The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) - Australia's premier documentary event - returns to Melbourne this March.
Documentary lovers and makers alike, rejoice and prepare to delve into one of the most enlightening film events of the year.
The AIDC is placing Melbourne at the centre of the filmmaking world this March as it reveals its full 2025 program, bringing together Oscar nominees, pioneering AI filmmakers, and industry leaders for a future-focused exploration of factual storytelling.
AIDC 2025 will feature over 40 sessions and more than 115 speakers, all in the heart of the city at ACMI. This year is the future-focused theme, Future Telling: New Horizons in Documentary & Factual Storytelling.
AIDC 2025:
- Conference: March 2-5, ACMI, Melbourne/Naarm
- International Marketplace: March 6-7, Online only
- Public screenings program announced: February 6, 2025
- Project submissions deadline: January 31, 2025
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Oscar nominees and global documentary talent
Academy Award nominees Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie will present their feature Sugarcane, a powerful investigation into abuse at a First Nations residential school in Canada. The film joins Black Box Diaries, directed by journalist Shiori Ito, in the 2025 Oscar race.
Oscar-winning producer Shane Boris (Fire of Love, Navalny) leads the spotlight sessions, sharing insights from his groundbreaking work that earned him two Academy Award nominations in the same year – the first producer to achieve this since 1942. Boris will explore the craft of creative producing and his approach to shaping powerful narratives through boundary-pushing documentaries.
Global streaming platforms and broadcasters confirmed
Decision-makers from major platforms including ABC, Amazon Prime Video, BBC Storyville, and National Geographic will attend, alongside representatives from Al Jazeera, Channel 4, Hulu, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The conference marketplace provides crucial networking opportunities for Australian creators seeking international partnerships.
International distributors and sales agents Autlook Filmsales, The Party Film Sales, CAT&Docs, and Madman Entertainment will scout new projects, while development funds including Doc Society, The Whickers, and Catapult Film Fund offer financing pathways.
AI meets Werner Herzog: The future of documentary filmmaking
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Director Piotr Winiewicz challenges traditional filmmaking by training artificial intelligence on Werner Herzog’s complete works. His experimental documentary About a Hero responds to Herzog’s claim that “a computer will not make a film as good as mine in 4,500 years,” creating a reality-bending exploration of human-AI relationships.
The conference delves deep into AI’s impact on documentary-making with additional sessions exploring ethical considerations, creative applications, and future implications for the industry.
Professional development and industry access
The Leading Lights program supports emerging, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled or neurodiverse, and culturally diverse screen creatives, alongside regional and remote practitioners.
State screen agencies including Screen Queensland, Screenwest, Screen Territory, VicScreen and Screen Tasmania provide travel support to ensure nationwide participation.
Spotlight sessions explore global storytelling
Award-winning director Gabrielle Brady and Mongolian producer Ariunaa Tserenpil will discuss co-authorship in their hybrid documentary The Wolves Always Come at Night. Renowned visual researcher Elizabeth Klinck (Into the Inferno, Stories We Tell) leads an archive workshop exploring documentary storytelling through historical footage.
Adventure documentarians join the lineup, including mountaineer-cinematographer Renan Öztürk (The Last Tepui, Meru) and director Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa, Mountain), sharing insights about filming in extreme conditions.
Industry innovation and reform take centre stage
The conference explores five key subthemes: Dokpolitik (advocacy and policy reform), Curious Truths (experimental forms and investigative storytelling), Stories Without Borders (international formats and co-productions), ReFraming Reality (future of truth and new technologies), and Pulling Focus (sustainability and distribution).
Sessions include Resilience Beyond the Market, examining community-led distribution models, and Broadcast Horizons with industry leaders from SBS, ABC, and Nine Network discussing television’s digital transformation.
Marketplace opportunities and pitching sessions
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The Cut to the Chase program facilitates curated pitch meetings with over 90 decision makers from around the world, including representatives from TVO Canada, ZDF, Sundance Film Festival, Dogwoof, and The Guardian.
The FACTory International Pitching Showcase, presented by VicScreen, will feature 15 in-development projects competing at The Edge and ACMI. The Showroom returns for established Australian production companies to pitch multiple projects to high-level buyers.
A special Canadian delegation will participate in the Australian x Canadian Co-Production Market, supported by Telefilm and the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO).
Awards celebrate documentary excellence
The AIDC Awards, held on March 5, will distribute prizes across multiple categories: $5,000 for Best Feature Documentary (presented by Film Finances), $3,000 for Best Short-Form Documentary (presented by AFTRS), and the $5,000 Southern Light Award for outstanding contribution to nonfiction media.
Development funds unlock $200k for Australian documentary makers
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The Shark Island Foundation Feature Docs Pitch offers up to $100,000 in development grants for social impact documentaries. The Post Lounge Doc Pitch provides $30,000 in post-production investment for feature documentaries, one-offs or series.
The inaugural Indigenous Creators Pitch, backed by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), includes a $5,000 prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led nonfiction projects.
Future focus drives industry transformation
AIDC CEO and Creative Director Natasha Gadd emphasizes the transformative focus: “As we stand at the precipice of a new era for our sector, at AIDC 2025 we turn our lens to the future of documentary and factual storytelling to create a forum that not only explores what is on the horizon but also creates a dialogue for us to actively shape the future we want to see for ourselves and our sector.”
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher reinforces Melbourne’s position as a documentary hub: “AIDC creates significant opportunities for local talent to connect with some of the world’s leading documentary and factual storytellers. VicScreen is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with AIDC, reinforcing Victoria’s position as a global centre for innovation in screen.”
ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan adds: “AIDC’s 2025 theme of Future Telling resonates deeply with ACMI as we continue our long-standing presenting partnership with Australia’s premier screen conference. ACMI is a future-focused museum and dedicated to being a gathering place for screen practitioners to reach new horizons in documentary and factual storytelling.”
Business, All Access, Sessions and Day passes are now available. For registration and program details visit aidc.com.au
This article was made in partnership with AIDC.