New $10,000 Audio Documentary Pitch

Sound It Out

The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) and Audible.com.au, the Australian arm of the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken word content, are pleased to announce Sound it Out, a $10,000 audio documentary initiative designed to expand the potential for new nonfiction storytelling.

The very first initiative of its kind hosted by AIDC, Sound it Out is a specialised development opportunity for content creators interested in pitching a bold audio documentary idea to Audible.com.au during AIDC 2019, with the unique audio productions having the opportunity to form part of Audible.com.au’s 2019 original content slate.

The Power of Audio Storytelling

Audible and AIDC are inviting factual storytellers (including documentary makers, podcast creators and writers) to submit an idea for a 4-8 hour original audio documentary, of premium quality and global appeal.

Audible.com.au is open to proposals from all factual genres – from reality audio and gameshows through to biographies, true crime, comedy and self-development – so long as the ideas are powered by strong narratives and attest to the power of audio storytelling to entertain and spark conversations.

Eight project ideas will be shortlisted by a selection panel and will have the opportunity to pitch to Audible representatives during the AIDC Cut to the Chase Marketplace.

Up to $10,000 in development funding will be distributed across the pitching initiative to successful project/s.

Audible Originals

Audible Original audiobooks and audio shows are exclusive audio content created by diverse storytellers and made available on Audible.

Recent international Audible Original productions include:

• Evil Has a Name: The Untold Story of the Golden State Killer Investigation
• Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin: The Arc of Love
• West Cork
• The Butterfly Effect with Jon Ronson

Stories Featuring Inimitable Voices

Ben Naparstek, Director, Original Content, Audible.com.au, said, “Audio is uniquely well-placed to tell many stories – from the stories featuring inimitable voices, through to intimate, difficult stories, and those that require a length not always possible with visual productions. Audible is excited to partner with the AIDC on this initiative to foster development of ideas for premium non-fiction productions best suited to the audio format.”

Alice Burgin, CEO & Conference Director, AIDC, said, “Sound It Out is the perfect fit for AIDC because it embodies so much of what AIDC aims to do: provide new marketplace opportunities for non-fiction content, explore documentary trends, and offer financial incentives for practitioners to create premium content. We are thrilled to be working with Audible, who will bring their outstanding reputation for audio documentaries, and we cannot wait to hear the results!”

Find Out More

Submissions are now open, and will close February 8, 2019 at 11:59 (AEDT).

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to pitch their ideas to Audible.com.au representatives at the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) in Melbourne on Wednesday 6 March 2019.

For more information, please visit the Sound It Out page.

To download this media release as a PDF, please click here.

Media enquiries:
Tracey Mair, TM Publicity
For AIDC 2019
Ph: 02 8333 9066 or 0419 221 493