CELEBRATING THE QUEENSLAND DOC COMMUNITY AT REGIONALITY SUNSHINE COAST 2024
ACTION-PACKED ONE-DAY AIDC PROGRAM UNITES SEQ STORYTELLERS
On Friday 26 July, Queensland documentary and factual practitioners gathered in Maroochydore for an action-packed, one-day industry program celebrating local and international talent and craft in the form of the first-ever Regionality Sunshine Coast.
Presented by AIDC and Screen Queensland with the support of Sunshine Coast Council and in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, the event saw 140 delegates, including 20 national and international speakers and industry guests, appear at the Maroochy RSL for a buoyant day of inspiring industry sessions, 1:1 meetings and networking.
DOC CHAT 1:1 MEETINGS
The day started with a warm Welcome to Country by Mooloolah Dhdunga Kabi Kabi woman Aunty Bridgette Chilli, and scene-setting speeches from Sunshine Coast Councillor Joe Natoli and Screen Queensland’s Acting Head of Content – Industry and Initiatives, Ian Lynch.
Attendees were treated to a spotlight session featuring award-winning filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, the creative duo behind Boys State (Apple TV+), The Mission (Nat Geo), Mayor Pete (Amazon Prime Video), and the 2024 Sundance hit Girls State (Apple TV+); followed by a panel with acclaimed natural history, science and technology filmmakers Dr. Chadden Hunter (The Platypus Guardian), Bettina Dalton (Every Little Thing, Valerie Taylor: Playing With Sharks), Dena Curtis (First Weapons), Randall Wood (Flyways, The Brain Garden) and Nick Piper (Dawn of the Dolphins).
IAN LYNCH, SCREEN QUEENSLAND
On the development front, selected delegates took part in Doc Chat 1:1 Meetings with industry guests, and also witnessed a lively and interactive pitching masterclass with pitches from filmmakers David Cook (Frontline Rangers), Bettina Dalton (who won the day’s star power award with a trailer featuring both Valerie Taylor and Aunty Bridgette Chilli), and Dan Munday (Sunshine Coast Screen Collective), with industry insights from Richard Huddleston (Screen Australia), Jo Chichester (ABC), Bethan Arwel-Lewis (SBS), Naomi Elkin (Paramount ANZ), and Ian Lynch (Screen Queensland).
THE ART OF THE PITCH
The final two sessions of the day saw award-winning Indigenous creatives John Harvey (Still We Rise) and Dena Curtis joining industry representatives Marissa McDowell (Black and White Films) and Danielle Ah Boo (Screen Queensland) to discuss the art of crafting innovative and authentic First Nations stories; while Doc Society’s Hollie Fifer joined impact filmmakers Maya Newell (The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone), Kim Ingles (The Oyster Gardener) and David Cook in a lively interactive session about applying the principles of impact to engage new audiences.
With some delegates having travelled several hours (and more) to attend, the premiere of Regionality Sunshine Coast wrapped with a buzzing networking drinks session, giving delegates the chance to debrief on the day’s learnings, catch-up with friends, and make new sector connections.
(L-R) JOHN HARVEY, DANIELLE AH BOO, MARISSA MCDOWELL, DAVID COOK, DENA CURTIS, DOUGLAS WATKIN
AIDC is committed to supporting regional documentary and factual practitioners by facilitating meaningful industry connections and hosting high-calibre speakers, industry representatives and events as part of our ongoing Regionality program.
We would like to extend our genuine thanks to everyone who participated in the 2024 edition of Regionality Sunshine Coast in Maroochydore, and in particular, our partners Screen Queensland, the Sunshine Coast Council, and the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective.
Learn more about Regionality Sunshine Coast HERE.
MAIN IMAGE: (L-R) Naomi Elkin (Paramount ANZ), Bethan Arwel-Lewis (SBS), and Ian Lynch (Screen Queensland). All photos by Amanda Gooch Photography
(L – R) NAOMI ELKIN, CAROLINA GESSER, HANNAH ARIOTTI, LAUREN VALMADRE