Documentary stories essential amid troubled world

The 30th Anniversary Australian International Documentary Conference was held in Melbourne last week at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

There were 678 attendees, 14 countries represented, 46 sessions, screenings and events, 89 speakers, 51 decision makers and buyers and over 340 structured networking opportunities.

Major announcements included the awarding of the 17th Stanley Hawes Award for contribution to Australian documentary to late WA filmmaker Brian Beaton; and the ACCESS@AIDC early career mentorship program – which saw six young filmmakers mentored by John Battsek, Ezra Edelman, Jennifer Peedom, Donovan Chan, Amy Hobby and Kelrick Martin – resulting in Victorian filmmaker Charby Ibrahim receiving a paid internship with Beach House Pictures in Singapore.

In the session Australian Documentary in 2017, Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason announced the Doco180 initiative, which will provide funds for six female directors to each make a 180-second documentary, and also revealed that Screen Australia is funding a second round of Art Bites, the arts documentary initiative produced in conjunction with the ABC for ABC iView.

“The 30th Anniversary of AIDC was full of energy, and the initial feedback from the delegates has been extremely positive. It was indeed a celebration,” said Andrew Wiseman, AIDC CEO & Conference Director.

“Yes, there are challenges in the industry, but there was a wonderful vibrancy at this Conference. There was a great mix of emerging talent and experienced practitioners and, against the backdrop of troubling world events, a sense that now, more than ever, compelling documentary stories are essential. AIDC is the place where these discussions can nourish the industry and real outcomes can be achieved. We’d love to see everyone back in 2018 – who knows what developments we will see between now and then…”