich, Executive Director at Screen NSW. Bottom (L-R): Kylie Munnich, Marc Fennell, Karina Holden, Alan Erson, Dr Naomi Koh Belic, Camilla Mazzaferro, Natasha Gadd and Daniel King. by @aidcdoc

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