CONFERENCE: 2-5 MARCH 2026, ACMI, MELBOURNE / NAARM | INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE: 11-12 MARCH 2026, ONLINE
SESSIONS, PANELS AND DEEP DIVES FEATURING NONFICTION TALENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD
EXPLORE THE PROGRAMEXPLORE OUR PITCHES & PARTNERED INDUSTRY PROGRAMS
We are thrilled to finally reveal the full program for #AIDC2026, featuring a sensational lineup of over 50 sessions with more than 100 speakers and 90 decision makers.
There are sessions with twin #Oscars2026 nominated filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, director of Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’; Adam Bhala Lough, director the wildly irreverent ‘Deepfaking Sam Altman’ and co-director of HBO’s ‘Telemarketers’; and Rita Baghdadi, cinematographer and Emmy-nominated director of ‘Photographer - Muhammed Muheisen: Finding the Light’ and Sundance hit ‘Sirens’; Samoan / New Zealand filmmaker Ursula Grace Williams, director of ‘Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds’ - plus factual social media stars @esme.louisee and @naomikohbelic, industry leaders Tom McDonald of National Geographic, Aloke Devichand of Louis Theroux’s Mindhouse and many, many more.
Inspired by the theme ‘Hold True’, the program celebrates the resilience of the documentary and factual community, and is packed with sessions designed to challenge thinking, spark dialogue, and inspire action.
Come and celebrate the resilience of the documentary and factual community, including those who continue to speak truth to power, champion change, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders, challenges, and potentialities of the world around us.
AIDC 2026 takes place at ACMI in Melbourne / Naarm, 2–5 March 2026, with an online international marketplace 11–12 March 2026.
Check out the full program via the link in bio.
Thanks to @wearevicscreen @acmionline @screenaustralia @abcaustralia @sbs_australia and all AIDC 2026 partners.
#HoldTrue #Documentary #Conference #Screen #Factual #ThePerfectNeighbor @theperfectneighborfilm #academyawards #bestdocumentary #filmmaker #filmmaking #nonfiction
Do you want first dibs on marketplace meetings at AIDC 2026’s Cut to the Chase curated pitch meetings program?
Get your applications in by the early deadline - Friday 23 January - and you’ll be first in line to secure meetings with preferred decision makers participating in AIDC 2026.
Cut to the Chase is also where you can access this year’s special partnered pitching opportunities, like:
• The DocPlay Indie Booster - a new $20,000 initiative for independent feature documentary makers to boost their theatrical screening campaigns. @docplaynow
• The Post Lounge Group Doc Pitch - for documentary features, one-offs or series across any genre, with a share in up to $35,000 of equity investment through development, production, and post-production support. @thepostlounge
• The Shark Island Foundation Feature Docs Pitch - for feature-length documentaries to share in up to $100,000 in development grants, as well as four placements to participate in a new Shark Island Kangaroo Valley Development Lab. @sharkislandinstitute
Submitting a project is easy and free for anyone with an AIDC 2026 Business Pass or All Access Pass, with all documentary and factual formats considered across film, broadcast, digital media and audio.
The final submission deadline for Cut to the Chase is 30 January 2026.
Apply now on link in bio 🔗
We’re excited to reveal the 17 jurors for the 6th annual AIDC Awards, featuring renowned local and global artists, directors, producers and executives from across the documentary and factual storytelling industry.
Appointed for their extensive knowledge and industry experience, the jurors select outstanding Australian documentary and factual works from the last year across six categories. Winners are announced during AIDC 2026 on Thursday 5 March at @acmionline.
Read more about the jurors, categories and prizes presented by AIDC partners Film Finances and @aftrs on link in bio.
BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
• Raul Niño Zambrano - Creative Director, @sheffdocfest (UK)
• Kyas Hepworth - Screen & Media Specialist (AUS)
• Paul Struthers - International Documentary Programmer, @sydfilmfest (AUS)
BEST DOCUMENTARY / FACTUAL SINGLE
• Electra Manikakis - Executive Producer, Wild Pacific Media (AUS)
• Katrina Lucas - Creative Producer (AUS)
• Michael Hilliard - Executive Producer, @boardwalkpictures (USA/AUS)
BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
• Keoni Kailimai - Director of Programs, @picpacific (USA/HAWAII)
• Lexi Landsman - Development Executive, @bbcstudios Productions (AUS)
• @marcfennell - Journalist / Host, ABC / SBS (AUS)
BEST SHORT-FORM DOCUMENTARY
• Erika Dilday - Executive Director, @amdocdocumentary & Executive Producer, @povdocs (USA)
• Spiro Economopoulos - Film Curator, @acmionline (AUS)
• @marlikka_perdrisat - Filmmaker (AUS)
BEST AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
• Daniel James - Co-Host / Executive Producer @7ampodcast, Solstice Media (AUS)
• Zoe Ferguson - Journalist / Producer, @abcaustralia Radio National (AUS)
• @patabboud - Journalist / Documentary Maker, Only Human Productions & Dreamchaser Studios (AUS)
BEST INTERACTIVE / IMMERSIVE DOCUMENTARY
• Brooke Collard - Producer, @goguljaryok (AUS)
• Jana Blair - General Manager & Partnerships, @regenstudios (AUS)
#documentary #documentaryawards
📢 AIDC 2026 Indigenous Creators Pitch deadline extended and new decision makers announced!
If you have an Indigenous-led documentary or factual project and are seeking market support, apply today for the 2026 Indigenous Creators Pitch, part of AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program and proudly supported by @indigenous_business_australia.
With the addition of two new decision makers to the pitch panel comes an official extension for applications to 11:59pm (AEDT), this Sunday 18 January.
Successful projects will be given the opportunity to pitch to a closed room of local and international buyers and funders specifically looking to support Indigenous-led nonfiction screen stories, including the newly added Eddie Coupe, Head of Industry, @melbfilmfest / MIFF Premiere Fund (Australia), and Mat Kesting, CEO / Creative Director, @adlfilmfest (Australia), alongside previously announced decision makers from ABC Australia, NITV, Shark Island Foundation (Australia), American Documentary | POV (USA), TIFF (Canada), and Points North Institute (USA).
One project will also be selected to receive the $5,000 Indigenous Creators Pitch Prize presented by AIDC. The pitch will take place during AIDC 2026 (2-5 March, ACMI, Naarm)
🔗 SEE LINK IN BIO TO APPLY
Image credit: Still from ‘Revive and Resist’ (2025) | Photo by @tysonfperkinsdp, courtesy of @entropicofilm and @ga.ru.wa
🛎️ We’re thrilled to reveal the officially selected projects for the AIDC 2026 FACTory International Pitching Forum, proudly presented by @wearevicscreen.
Selected for their authentic voices, unique stories, and market potential, 14 world-class documentary & factual projects from across the globe will pitch in The FACTory’s Central Showcase, New Talent Showcase and Rough Cut Showcase at ACMI and @fed.square’s The Edge auditorium during AIDC 2026 (2-5 March).
🔗 Discover more details about each project at link in bio.
🎯 CENTRAL SHOWCASE
CONFIDENTIAL GAS PROJECT
Prod. @grainmedia
THE LAST RODEO, New Zealand/USA/Australia (@monsoonpictures)
Dir. @ursula_grace
Prod. Alexander Behse
MARLIYA, Australia/UK (@pandamonium_films)
Dir. Stephen Page
Prod. Shontell Ketchell, @ewancutler
OUR BODIES, South Korea/Japan
Dir. @boraleekil
Prod. Sona Jo, Emi Ueyama
SAVING TUVALU, Australia/Tuvalu (@mediastockade, @filmtankproductions)
Dir. Amelia Tovey, Kate Blackmore, Collaborating Dir: Kato Eweki
Prod. Chris Kamen, Rebecca Barry, Cultural Advisor: Lilivao Roberts
SCENT: THE LANGUAGE OF LIFE, Australia (Smith&Nasht)
Dir. Annamaria Talas, Oliver Nasht
Prod. Simon Nasht, Annamaria Talas
💥 NEW TALENT SHOWCASE
ALL FIXED UP, China/USA
Dir. @_haozhou_
Prod. @jennymanwu, Tyler Hill
SEAHORSE SCHOOL, Australia (@grumpyturtlefilms & @mediastockade)
Dir. @harrietspark_
Prod. @becbaz, Chris Kamen
THE SIMULATION, Canada/France (TAK Films & Survivance)
Dir. Justine Harbonnier
Prod. Line Sander Egede
SISTERS IN WAR, Australia/Myanmar (@closerproductions)
Dir. Lay Thida
Prod. @mayadonna
WILD THING: THE REAL CROCODILE DUNDEE STORY, Australia (Wild Productions)
Dir. @mattsterne
Prod. @henryrichardson1, Matt Sterne
✂️ ROUGH CUT SHOWCASE
EL PESO DE LA NIEVE (THE WEIGHT OF SNOW), Australia/Chile (People Productions)
Dir. @matii_
Prod. @lina__screener, Cristian Valle Celedón
WHALE, RATS & KAURI, New Zealand (Tohorā Films)
Dir. @kimwebby35, @mikejonathanx
Prod. Kim Webby
HELL HAS NO FIRE ESCAPE, South Africa/UK/Australia (@tryhardfilm & @closerproductions )
Dir. @savage_woman
Prod. Sorcha Bacon, MattheProd. Sorcha Bacon, Matthew Bate, @becsum
#AIDC2026 #TheFACTory
