Sessions 2023

Sara Dosa - Love in the Time of Archive

Join Sara Dosa, director of the multi-award-winning Fire of Love, as she shares insights into her bold filmmaking process across story, editing, narration and score to create an intimate, archive-driven love story about volcanologists, Maurice and Katia Krafft.

Taking Flight with Shaunak Sen

The story of two Muslim brothers rescuing birds in New Delhi became an historic winner at Cannes and Sundance. Join All That Breathes director Shaunak Sen for a deep dive into his craft and his masterful observational documentary style.

Fatima Salaria: a Masterclass in Doc Series Producing

Managing director of Naked Television, Fatima Salaria, gives an exclusive masterclass on successfully creating a nonfiction series, global formats, current trends and her ambitions for the future of factual.

David Farrier: Documentary of the Absurd

Balancing humour in documentary is a fine art. Join one of Aotearoa / NZ's most fascinating filmmakers, David Farrier (Tickled & Mister Organ) as he shares his work in investigative journalism, podcasting and documentary.

First and Foremost: First Nations Knowledge through Documentary

An exclusive deep dive into two of the most anticipated factual series' upcoming in 2023 - First Weapons and The First Inventors - and the importance of First Nations-led filmmaking practices in ensuring authenticity and respect when handling First Nations knowledge.

Courage of Conviction in Investigative Storytelling

Join the directors of Navalny and Into the Deep as they discuss balancing journalistic rigour and storytelling craft when creating complex, high stakes and layered stories unveiling the events behind major global headlines.

Film Futurism with Violeta Ayala

Film futurist, visionary filmmaker, artist and writer Violeta Ayala illuminates the path for the future of nonfiction and the innovative ways creators can embrace new technology and set a new visual language for a more promising future.

The Documentary Participant: At What Cost?

Subjects, Collaborators, Participants. How much do we understand about those whose lives become documentaries? A panel of filmmakers, experts and participants discuss ethics, integrity, and duty of care in doc-making.

Soundwaves: Anatomy of an Audio Scene

Hear from award-winning audio storytellers as they unpack how to utilise the powers of audio documentary in play-by-play breakdowns of scenes from their most recent and impactful works.

Deep Dive: Filming in the Big Blue

Take a deep dive into the big blue as we explore the power and perils of working in the ocean with recent docs and series Ningaloo, Facing Monsters and Shipwreck Hunters Australia.

True Romance - The Ethics of Love, Sex and Relationships in Documentary

Join series creators of Couples Therapy, The Matchmakers and Better Date than Never as they delve into crafting sex, love and dating shows with dignity and care.

Blood Sports: Wading into the Competitive World of Sports Docs

What exactly makes a slam dunk sports doc? Join industry leaders and creators for a robust conversation about the playing field of sports documentaries and how to achieve cut-through in a crowded landscape.

Sessions

Unearthing the Art of Archives

Archival sound and vision provide a rich tapestry to bring nonfiction works to life. Join our esteemed panel of archive experts as they draw on recent work to shed light on how best to research, source, manage your footage and clear archives for your productions.

Getting Queer-ious

Queer content creators share personal experiences of working in the documentary space: secrets for success, mistakes made, lessons learned, and tactics and techniques for unforgettable inclusive storytelling.

Generations: Looking back at First Nations Factual

Join new First Nations voices as they look back on the powerful history of First Nations filmmakers who paved the way for the next generation of storytellers.

Ask Screen Australia

Join Screen Australia in conversation with Denise Eriksen about the latest issues and developments in the national screen funding agency, meet the team and hear about their current programs.

Playing with Form in Factual

Join the SBS team as they traverse the complex territory of playing with form in factual - the challenges involved and how it can ultimately help secure a commission.

What Makes a Hit Show

Join the ABC and representatives from some of the year’s biggest series to explore and discuss what's in the DNA of a hit show.

Band of Broadcasters: Global Collaborations and Initiatives

This session explores the ways in which public broadcasters across the globe are forging new alliances and adapting to the streaming era, and how these collaborations have the potential to benefit producers and audiences alike.

Meet the SBS and NITV Commissioners

SBS and NITV commissioners discuss key opportunities, share case studies of recently successful docs, show sneak peeks of new series and reveal what they are looking for in 2023/2024.

Trust Matters - How Journalistic Rigour Underpins the Success of ABC Docs

There has never been a greater interest in compelling documentaries with journalistic rigour at their foundation. Join ABC as they share insights into the ways in which they support filmmakers in applying journalistic integrity to their documentary films.

Investigative Journalism to Long Form Screen Features

Join leading Australian journalists and filmmakers as they discuss the work they have created for Stan Originals Revealed slate, a new series of original documentaries based on major investigative stories.

Streaming of You - Meet the Streamers

With more streaming platforms than ever in the local market, meet the major streamers occupying the doc space and learn how to get your projects on their platform.

Spinning the Globe - Meet the Internationals

Hear from some of the stellar line-up of international guests joining us at AIDC 2023 working across distribution, funding, and acquisitions in the doc and factual space.

The Future of Theatrical Documentary

Theatrical feature docs are vital to the fabric of nonfiction storytelling, but after a challenging few years, industry leaders ask the question - what does a thriving theatrical documentary sector really look like?

The Long and the Short of Monetising Documentary Rights

In a volatile screen business landscape where IP is everything, how can documentary filmmakers make the most from carefully working with the rights in their screen content, but also impact strategies and ancillary works?

Igniting Change through Impact Funding

For these philanthropic funders, impact is not a flash in a pan, it's their dedication. In this session, representatives from Doc Society, Documentary Australia, Shark Island Institute, Minderoo and Chicken & Egg Pictures will reveal their theory of change, new insights, and what type of projects they are looking to support.

Docs in the Age of TikTok

Join diverse nonfiction digital creators as they explore opportunities for quality nonfiction storytelling in a bite-sized, user-generated, algorithmic landscape, with literally seconds to hook audiences.

Indigenous Creators Program: Yarning Circle

To open the 2024 Indigenous Creators Program, we welcome all First Nations Practitioners from Australia and across the globe to come together with hosts Kelrick Martin, Douglas Watkin and Laurrie Mansfield.

Indigenous Voices, Future Visions

A spotlight on innovative international First Nations artists working at the nexus of storytelling and cutting-edge technologies.

Experiential Storytelling with Lynette Wallworth and Marie Foulston

How can we understand an experience we have not lived through or a world that we have not inhabited? Join us as we delve into the creation of immersive worlds and how they alter the way we experience the documentary form by allowing audiences to become part of the story.

Riding the Green Wave

An in-depth look at how the screen industry is putting the planet in the picture - and how it’s not as hard or as costly as you might think.

The Great Australian Pitch Off

Turning the tables on the pitch format, we put networks and streamers in the hot seat giving them a random topic and just three minutes to prep and pitch new project ideas to a panel of independent production companies.

Sessions

Design for Documentaries

Join 21-19 Creative Director, Dom Bartolo, as he shares insights into his studio's approach to design in documentary and how design plays a critical role in your next project.

Indigenous Creators Program: Meet the Decision Makers Seeking Indigenous-Led Stories

An opportunity for Indigenous Creators Program participants to hear from and have an informal yarn with decision makers seeking Indigenous led stories to discover opportunities and avenues for First Nations projects. First Nations Practitioners Only.

Indigenous Creators Program: Finding the Right Producer

Finding a producer that can champion your project and handle your story with care and cultural safety can be a challenge. Join First Nations creatives as they share best practice when canvassing producers to collaborate with. First Nations Practitioners Only.

Indigenous Creators Program: First Nations Archive - Still We Rise

Looking through the lens of archive-driven feature documentary Still We Rise, join the creative team as they unpack the edit process and explore the complex nature of archival documentary making. First Nations Practitioners Only.

The Topics Influencing 2023 Documentary Storytelling

Getty Images and Storymaker explore the topics and content that user insights suggest will capture viewers' interest in factual productions for 2023 and beyond.

Protecting your Budget from Foreign Exchange Risk

Learn how to remove foreign exchange risk on your international productions with Xe Money Transfer.

Secondary Royalties and Industry Initiatives

Join Screenrights for a deep dive into royalty payments for secondary usage of your programs, where they come from, how they are calculated as well as other Screenrights services and initiatives to help your productions.