AIDC 2025 FULL PROGRAM & SPEAKER LINEUP REVEALED

The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) today announces the full program for its 2025 event – including over 40 sessions, more than 115 speakers and 90 industry decision makers – taking place in-person at ACMI in Melbourne / Naarm, from 2-5 March 2025 with an online-only international marketplace 6-7 March 2025.

Inspired by the theme Future Telling: New Horizons in Documentary & Factual Storytelling, the AIDC 2025 program features talent working at the cutting edge of every facet of documentary and factual, including Oscar®-nominated and Oscar®-winning filmmakers, groundbreaking Australian and international storytellers, and some of the industry’s most successful business insiders.

High-profile new additions to the lineup include a Spotlight session with Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of the 2025 Academy Award®-nominated feature documentary Sugarcane, discussing their epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of cultural reckoning. Sugarcane is the first film directed by an Indigenous North American to be nominated for an Oscar® in the Academy’s history.

Also joining the Spotlight program is director Piotr Winiewicz, who took Werner Herzog’s provocation “A computer will not make a film as good as mine in 4,500 years” and trained AI on all of Herzog’s works, resulting in the mind-bending hybrid documentary, About a Hero. 

Previously announced AIDC Spotlight speakers include Academy Award-winner and two-time Academy Award®-nominated American producer and writer, Shane Boris, recently responsible for producing the acclaimed Hollywoodgate (2023), directed by Ibrahim Nash’at, and notably Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love (2022) and David Roher’s Navalny (2022) – making him the first producer since 1942 to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature in the same year. Joining Shane on the Spotlight sessions bill is Shiori Ito, journalist and director of the 2025 Academy Award®-nominated expose of silence on sexual assault, Black Box Diaries.

Other highlights include Spotlight sessions with filmmaker, transmedia storyteller and human rights advocate Gabriel Shipton, collaborator on Censored, a crypto art activation that helped fund the defence of his brother, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange; award-winning director Gabrielle Brady and Mongolian producer Ariunaa Tserenpil, discussing co-authorship and co-creation in relation to new hybrid documentary, The Wolves Always Come at Night; and an unmissable archive workshop with prolific Canadian visual researcher and clearance specialist Elizabeth Klinck (Into the Inferno, Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words, Stories We Tell).

The lineup also features presenter, documentarian and podcaster Marc Fennell; mountaineer, cinematographer and adventure filmmaker Renan Öztürk (The Last Tepui, Meru); and collaborators on the new film Deeper, acclaimed director Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa, Mountain) and key diver in the Tham Luang cave rescue Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris.

On the marketplace front, a wide range of decision makers from local and international media brands, platforms and broadcasters will participate in-person and virtually at AIDC 2025, including ABC, Al Jazeera, Amazon Prime Video, American Documentary | POV, ARTE France, BBC Storyville, CBC, Channel 4, EBS Korea/EIDF, Hulu, National Geographic, NHK, NITV, Paramount, PTS, SBS, STAN, SVT, TVNZ, Warner Bros. Discovery, and more.

Plus, expect to find studios, distributors and producer-distributors for some of the world’s most interesting documentaries and releases, including Autlook Filmsales, The Party Film Sales, CAT&Docs, Fred Media & Radar MCN, Limonero Films, Love Nature / Blue Ant Media, Madman Entertainment, Off the Fence, Quintus Studios, Sideways Film, TVF International, and Umbrella Entertainment.

For those seeking new pathways to funding and financing, AIDC 2025 will also host an array of representatives from leading documentary development funds and foundations, like Catapult Film Fund, Doc Society, The Whickers, Shark Island Foundation, and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA).

And as a result of a suite of exciting AIDC Industry Development Program initiatives and partnerships with pitch partners Shark Island Foundation, The Post Lounge, and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA); Awards partners AFTRS, and Film Finances; FACTory pitch prize partners; and Leading Lights program partners AFTRS and ECU alongside 20 industry donors, AIDC 2025 will unlock over $200,000 in project development, awards, prizes and professional development opportunities for new nonfiction content and support for documentary and factual practitioners.

For a quick look at what’s in store, head to:

• WHAT’S ON
• WHO’S COMING
• PITCHES & MARKETPLACE

FUTURE TELLING

Reflecting on collective and diverse experiences of what has come before and what is happening in the present, AIDC 2025’s central theme  – Future Telling: New Horizons in Documentary & Factual Storytelling – invites us to envision possible or alternative futures for practitioners and the sector.

The conference will explore the following subthemes through Spotlight sessions, industry panels, screenings and initiatives: Dokpolitik (advocacy, sector shifts, reform, policy change), Curious Truths (experimentation in form, creative nonfiction, investigative storytelling), Stories Without Borders (co-pros, international formats, crossing genres, field building), ReFraming Reality (future of truth, innovation, new technologies and future-casting), and Pulling Focus (sustainability, audience and distribution, and impact strategy). 

“As we stand at the precipice of a new era for our sector, at AIDC 2025 we turn our lens to the future of documentary and factual storytelling to create a forum that not only explores what is on the horizon but also creates a dialogue for us to actively shape the future we want to see for ourselves and our sector,” said Natasha Gadd, CEO / Creative Director, AIDC.

“At AIDC 2025 we explore what changes, challenges and possibilities lie ahead in a rapidly evolving media landscape – from industry reform, to innovative modes of creating, new ways of seeing and inventive ways of taking our stories to audiences across the globe. We are thrilled to announce such a world-class program of speakers and sessions for the 2025 program, all of which are guaranteed to probe, provoke and inspire. Joined by our industry program’s impressive lineup of local and international decision makers and a suite of pitches and initiatives, AIDC 2025 is set to support the creation of bold new works, drive business outcomes and build local and international collaborations.”

Caroline Pitcher, CEO, VicScreen, said, “AIDC is set to illuminate Melbourne this March, with another electrifying program of premieres, panels, and meetings. AIDC creates significant opportunities for local talent to connect with some of the world’s leading documentary and factual storytellers. VicScreen is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with AIDC, reinforcing Victoria’s position as a global centre for innovation in screen – stimulating stories that have the power to create dialogue, encourage action, and change lives.”

Seb Chan, Director & CEO, ACMI, said, ”AIDC’s 2025 theme of Future Telling resonates deeply with ACMI as we continue our long-standing presenting partnership with Australia’s premier screen conference. ACMI is a future-focused museum and dedicated to being a gathering place for screen practitioners to reach new horizons in documentary and factual storytelling. We’re delighted to host this year’s conference and collaborate with AIDC across public-access screenings for the Documented film program.”

SPOTLIGHT SESSIONS

The Cinema of Documentary: Creative Producing with Oscar-Winner Shane Boris

Oscar®-winning producer Shane Boris (Hollywoodgate, Navalny, Fire of Love) delves into the craft of creative producing. Discover how he shapes powerful narratives, collaborates with directors, and redefines nonfiction storytelling through boundary-pushing, award-winning documentaries. [Learn More]

Lens on the Self: Black Box Diaries and Shiori Ito

Join journalist and filmmaker Shiori Ito in conversation with Santilla Chingaipe as she discusses Black Box Diaries, her fearless Sundance debut and 2025 Oscar®-nominated documentary exposing Japan’s silence on sexual assault, blending investigative rigour with deeply personal storytelling. [Learn More]

A Cultural Reckoning: Truth-Telling, Documentary Cinema, and First Nations Resilience in Sugarcane

Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of the Oscar®-nominated Sugarcane, reveal the storytelling craft of their documentary investigation into abuse and coverup of First Nations’ children in an Indian residential school in Canada. Interweaving personal testimony and first hand accounts, Sugarcane is one of the year’s most potent cultural reckonings, a truth-telling tour-de-force revealing the resilience of First Nations communities. [Learn More]

Hybrid Documentary and Co-Creation: the Making of The Wolves Always Come at Night

Venture to the heart of award-winning director Gabrielle Brady’s revelatory hybrid documentary The Wolves Always Come at Night. Join Brady and producer Ariunaa Tserenpil as they share how co-creation brought the story of protagonists Daava and Zaya to the screen. [Learn More]

Herzog in the Machine: Piotr Winiewicz and Finding Humanity in an AI-generated Documentary

In this unmissable spotlight session, filmmaker Piotr Winiewicz takes us inside his AI-assisted documentary About a Hero, which opened IDFA 2024. Trained on the works of Werner Herzog, the film is a reality-bending, self-reflexive exploration of our relationship to the real. [Learn More]

The Censored Collection: the Story Behind the $55 Million NFT Impact Project that Helped Free Assange

Join filmmaker Gabriel Shipton, producer of Ithaka (2022) and brother of Julian Assange, in this revelatory session about how his collaboration with artist Pak created the Censored collection, which raised $55 million USD for Assange’s defence and freedom by engaging 30,000 participants to redefine activism and impact through crypto art. [Learn More]

OTHER SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to AIDC 2025’s Spotlight Sessions, the program includes inspiring local and international guests, with sessions devoted to business, innovation, craft and more, each linked by the 2025 conference sub-themes. 

DOKPOLITIK SESSIONS

Resilience Beyond the Market: Community Distribution with Impact 

Meet visionaries from community-led organisations including GARUWA, Ashoka, AFLAMUNA and Unquiet Collective who are forging pathways outside of the limits of market-driven distribution. Their groundbreaking models enable filmmakers to amplify their social impact and catalyse cultural, environmental or social transformation. [Learn More]

Broadcast Horizons: Redefining TV in a Digital Age

Unpack the radically transforming media landscape with the BBC’s Lexi Landsman in conversation with broadcast leaders Kathryn Fink (SBS), Jennifer Collins (ABC) and Adrian Swift (Nine Network). In this session, we explore the future of Australian television and how broadcasters are innovating to meet the ever-changing landscape. [Learn More]

Dokpolitik: The State of Play for Policy and Advocacy

We survived to 2025, so what’s next? Join screen leaders from Screen Producers Australia, Screen Australia, Documentary Australia, and Screenrights as they reflect on the year that has been for the sector, and the state of play for documentary policy and advocacy in the year to come. [Learn More]

CURIOUS TRUTHS SESSIONS

A Deep Dive Into Visual Research and Archive Storytelling with Elizabeth Klinck 

A not-to-be-missed workshop into the art and craft of archives with Elizabeth Klinck, a producer, researcher and clearance specialist whose work on hundreds of international documentary films has garnered BAFTA, Emmy®, FOCAL UK Awards, Canadian Screen Awards, Peabody, and Academy Awards. [Learn More]

Short Circuit: Crafting Powerful Short Documentaries that Resonate Globally

Explore the artistry and creativity that define short documentaries and hear from leading filmmakers and the platforms that elevate the form about ways to connect your next short with a global audience. [Learn More]

Not Your Usual Suspects: True Crime on the ABC

True crime is an enduring and evolving genre. In this session, discover the ABC’s unique approach to true crime, what they are seeking, and how to work with them across screen and podcasts. [Learn More]

STORIES WITHOUT BORDERS SESSIONS

High Risk, High Reward: Filming in Extreme Conditions

Journey into the captivating world of adventure docs including Deeper, The Rescue, Sherpa and Meru with this bold panel of creators as they explore the unique skill sets, complex challenges, significant risks and commercial opportunities that come from working within this genre. [Learn More]

Global Perspectives: Meet the Internationals

Meet AIDC’s international guest decision makers – representing broadcasters, funds, festivals, distributors and sales agents – as they reveal what they are looking for in Australian projects and how you can best collaborate with their organisations. [Learn More]

Factual Forecast: Invention, Innovation and Challenging Form with SBS

Led by Marc Fennell, join SBS, Northern Pictures and Fremantle Australia for an illuminating session exploring the ways in which inventive form can impact and influence factual storytelling. [Learn More]

REFRAMING REALITY SESSIONS

Will You Regret Creating an AI Clone? Evan Ratliff’s Shell Game and Our Relationship with The Machine

Explore the ethical, creative, and existential questions of AI with Evan Ratliff in conversation with journalist and filmmaker Patrick Abboud. Evan’s savvy and playful podcast Shell Game experiments with an AI voice clone revealing unsettling truths about humanity and connection. [Learn More]

A Vision for the Future of Documentary

In this interactive session led by Hollie Fifer (Doc Society) and Alex Kelly (Unquiet Collective), Prash Naik, Ian Darling, Kimberley Benjamin and Eliorah Malifa journey into the future, inviting a bold discussion about what we need to put in place to actively shape it for the better. [Learn More]

PULLING FOCUS SESSIONS

Harnessing the Creator Economy with YouTube

Every month, 2.5 billion people are active on YouTube — and viewing around 47 minutes of content a day. In this session, we explore the possibilities for documentary and factual storytellers to launch original content on YouTube, offering innovative opportunities for creators to thrive outside traditional commissioning pathways. [Learn More]

Accessing Philanthropic Funds Locally and Globally

Join this impressive lineup of industry leaders representing Documentary Australia (AUS), Women Make Movies (USA), Doc Society (AUS/UK) and Shark Island Institute (AUS) as they delve into current global trends, funding strategies, audience engagement, international collaboration, and how you can seek philanthropic support for your next project. [Learn More]

Fast Track to Commission: Secrets of Getting Your Show Away with the ABC

Meet the ABC team as they share valuable insights into what they are looking for in 2025 and beyond – and where opportunities lie for local creators. [Learn More]

Embarking on the Journey to a Successful Development Process

Development is a crucial stage of the filmmaking process. Join an expert panel, including Katrina McGowan, Patrick Abboud (Only Human Productions / Dreamchaser Studios), Darren Dale (Blackfella Films) and moderator Richard Huddleston (Screen Australia), as they share insights on how to build a strong foundation for success when a project is at its most nascent. [Learn More]

Do Look Back: How History Docs are the Way Forward with SBS

History is an enduring genre, so how can we tell it through a fresh lens? Join Santilla Chingaipe, Jacob Hickey (Blackfella Films), Jo-anne McGowan (Stranger than Fiction), and Joseph Maxwell (SBS) for a timely discussion on the importance and power of the history genre. [Learn More]

These and many more sessions sit alongside themed meet-ups for networking and our informal yet ever-informative industry upskill sessions with industry partners like Screenrights and 21-19. 

To explore the full session program, visit the SESSIONS page.

AIDC MARKETPLACE

In addition to its expansive sessions program, AIDC continues to be the essential marketplace for documentary and factual projects with an impressive contingent of decision makers taking part in the 2025 event. 

More than 90 decision makers from around the world will be looking for new projects to support and content to commission, including representatives from broadcasters, distributors, festivals, publishers and markets, like TVO Canada, ZDF, Sundance Film Festival, Dogwoof, International Documentary Association (IDA), The Guardian, Sunny Side of the Doc and many more.

AIDC delegates can meet these decision makers through the Cut to the Chase curated pitch meetings program, which has a deadline for project submissions of Sunday 31 January 2025.

AIDC’s marketplace centrepiece, The FACTory International Pitching Showcase, presented by VicScreen, returns for its 10th Anniversary, with 15 in-development and unreleased national and international projects participating in live pitches at The Edge (Fed Square) and ACMI during AIDC 2025. 

This year, AIDC’s unique marketplace opportunity for established Australian production companies, The Showroom, returns, with up to 10 participating companies taking part in extended in-person meetings with high-level buyers to pitch multiple projects in their pipeline. 

AIDC 2025 will also welcome a very special Canadian delegation of producers looking for collaboration opportunities, and an Australian x Canadian Co-Production Market to help make those connections happen. Presented by the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney with the support of Telefilm and the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO). 

AIDC INDUSTRY & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In 2025, AIDC’s industry development program will host high-profile, targeted, and partnered pitching opportunities, including:

• The Shark Island Foundation Feature Docs Pitch, for feature documentaries aimed at shifting thinking and bringing about social change, with up to $100,000 in development grants available. 
• The Post Lounge Doc Pitch for documentary features, one-offs or series across any genre, with up to $30,000 worth of development investment through post-production available, to be used for a sizzle, teaser or pilot.
• The inaugural Indigenous Creators Pitch, supported by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), which allows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators to pitch a project in development to local and international buyers looking to support Indigenous-led nonfiction stories. One project will receive a $5,000 cash prize.

AIDC’s professional development programs continue to provide career-defining opportunities for diverse voices and perspectives in the nonfiction sector. This year AIDC is proud to offer:

• The Leading Lights program for emerging, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled or neurodiverse, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse screen creatives, and/or regional or remote practitioners, providing a donor-funded pathway into the Australian nonfiction screen sector via first-time attendance at AIDC.
• The Indigenous Creators Program, a dedicated strand of sessions and marketplace activities designed by and for First Nations practitioners to come together and elevate the craft and business of First Nations stories. Supported by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA). 

Access to the full scope of professional development opportunities provided by AIDC is supported by subsidised passes for particular participants, including Leading Lights, and state and territory screen agency travel support programs such as those provided by Screen Queensland, Screenwest, Screen Territory, VicScreen and Screen Tasmania.

AIDC AWARDS

The fifth annual AIDC Awards, to be held on the closing night of AIDC 2025 (5 March), will see cash prizes provided across two categories, acknowledging the outstanding work of Australian nonfiction creators. 

These include a $5,000 cash prize presented by Film Finances for Best Feature Documentary, a $3,000 cash prize presented by AFTRS for Best Short-Form Documentary, and, for the second time, the $5,000 Southern Light Award, presented by AIDC to an Australian industry professional for their outstanding contribution to nonfiction screen, digital and/or audio media.

DOCUMENTED SCREENING PROGRAM

AIDC and ACMI will once again combine strengths for the Documented public screening program, featuring documentary works associated with AIDC 2025 guests.

The screenings will be announced 6 February 2025.

SEE YOU AT AIDC 2025

AIDC would like to thank this year’s Advisory Committee and our many industry partners – particularly VicScreen, ACMI, Screen Australia, ABC and SBS – without whom this year’s event would not be possible.

Registration for AIDC 2025 is open now, with Business, All Access, Sessions and Day Pass types available, opening up AIDC’s many opportunities to practitioners of all experience levels. 

GET A PASS

AIDC 2025 will run 2–5 March 2025 at ACMI, Melbourne / Naarm, with an online international marketplace 6–7 March 2025.

Main Image Credit: Black Box Diaries (2024, Dogwoof)