AIDC 2025: INAUGURAL INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH PROJECTS AND PITCH MENTORS ANNOUNCED
Four projects by Australian First Nations creators selected to pitch during AIDC 2025, with $5,000 Indigenous Creators Pitch prize to be won
We are pleased to announce the four projects selected for the inaugural AIDC Indigenous Creators Pitch, proudly presented by Indigenous Business Australia, set to happen during AIDC 2025.
An initiative of AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program, the Indigenous Creators Pitch provides Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander filmmakers with the opportunity to pitch a project in development to a closed room of local and international buyers looking to support Indigenous-led nonfiction stories. One project will be selected to receive the $5,000 Indigenous Creators Pitch prize presented by AIDC.
All Indigenous Creators Program participants will be invited to the pitch session to support the pitching teams and glean useful tips in the art of pitching and valuable industry insights from the decision makers in the room.
AIDC 2025’s Indigenous Creators Program and Indigenous Creators Pitch are both supported by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), marking the organisation’s debut involvement in AIDC. IBA was created to assist and enhance the economic development opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia – through home ownership, business success, and investment opportunities.
IBA Deputy CEO, Sean Armistead, said the Indigenous Creators Pitch is a vital platform for amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in the documentary sector.
“This initiative is about creating real opportunities for First Nations documentary makers to bring their unique and powerful stories to market. The breadth and depth of talent among the selected projects is inspiring, and we’re proud to support these creators in their journey to connect with decision-makers and bring their stories to audiences worldwide.”
SELECTED PROJECTS
CRYSTAL LOVE
Pitch Team: Libby Collins
Logline: Crystal Love is a powerhouse, thriving in the face of everything life has thrown at her.
HUNTING TIDDA STYLE
Pitch Team: Kate ten Buuren, Kimberley Benjamin and Jodie Bell
Logline: Emily Wurramara travels across so-called Australia to meet some of the country’s deadliest Blak women hunters, to learn their ways of hunting, fishing and cooking up a feed!
MARLIYA
Pitch Team: Shontell Ketchell, Stephen Page and Ewan Cutler
Logline: A First Nations youth choir blends cultural heritage, activism, and breathtaking music as they prepare for their first international performance, confronting personal and collective challenges that test their identity and resilience.
ABOLISHED
Pitch Team: Daniel King and Jen Mellander
Logline: This documentary investigates the abolishment of all the Indigenous representative bodies since 1967, uncovering what this pattern reveals about the Australian government’s relationship with Indigenous people.
PARTICIPATING DECISION MAKERS
Pitch participants will present their projects in a roundtable format to the following decision makers:
- Kelrick Martin, Head of Indigenous, ABC (AUS)
- Kate Hodges, Executive Director, Shark Island Foundation (AUS)
- Nic Meloney, Executive in Charge of Production, Factual & Documentary, CBC Unscripted (CAN)
- Robert Y Chang, Co-Producer POV, American Documentary | POV (USA)
- Theresa Navarro, Co-Director & COO, Catapult Film Fund (USA)
- Hollie Fifer, Director of Special Projects, Doc Society (AUS)
- Dena Curtis, Head of Indigenous Commissions & Production, NITV (AUS)
- Angela Bates, Head of First Nations Department, Screen Australia (AUS)
INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH MENTORS
Each project team was paired with an experienced First Nations practitioner for two 1:1 mentoring sessions in the lead-up to AIDC 2025. These sessions were focused on story interrogation, pitch training and trailer consultation to help the project teams get pitch- and market-ready.
Many thanks to this year’s Indigenous Creators Pitch mentors:
- Gillian Moody-Ardler, Senior Manager, First Nations Engagement at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
- Taryne Laffar, Creator, Writer, Producer, Pink Pepper
The Indigenous Creators Pitch, presented by Indigenous Business Australia, will take place on Tuesday 4 March at ACMI during AIDC 2025. The session is accessible to Australian and global First Nations practitioners only.
Learn more on the Indigenous Creators Pitch page.
Main Image: NGURRAWAANA, Jul Art Group x GARUWA, Ryan Andrew Lee ©