The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) has announced its 2025 theme, Future Telling, along with a first look at its program and speaker line-up.
As the premier southern hemisphere event for documentary and factual content, AIDC 2025 will be held in-person at ACMI in Melbourne/Naarm from 2–5 March, followed by an online international marketplace on 6–7 March.
The Future Telling theme integrates forward-looking ideas with storytelling, spotlighting the role of truth-telling within documentary work. The program aims to inspire industry practitioners to envision new horizons for nonfiction storytelling and address the sector’s challenges, with sessions covering topics from policy reform to storytelling innovation.
First look at speakers and industry leaders
The first line-up of conference guests includes acclaimed producers, directors, and researchers at the forefront of nonfiction storytelling. Confirmed speakers include:
- Conference: 2-5 March, ACMI, Melbourne / Naarm
- International Marketplace: 6-7 March, Online
- Shane Boris (USA), Academy Award-winning producer known for Navalny, Fire of Love, and Stray.
- Shiori Ito (Japan), director of Black Box Diaries and recipient of the Sundance World Cinema Award for her work on gender and social justice.
- Gabriel Shipton (Australia), producer and brother of Julian Assange, known for Ithaka: A Fight to Free Julian Assange and other media-tech activism initiatives.
- Elizabeth Klinck (Canada), a renowned visual researcher and clearance specialist with an extensive portfolio including Into the Inferno and Stories We Tell.
The AIDC marketplace will also welcome a host of new decision-makers, including representatives from Love Nature (Canada), ARTE France, bilibili (China), and SVT (Sweden), alongside returning commissioners from BBC Storyville (UK), NHK (Japan), STAN (Australia), and Hulu (USA).
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AIDC 2025: Future Telling
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Under Future Telling, AIDC 2025 explores subthemes such as Dok-Politik (advocacy and policy), Curious Truths (creative nonfiction), Stories Without Borders (international formats), ReFraming Reality (technology and future-casting), and Pulling Focus (sustainability and impact strategies).
AIDC CEO and Creative Director Natasha Gadd said the theme reflects the documentary sector’s new era and challenges. “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 invites us to envision possible or alternative futures for ourselves and our sector.”
Expanding opportunities for documentary makers
The AIDC Marketplace and Industry Development Program will offer sessions geared toward business and project development, including the FACTory International Pitching Showcase, presented by VicScreen, with categories for projects at various stages of development. Cut to the Chase, AIDC’s curated meetings program, matches producers with international buyers for targeted networking.
Returning initiatives include The Showroom, which offers established Australian production companies a slate-pitching program, and the Shark Island Foundation Feature Docs Pitch, awarding up to $100,000 in development grants for character-driven documentaries. The Post Lounge Doc Pitch also returns, offering $30,000 in equity investment for documentary projects in post-production.
Through these initiatives, AIDC’s 2025 Marketplace builds on past success, including $2.4 million unlocked in recent years for documentary and factual practitioners.
AIDC Awards and 10th year celebration in Victoria
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Celebrating its 10th year in Victoria, AIDC 2025 will culminate with the fifth annual AIDC Awards on 5 March, honouring outstanding new works of Australian documentary and factual content across six categories. Additionally, the prestigious Southern Light Award, a $5,000 prize, will recognise an Australian industry luminary for contributions to nonfiction media.
The conference is supported by long-standing partnerships with VicScreen, ACMI, and Screen Australia. VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher described the event as a major opportunity for local talent, saying, “The 2025 edition of AIDC is set to bring global leaders in factual storytelling to Victoria to connect with our local documentary creators, providing significant opportunities for our local talent to hone their skills, secure business deals, and turbo charge their careers.”
ACMI’s Director and CEO, Seb Chan, added, “Our partnership with AIDC is crucial in strengthening the screen sector and fostering a vibrant screen culture here in Melbourne.”
Registration for AIDC 2025 is now open, with options for Business Passes, All Access Passes, and Sessions Passes. The full session program will be revealed on 29 January 2025.
