Australia’s premier forum and marketplace for documentary and factual storytelling - the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) - has launched its theme and first confirmed guests for AIDC 2025, taking place 2-5 March at ACMI in Melbourne / Narrm, and followed by an online international marketplace 6-7 March.
This year, the theme Future Telling: New Horizons in Documentary and Factual Storytelling is the lens for exploring the changes, challenges and possibilities that lie ahead in a rapidly evolving media landscape – from industry reform to innovative modes of creating, new ways of seeing, and inventive ways of taking our stories to audiences across the globe.
The first speakers to be announced include: Academy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated American producer and writer Shane Boris (Hollywoodgate, Navalny, Fire of Love); journalist, writer, and director Shiori Ito (Black Box Diaries); producer, transmedia storyteller, and brother of Julian Assange, Gabriel Shipton (Ithaka); and multi-award-winning Canadian archive producer and clearance specialist, Elizabeth Klinck (Stories We Tell, Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer).
Over 50 decision makers from high-profile broadcasters, streamers, distributors, sales agents and funding bodies have already been announced, including first-time guests from Love Nature / Blue Ant Media, ARTE France and bilibili, as well as some returning participants from BBC Storyville, CBC, NHK and Catapult Film Fund (with many more to come).
AIDC’s expansive marketplace program of exciting pitches and initiatives includes the return of the Cut to the Chase curated pitch meetings program, and the 10th anniversary edition of market centrepiece The FACTory International Pitching Showcase, presented by VicScreen (FACTory applications close 13 November, or 17 November with late fee).
AIDC’s industry development program also sees the third year of the Shark Island Feature Docs Pitch, with up to $100,000 in development grants available for documentaries with the potential to shift thinking; and the fourth year of the The Post Lounge Doc Pitch, with up to $30,000 of equity investment through post-production available for standout projects.
And with the return of Leading Lights – AIDC’s philanthropically-funded program for diverse and emerging storytellers, featuring a tailored professional development program by program partner AFTRS and the exclusive Leading Lights Pitch – AIDC 2025 has already unlocked over $180,000 in project development funding, professional development and prizes for delegates.
Set to cap AIDC 2025 on Wednesday 5 March 2025, nominations are currently sought for the prestigious 5th annual AIDC Awards, recognising outstanding completed works of new Australian documentary and factual content across six categories: Best Feature Documentary, Best Documentary/Factual Series, Best Documentary/Factual Single, Best Short-Form Documentary (with a cash prize presented by AFTRS), Best Audio Documentary and Best Interactive/Immersive Documentary.
AIDC Members are also encouraged to nominate an Australian documentary and factual industry luminary for the 2025 AIDC Southern Light Award, a $5,000 cash prize given by AIDC to an Australian industry professional for their outstanding contribution to nonfiction screen, digital and/or audio media.
Further announcements about AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program and major new initiatives and pitching opportunities will follow in the coming weeks, with the full session program to be revealed 29 January 2025. Registration for AIDC 2025 is now open.