AIDC - Australian International Documentary Conference

28/04/2026

📽️ EXPLORE THE AIDC PLAYLIST ON DOCPLAY 🍿

To celebrate another successful year of partnership between AIDC and DocPlay — including the launch of the DocPlay Indie Booster as part of the AIDC 2026 Cut to the Chase marketplace — we’ve curated a special playlist of feature documentaries for you to watch.

Featuring acclaimed Australian and international titles that have screened, pitched, won awards, or featured creatives in AIDC programs, the playlist includes:

📽️ 2000 Meters to Andriivka
📽️ Spreadsheet Champions
📽️ Black Box Diaries
📽️ Porcelain War
📽️ You Can Go Now!
…and more.

New subscribers can try DocPlay FREE for 60 days — plenty of time to tackle the list.

Explore the playlist now: https://www.docplay.com/racks/aidc

AIDC is a leading not-for-profit organisation for the documentary and factual sector in Australia and presents the annual Australian International Documentary Conference – the premier documentary and factual industry forum and marketplace in the Southern Hemisphere.

02/04/2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Indigenous Documentary Placement, co-presented by AIDC and the ABC! 🎬

Now in its fifth year, this paid four-month placement offers one mid-career Indigenous practitioner the chance to be embedded within ABC Australia - Australia's largest public broadcaster - developing their skills in documentary and factual production, and building meaningful pathways into the industry.

The placement kicks off in June 2026, based in Sydney, with a salary equivalent of up to $96,715 per annum.

Practitioners from all states and territories are encouraged to apply, and may be eligible for additional travel support from their state or territory screen agency.

"The AIDC x ABC placement was a transformative experience for me as a documentary director and producer ... It has accelerated my development, expanded my network, and given me opportunities that would have been very difficult to access otherwise." - 2025 recipient Dylan Nicholls.

📅 Applications close 11:59pm AEST, Sunday 26 April 2026.
🖥️ A free virtual information session is being held on Wednesday 15 April, 11am–12pm AEST - email [email protected] to register.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), in partnership with the AIDC, is pleased to open applications for the Indigenous Documentary Placement program for 2026, with a submission deadline of 26 April 2026.

18/03/2026

Held from Monday 2 March to Thursday 5 March at ACMI in Melbourne / Naarm, and officially concluding Thursday 12 March with the completion of a two-day online international marketplace, AIDC 2026 saw a total of 755 Australian and international documentary and factual practitioners take part in a vibrant program of sessions, screenings, marketplace activities and networking.

Participants representing 22 countries engaged in a program featuring 118 speakers across 55 sessions, pitches, screenings and events. In addition, 175 projects were pitched across all AIDC initiatives and 522 structured meetings were held during the in-person conference and online international marketplace.

Read our farewell summary of (almost) everything that took place during AIDC 2026, recapping a highly-praised and impactful AIDC program and marketplace, and revisiting some of the many highlights 🔗 https://www.aidc.com.au/wrapping-up-aidc-2026-hold-true/

AIDC 2026 was presented by Principal Partner VicScreen, Presenting Partners ACMI and Screen Australia, and Major Partners ABC Australia and SBS Australia.

Held from Monday 2 March to Thursday 5 March at ACMI in Melbourne / Naarm, and officially concluding Thursday 12 March with the completion of a two-day online international marketplace, AIDC 2026 saw a total of 755 Australian and international documentary and factual practitioners take part in a vib...

06/03/2026

Scenes from the 2026 AIDC Awards at ACMI in Melbourne, featuring host Narelda Jacobs, Southern Light Award winners Simon Nasht and Karla Hart, and all the major category award winners. Congratulations to everyone!

Photos by Kelli Morris and William Hamilton-Coates.

05/03/2026

Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2026 AIDC Awards. An array of moving, hard-hitting, and provocative stories by an incredibly talented bunch of filmmakers and creators.

Many thanks to our Awards partners Film Finances and the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

Thanks also to our principal partner VicScreen, presenting partners ACMI and Screen Australia and major partners ABC Australia and SBS Australia.

Best Feature Documentary (with a $5,000 cash prize presented by Film Finances)
YURLU | COUNTRY
Director / Producer: Yaara Bou Melhem, Co-Producers: Tom Bannigan, James Saunders, Executive Producers Maitland Parker and Chris Kamen | Illuminate Films

Best Documentary/Factual Series
REVEALED: DEATH CAP MURDERS
Director: Gil Marsden, Producers: Monique Keller, Carl Fennessy, Billy Russell, Mary Lisio, Elissa Johnson, and Ariel Richter | Dreamchaser, Den of Martians, Fifth Season

Best Documentary/Factual Single
EMILY: I AM KAM
Director / Producer: Danielle Maclean, Producer: Anna Greive | Tamarind Tree Pictures

Best Short-Form Documentary (with a $2,000 cash prize presented by AFTRS)
WIEAMBILLA RECONSTRUCTED
Producer: Lisa Favazzo |
Guardian Australia

Best Audio Documentary
BROKEN TRUST
Producer: Miles Herbert |
Guardian Australia

Best Interactive / Immersive Documentary
THE WORLD CAME FLOODING IN
Directors / Producers: Isobel Knowles, Van Sowerwine, Producer: Philippa Campey |
Film Camp

04/03/2026

Following today’s AIDC - Australian International Documentary Conference panel 'State of Play: Sector Sustainability in 2026 and Beyond,' SPA CEO Matthew Deaner called for continued reform to ensure the National Cultural Policy's commitment to priority genres including documentary is fully realised.

“The National Cultural Policy stands as a clear commitment to supporting Australia’s priority genres, including documentary,” Mr Deaner said.

“The introduction of Australian content obligations for streaming services is a significant step toward honouring that commitment. For the first time, global streaming platforms operating in Australia are required to invest in local storytelling”.

“However, the real test will be whether the streaming framework translate into genuine commissioning activity for independent producers, including documentary makers. Whilst the intent of the reform is clear, its impact will depend on how it is delivered in practice, especially in the absence of a required genre mix.”

Read the full media release at https://ow.ly/fjol50YoW47

📷 ‘Journey Home, David Gulpilil,’ Savage Films and Brindle Films

04/03/2026

Scenes from The FACTory Central Showcase and New Talent Showcase in The Edge, Fed Square, presented by VicScreen on Day 2 of . Engaging pitches and fascinating projects, with pitch prizes from Sheffield DocFest, DMZ Docs Industry, Doc Edge Industry, Visions du Réel, DOK Leipzig, Docs by the Sea and Raina Film Festival Distribution now being decided.

03/03/2026

Highlights from Day 1 of AIDC 2026: Hold True!

Thanks to VicScreen, ACMI, Screen Australia, ABC Australia, & SBS Australia - plus our fabulous Opening Night Drinks (Presented by ABC) venue Zinc at Fed Square. Photos by Kelli Morris, Ned Mansfield, Melissa Butters Photography & Max Roux Photography & Videography.

02/03/2026

AIDC Spotlight speaker Geeta Gandbhir interviewed tonight on Triple R - 3RRR 102.7FM !

01/03/2026

27/02/2026

Congratulations to Grace and all our 2026 Leading Lights! It all starts on Monday 😃

The SAFC is proud to support the 2026 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), with a strong contingent of SA creatives represented at the conference, which is taking place 2–5 March in Melbourne. Ten SA practitioners were selected for the SAFC’s AIDC 2026 Conference Subsidy, incl...