DOC SOCIETY & AIDC REVEAL SIX PROJECTS SELECTED FOR ART & IMPACT FELLOWSHIP AUSTRALIA
INCLUDING TWO VR PROJECTS AND FOUR FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
Six documentary projects have been selected for the inaugural Art & Impact Fellowship Australia run by Doc Society in partnership with the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), including two VR projects and four feature documentaries.
Working at the intersection of storytelling and impact, the selected project teams will join the global Doc Society team for a year-long creative mentorship and impact strategy fellowship starting this October.
THE PROJECT TEAMS
Searching for Aramsayesh Gah
Directed by Jaydn Ray Gosselin & Co-Directed by Elahe Zivardar
Produced by Jaydn Ray Gosselin & Jacob Fertig
Life After Coal
Directed by Josie Hess
Produced by Stephanie Sabrinskas
Dreaming Country
Directed by Genevieve Grieves & Ryan Andrew Lee
Produced by Kieran Satour & Andrea Distefano
Sacred Sites
Directed by Taryne Laffar
Produced by Taryne Laffar, Poppy Walker & Kylee Ingram
The Quickening
Directed by Maya Newell
Produced by Alex Kelly, Sophie Hyde and Lisa Sherrard
Untitled Hakeem Project
Directed by Matthew Bate
Produced by Alice Burgin
Supported by Screen Australia’s Enterprise Funding Program, the Art & Impact Fellowship aims to strengthen the storytelling and impact work of diverse voices and advance crucial stories from across Australia and connect them globally.
The program provides opportunities for storytellers to refine their projects creatively, design their bespoke impact strategy, develop their pitches towards building radical collaborations, and launch their film within a longstanding supportive network.
The Art & Impact Fellowship will entail three training labs, attendance at two industry forums – IDFA (the Netherlands) and AIDC (Australia) – and culminates in a day-long pitch summit event for each of the six participating projects.
Doc Society’s Global Director of Good Pitch, Malinda Wink said, “Over the next 12 months, each team will have access to Doc Society’s global network of mentors and support to elevate and realise their creative ambitions, and build pathways to finance and audience, with high impact, compelling stories that resonate across the world”.
Director of Australian Programs at Doc Society, Hollie Fifer said, “We congratulate all the participants who were selected by an international panel from a very competitive round of Australian documentary talent. We look forward to diving into the story and impact of these projects, drawing on the expertise of local and international leaders forging a new pathway for documentary storytelling and distribution.”
CEO / Creative Director of AIDC, Natasha Gadd said, “AIDC is thrilled to be supporting this line-up of bold and inspiring projects selected to take part in the inaugural Art & Impact fellowship. We congratulate all of the storytellers and look forward to seeing how their projects evolve with the support and opportunities that the fellowship has to offer.
For more information about the Art & Impact Fellowship, visit the Doc Society website.
Main Image: Art & Impact Fellowship Directors, left to right (top) Maya Newell, Genevieve Grieves, Josie Hess, (bottom) Jaydn Ray Gosselin, Taryne Laffar, Mathew Bate