Leading Lights

ABOUT LEADING LIGHTS

UPDATE: AIDC 2025 LEADING LIGHTS APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Are you an emerging, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled or neurodiverse, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse screen creative, and/or live in regional or remote Australia? Do you have an interest in documentary, factual or unscripted screen content production, but haven’t been to AIDC before?

Leading Lights is a philanthropic funding initiative designed to enable emerging and diverse practitioners to attend AIDC for the first time and participate in a customised professional development program.

Leading Lights eligibility spans a range of backgrounds and contexts, including emerging and early-career, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse, regional and remote, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) nonfiction practitioners.

The program provides vital assistance to industry newcomers in establishing themselves as part of Australia’s documentary, factual and nonfiction practitioner community.

Thanks to the contributions of industry donors, 258 emerging and diverse screen creatives have been able to attend AIDC and participate in Leading Lights since the program’s launch in 2018.

All selected Leading Lights recipients receive a Sessions Pass to attend AIDC 2025 and are eligible to participate in the Leading Lights professional development program, thanks to the support of our program partners, AFTRS and ECU.

Presented By

WHAT DO RECIPIENTS RECEIVE?

AIDC 2025 Sessions Pass

Leading Lights recipients are awarded an AIDC 2025 Sessions Pass (in-person or online, depending on their preference). This pass provides access to all AIDC sessions and panels and can be upgraded to an All Access Pass by paying the difference between passes. Recipients also receive the opportunity to take part in the following tailored sessions and events designed to fast-track their careers in the nonfiction screen sector.

Leading Lights Meet & Greet

In-person meet and greet with industry representatives from screen organisations that generously donated to the Leading Lights Fund. Open to Leading Lights donors and recipients only.

Leading Lights Pitching Workshop

Opportunity to learn the art of the project pitch to successfully convey to potential collaborators, broadcasters and distributors what makes their documentary stand out.

Leading Lights Pitch

Four Leading Lights recipients will be selected to pitch to a closed room of industry representatives including Leading Lights donors representing broadcasters, producers, screen agencies and funders. Pitchers will receive feedback on their projects, learn valuable industry insights and make new industry connections. Pitch participants will also receive one-on-one mentoring.

Leading Lights Alumni Program

AIDC will invite two Leading Lights Alumni to return to AIDC, to provide support and guidance to 2025 Leading Lights participants as well as take part in the AIDC conference program.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION

Who can apply?

Applicants must be Australian citizens / permanent residents with an interest in documentary and factual content, who have never attended AIDC before, and who identify with one (or more) of the following groups: emerging/early-career*, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse, regional and remote, and/or from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

*early-career = 0-5 years experience in screen or interactive media production

How many recipients are chosen?

The number of recipients chosen is dependent on the level of support provided by our generous Leading Lights donors. Each donation of $695 subsidises one emerging and/or diverse nonfiction practitioner to experience AIDC.

How are recipients selected?

An industry committee of experienced industry professionals will assess applications and create a shortlist.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out an application form on the link below.

UPDATE: LEADING LIGHTS APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Terms & Conditions

2025 Leading Lights applications close Sunday 8 December 2024.

“THE TEAM AT AIDC WEREN’T LYING WHEN THEY SAID TO WEAR YOUR LEADING LIGHTS BADGE WITH PRIDE AND THAT THE OTHER DELEGATES WOULD WELCOME US WITH OPEN ARMS… BEING A FIRST-TIME DOCUMENTARY MAKER AND FIRST-TIMER AT AIDC I FELT INCLUDED, SUPPORTED AND WELCOMED INTO THE VIBRANT WORLD OF DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS WHO WERE ALL SO APPROACHABLE AND EAGER TO POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND HELP ME START MY CAREER OFF ON THE RIGHT TRACK.”

– KAYLENE LANGFORD, LEADING LIGHTS RECIPIENT 2024

BECOME A DONOR

AIDC believes that inclusivity and diversity in documentary and factual storytelling is vital to a healthy and sustainable nonfiction screen industry.

Want to help usher in the next generation of emerging and diverse storytellers? AIDC is now calling for industry donors as part of our 2025 Leading Lights campaign.

With your support, AIDC can continue to provide vital assistance to industry newcomers in establishing themselves as part of Australia’s documentary and factual community.

Any Australian screen company or individual can make a tax-deductible donation to our Leading Lights Fund.

AIDC is committed to delivering an exclusive, bespoke program that provides maximum opportunities for our Leading Lights but can only do this with your donation.

Donation Tiers*:

$695 – 1 x Leading Lights recipient
$1,390 – 2 x Leading Lights recipients
$2,085 – 3 x Leading Lights recipients
$2,780 – 4 x Leading Lights recipients
$3,475 – 5 x Leading Light recipients

*Additional donations are welcome in increments of $695.

Leading Lights donors are acknowledged across AIDC platforms and at the conference including:

AIDC 2025 program guide acknowledgment
AIDC website acknowledgment
On-screen acknowledgment before every conference session/screening at AIDC 2025
Donor and Application communications campaigns

AIDC is a registered charity with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. All donations are tax-deductible.

To make a donation at any time, please visit our DONATE page, or contact accounts@aidc.com.au

2025 DONORS

AIDC gratefully acknowledges our 2025 Leading Lights donors:

Funds pledged for 5 x Leading Lights recipients

Funds pledged for 3 x Leading Lights recipients

Boardwalk Pictures Australia

Funds pledged for 2 x Leading Lights recipients

Documentary Australia
Paul Wiegard

Funds pledged for 1 x Leading Lights recipient

“WE LOVE THAT LEADING LIGHTS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SO MANY FILMMAKERS TO ATTEND THE MOST IMPORTANT ANNUAL DOCUMENTARY CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA, AND IT’S PARTICULARLY FANTASTIC TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE BEING INCLUDED FROM THE REGIONS AND DIVERSE AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY.”

– RACHEL CLEMENTS & TRISHA MORTON-THOMAS, BRINDLE FILMS