The Conference Program

The driving force behind the Primetime Emmy® winning “Deadliest Catch,” and “Ice Road Truckers,” and top-rated shows, “Monster Garage,” and “Black Gold”, Beers has created a unique brand of television programming featuring unheralded heroes in high risk, high reward situations.

Keynote address by Paul Gibbs, Head of Programmes, BBC World News, UK.

Paul is responsible for decisions across investment, commissioning, genre and programme development, and manages the growing business in commercial programming content.

Why Let Ethics Get in the Way of a Good Story

What is ethical? And who defines the ethics of storytelling? This all-star panel will debate these issues and discuss whether there is a duty of care, or responsibility, owed by filmmakers to those they film. Speakers include John Safran, Claire Aguilar, Bob Connolly, Ivan O’Mahoney, Alan Rosenthal and Tom Zubrycki. Moderated by Elizabeth Tadic.

From Sylvanian Waters to the Family

Sylvanian Waters director Brian Hill discusses the evolution of reality television with Peter Newman, Executive Producer Factual, SBS and Jonathan Smith, director of The Family - Channel 4's highly acclaimed constructed documentary series. Moderated by Jane Roscoe, SBS Television Network Programmer.

From Subsidy to Self Reliance

SPAA Documentary Producer of the Year, Cathy Henkel's films are financed by a gradually decreasing percentage of government agency support. How does this impact her financing plans?

The Future of Documentary

Wendy Levy, Director of Creative Programming and Director, Producers Institute for New Media Technologies, from Bay Area Video Coalition, San Francisco, presents a future scenario for the documentary genre in the web 3.0 era.

Focus on Compass

Compass, ABC TV’s Sunday night Religion & Ethics documentary program, offers distinct opportunities to Australian filmmakers who meet its Religion and Ethics strand-specific guidelines. This session offers an opportunity for filmmakers to learn what Compass is all about, what it is looking for in its co-productions and acquisitions, and hear from a producer/director who has produced two successful series for Compass, The Mission (2009) and The Abbey (2007).

Copyright Law

Everything you wanted to know about copyright but were too afraid to ask! Shaun Miller, Partner at Marshalls and Dent Lawyers, wil explain key concepts of Copyright Law including what copyright protects, how one attains copyright, the duration of copyright and “fair use” exceptions to copyright (including criticism and review, and the new parody exception).

The Anatomy of a Trailer: Simple Strategies to Create More Engaging Trailers and Attract Funding

Kevin Schaff of Tought Equity Motion will discuss the “art” of presenting the perfect pitch, an essential component for any commercial documentary project to get funding.

In Conversation with Filmmaker Alan Rosenthal

Alan Rosenthal (Israel) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Jerusalem, with a focus of making history/political documentaries and docudramas. This session will present an in-depth conversation about Alan’s long career by discussing the films that he has made, how he chooses the subject-matter for his films, his interest in docudramas, how he deals with commissioning editors and, crucially, how living in the politically volatile Middle East has shaped his views as a filmmaker. Shaun Miller will be interterviewing Alan Rosenthal.

Master Class by Filmmaker Jonathan Stack

Jonathan Stack (USA) is a multiple Emmy Award winning and two-time Academy Award® nominated documentary filmmaker. During his career Jonathan has written, produced and directed over 25 films and 50 television programs, including The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison (Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize) and Liberia: An Uncivil War. Jonathan has earned a reputation for his unique ability to gain access into forbidden and dangerous worlds.

Q&A with Director Gillian Armstrong

Multi award winning director Gillian Armstrong (Australia) talks to journalist Sandy George about her ongoing project documenting the lives of three Adelaide women, From Smokes and Lollies to Love Lust and Lies. Resulting in four films and over a time span of more than 30 years, Gillian keeps revisiting the protagonists that featured in her first documentary film.

In Conversation with Ruth Harley, Screen Australia

Screen Australia's CEO Ruth Harley, will provide insights into Australia's federal funding agency's future direction.

Master Class with Filmmaker Marcus Gillezeau

International Digital Emmy® Award winning producer Marcus Gillezeau (Australia) will explain how his production company approaches the development, financing and production of their award winning all-media projects, and will showcase a number of acclaimed projects from around the world. He will do an in-depth breakdown of new financing models, using heritage principals for factual projects that includes pre-selling content to online websites.

In Conversation with Matt Campbell, SBS

SBS Director of Television and Online Content, Matt Campbell is in conversation with journalist Sandy George. Matt's role covers the commissioning, acquisition and scheduling of all television programming and management of SBS's online content. (His responsibilities include the commissioning and acquisition of programs, scheduling, sport, subtitling and programming strategy.)

In Conversation with ABC TV Documentary, Dasha Ross and Stuart Menzies

Dasha Ross and Stuart Menzies invite you to join the conversation about commissioning priorities for 2010 for Contemporary, Indigenous and Religion and Ethics programming. During the discussion they’ll interrogate recent successes, what’s coming up and, most importantly, what’s missing from the slate.

In converstaion with Filmmaker Geoffrey Smith and Commissioner Greg Sanderson

"A Pair of Fresh Eyes? Working with Executive Produers." Award winning filmmaker Geoffrey Smith (UK) and BBC Storyville commissioner Greg Sanderson (UK) discuss the role of the executive producer during the making of The English Surgeon.

In Converstation with ABC TV Arts, Amanda Duthie

Amanda Duthie invites you to join the conversation about commissioning priorities for 2010 for Arts and jtv docs programming for TV and online. The discussion will interrogate recent successes, what’s coming up and, most importantly, what’s missing from the slate.

In Conversation with ABC TV Documentary, Alan Erson and Stuart Menzies

Alan Erson and Stuart Menzies invite you to join the conversation about commissioning priorities for 2010 for History, Science and Natural History programming. During the discussion they’ll interrogate recent successes, what’s coming up and, most importantly, what’s missing from the slate.

AIDC will also feature market place initiatives including pitch sessions and international broadcaster updates.

The 2010 Conference is Themed It’s a Small World After All...

In this world we are connected through wires, planes, trains and automobiles as well as relationships and shared emotions. The recent events on the financial markets have brought to the surface a rather disturbing connectivity and interdependency.

Media consumers are abandoning the pre-conviction that their news and entertainment interests are based on their physical whereabouts. Which newspaper provides you with the headlines no longer depends on geographical proximity, but rather communication devices to which you have access.

Stock footage from around the world is available for purchase on the internet. Filmmakers can communicate and collaborate in real-time from different ends of the world without the need to travel.

Are we back in the Renaissance? The world is our playground, but this time it is for real!

How has this international connectivity changed the demand for documentary product, the type of stories that are being told and the way programs are being made? These are the central questions at AIDC 2010. We will look at the practical and creative sides of documentary filmmaking from the perspective of being a citizen of the world.

In February 2010, international co-production will take centre stage at the Conference, by building relationships and exploring common ground, sharing experiences and teaming up for business. With Australia’s depth of talent continually growing, it is increasingly important to bring the world to Australia and in doing so, present Australia to the world.

Serious gaming and interactive content will also continue to be a topic of interest, following on from the 2009 Conference.

The Conference Program

Whilst the Conference sessions begin on Wednesday 24, there are a number of key activities scheduled for Tuesday 23. Please take these activities into consideration when booking your flights:

Registration Desk - open for delegates to register and collect their Conference pass and complimentary satchel.
Screening Room - open for delegates to view Videotheque and Trailer Park submissions for acquisition and co-production purposes.
Science Exchange Pitching Session - science stories will be pitched by scientists, to science producers and science broadcasters.
First Factual Films Festival - delegates are invited to the opening night including the first screening (from approximately 4:30pm TBC).
Opening Night Welcome Drinks - delegates are invited to attend this special event from 7pm, including the Stanley Hawes Award Ceremony and the inaugral Stanley Hawes Address from the Award winner. This function is a great opportunity to welcome all delegates to the Conference, and it includes drinks, canapes and socialising.

More details to be announced soon.