AIDC 2024 Leading Lights Applications Open

We are delighted to open applications for AIDC’s 2024 Leading Lights philanthropic funding program, assisting industry newcomers to establish themselves as part of Australia’s nonfiction screen community. 

Leading Lights supports emerging and early-career, Indigenous and First Nations, LGBTQIA+, regional and remote, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) screen creatives to attend AIDC for the first time and receive professional development opportunities. 

Since launching in 2018, a total of 217 emerging and diverse screen creatives have been able to attend AIDC and participate in the Leading Lights professional development program.

All selected Leading Lights recipients receive a complimentary Sessions Pass allowing them to attend AIDC 2023 and to participate in the Leading Lights Program, supported by program partner AFTRS in collaboration with Edith Cowan University (ECU).

“Being a part of the Leading Lights program at AIDC exceeded all expectations,” said 2023 Leading Lights recipient, Sarah Okenyo.

“As an emerging filmmaker at such a prestigious conference – I never expected to be sitting down and meeting broadcasters, funding bodies, or established filmmakers in such a genuinely helpful and productive way. The Leading Lights program, from day one, enabled us to enter the conversations and the learning curve followed!” 

Fellow 2023 recipient, Carolyn Cage, agreed: “It was an immensely valuable experience being part of the Leading Lights cohort on both a personal and professional level.

“It was great to be able to connect with other emerging and diverse creatives and gain industry insight from both local and international practitioners. More than anything, I felt encouraged and inspired by everyone that I met, or listened to in the sessions, and it’s made me feel extremely lucky to be part of such a supportive industry of change-makers.”

AIDC would like to extend a huge thanks to Leading Lights program partners AFTRS and ECU, and our early donor supporters: Tilt Media & Entertainment, Brindle Films, Renegade Films, and Spectrum Films (one pass each).

“Leading Lights is a fantastic way for us to connect with new voices in the documentary landscape,” said Sam Griffin, Head of Unscripted, Tilt Media.

“We get to meet so many talented filmmakers who have already set themselves apart from the crowd just by being selected for the program.” 

Applications for the 2024 Leading Lights Program are open now, with a closing date of Sunday 10 December 2023.

For more information and to apply, visit the Leading Lights page.