AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program is a dedicated strand of sessions and marketplace activities designed by and for First Nations practitioners to come together, share ideas and elevate the craft and business of First Nations stories.
Now in its fifth year, the Indigenous Creators program welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners as well as First Nations practitioners from across the globe. The program is targeted at all experience levels across the documentary and factual sector and is designed to bring together creators working in all forms of nonfiction screen content.
The AIDC 2023 Indigenous Creators Program will consist of four sessions designed to provide targeted information to practitioners from all skill levels around topics such as pitching, storytelling, funding and distribution for Indigenous-led stories.
The program will take place alongside AIDC’s 2023 event, giving First Nations practitioners access to AIDC’s full suite of offerings including industry sessions, marketplace activities and networking events.
“AIDC RESPECTS AND VALUES THE OLDEST AND ORIGINAL ‘DOCUMENTING’ STORYTELLERS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KEY FILM STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR MOBS, AND TO SHOWCASE NEW ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER WORK TO THE FILM MARKET SPACE.”
– DOUGLAS WATKIN
FILM DIRECTOR & AIDC BOARD MEMBER
To open the 2023 Indigenous Creators Program, we invite all First Nations practitioners from across the globe to come together with First Nations and Australian South Sea Islander filmmaker, Kaylene Butler.
Sunday 05 March 14:45 – 15:45
Gandel Future Lab 1
Speaker: Kaylene Butler, Filmmaker.
Welcome at Big Esso – Mabu Mabu
Presented by ABC Indigenous
Indigenous Creators Program participants are invited to join us at Mabu Mabu – Big Esso for a meet and greet with First Nations practitioners attending AIDC in person in Naarm (Melbourne).
Sunday 05 March 16:00 – 17:00
Big Esso – Mabu Mabu, Yarra Building Fed Square
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.
Monday 06 March 10:45 – 11:45
Gandel Future Lab 1
Speakers: Christine Kecher (The New York Times Op-Docs), Hollie Fifer (Doc Society), Kate Hodges (Shark Island Institute), Amanda Hillsberg Arya (Participant), Theresa Navarro (Catapult Film Fund)
Moderator: Laurrie Brannigan-Onato, AIDC First Nations Producer
Join experienced First Nations documentary creatives as they share their advice and best practice when looking for a producer to collaborate with, champion your project and handle your story with care and cultural safety.
Tuesday 7 March 11:30 – 12:30
Gandel Future Lab 1
Speakers: Brooke Collard (Goguljar Yok), Taryne Laffar (Pink Pepper), Dena Curtis (Inkey Media)
Moderator: Douglas Watkin, First Nations Filmmaker and AIDC Board Member
Archives Masterclass: Still We Rise
Presented by VicScreen
Looking through the lens of archive-driven feature documentary Still We Rise, join the filmmaking team as they unpack the edit process and explore the complex nature of archival documentary making.
Wednesday 8 March 13:45 – 14:45
Gandel Future Lab 1
Speakers: Anna Grieve (Tamarind Tree Pictures), Taryne Laffar (Pink Pepper), Kelrick Martin (ABC), Tasha James (ABC)
Moderator: Kimberley Benjamin (Garuwa)
ACMI First Nations Film Club: You Can Go Now!
Presented by ACMI and AIDC
A screening of You Can Go Now! directed by Larissa Behrendt. 50 years of First Nations activism in Australia is seen through the lens of contemporary artist and provocateur Richard Bell. Open to First Nations Film Club Members & AIDC First Nations practitioners only.
Tuesday 7 March, 18:00 – 20:00
Gandel Digital Future Lab 1
To be eligible for the Indigenous Creators Program, simply register for an All Access Pass or Sessions Pass to attend AIDC 2023. Once registered, Indigenous practitioners will immediately be eligible to participate in all the program’s sessions.
To register for AIDC, visit our Passes page.
AIDC is working with Australian State and Territory screen agencies across the country to support Indigenous practitioners to attend AIDC. To see if you might be eligible for support, click the ‘READ MORE’ section below for information on how to apply.
For those applying from Victoria, please contact Kate Darrigan at kate.darrigan@vicscreen.vic.gov.au
For those applying from New South Wales, please contact: Amelia Carew Reid at Amelia.Carew-Reid@create.nsw.gov.au
For those applying from Tasmania, please contact Danielle McCarthy at Danielle.McCarthy@screen.tas.gov.au
For those applying from the Northern Territory, please contact: Callam Yost via callam.yost@nt.gov.au or Sebastian Angborn via Sebastian.Angborn@nt.gov.au
For those applying from Western Australia please contact: Devina McPherson at Devina.McPherson@screenwest.com.au