Australian International Documentary Conference 2019: program released

It will feature more than 40 panel sessions and masterclasses from over 60 speakers from around the world.

A full program of Sessions, Speakers, Screenings, Events, Decision Makers and Marketplace opportunities is now released at www.aidc.com.au

This year’s AIDC program encourages the Australian documentary and factual community to consider ‘the bigger picture’ when confronting the industrial and cultural challenges of digital disruption, funding scarcity and reactionary populism, finding instead opportunities, inspiration and reasons for optimism.

The AIDC 2019 program contains more than 40 panel sessions and masterclasses from over 60 speakers – covering co-production, distribution, documentary craft and new technology – and complements a packed schedule of marketplace and pitching sessions (featuring over a quarter of a million dollars in commissioning and development funds) and an expanded public screening program.

“We’ve been reminded a lot in the last little while that the struggle for those working in the documentary and factual industry is real. While we do want to recognise this, AIDC also prides itself on being a beacon of hope, creating opportunities, building networks and supporting ideas,” said AIDC CEO & Conference Director, Alice Burgin.

“Our co-production strand is in part a way to highlight in our program that we do in fact live in a world that wants to engage, create and work with us. From Singapore to Sweden, international commissioners and producers will be speaking on sessions focusing on the opportunities for genuine collaborative outcomes – which is part of what the bigger picture is really all about.”

While sessions on working with broadcasters from Nordic countries, the USA and Asia extend AIDC’s international business scope, craft sessions with filmmakers and producers such as Sandi Tan (Shirkers), Diane Weyermann (An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power), Tom Brisley (Under the Wire [pictured]) Al Hicks (Quincy), Eddie Martin (Have You Seen the Listers?), John Brown (Dynasties), Tosca Looby (The Magical Land of Oz), Gabrielle Brady (Island of the Hungry Ghosts) and Tamra Simmons (Surviving R. Kelly), ensure that AIDC delegates will be hearing from the makers of projects that get people talking.

As Ms. Burgin notes, “We also want to remember – filmmaking can be fun! Quirky creators and celebrated masters are bringing to AIDC craft sessions that are designed to open minds and inspire us all to get back out there and keep making. From early-career doco makers to established factual heavyweights, there is something for everyone to get excited about in the program.”

Innovation in form, storytelling and distribution is another key focus for AIDC 2019, bringing together sessions by science & technology media experts (Dr. Jordan Nguyen, Becoming Superhuman; Tea Uglow, Google Creative Lab), interactive non-fiction creators (Lisa Jackson, Biidaaban: First Light VR), and distribution experts (Jess Fuselier, Sundance Institute), with debut pitching opportunities such as Raw Data, Real Stories (presented by Google News Initiative) and Sound it Out (presented by Audible).

“Our focus on technology and innovation – from blockchain to interactive non-fiction to data journalism to audio documentary – means that there’s more reason than ever to be hopeful about the future of the sector,” said Ms. Burgin.

AIDC’s public-facing component also steps up a notch this year, with an expanded screening program – the Non-Fiction Documentary Showcase – presented in conjunction with ACMI, and an exhibition of Lisa Jackson’s Biidaaban: First Light VR work at Melbourne Museum. The Non-Fiction Showcase will feature 14 films, including several premieres, and special screenings of [Censored], Island of the Hungry Ghosts, Quincy, Under the Wire, Shirkers, Rockabul, Rocking the Foundations & Where the River Runs Red featuring AIDC guest speakers. (See the full list of Screenings on the AIDC website)

Combined with AIDC’s delegate networking program, including the SBS ‘Slow Summer’ Opening Night Party, ABC Magical Land of Oz Happy Hour, and the return of both the Getty Images Delegate Hub and Screenrights Industry Lounge, AIDC 2019 is set to be an essential gathering for networking, business, learning, collaboration and community discussion.

AIDC is supported by Principal Partner Film Victoria and Presenting Partners ACMI and Screen Australia.

AIDC 2019 Key Facts:

● 65 sessions, screenings, events and marketplace activities
● Over 60 national and international speakers
● 70 Decision Makers from 30 different national and international broadcasters, funders and sales agencies
● 15 delegate and public screenings/exhibitions (plus a delegate-only screening of the final episode of Undercurrent)
● The FACTory International Pitching Forum – Australia’s only dedicated public pitching forum for non-fiction screen content
● Over quarter of a million dollars unlocked in development and commissioning funds for AIDC marketplace.
● Stanley Hawes Award for Outstanding Contribution to Documentary – awarded at AIDC

● FIRSTS:

○  Raw Data, Real Stories data journalism pitch (with Google News Initiative)

○  Sound it Out audio documentary pitch (with Audible)

○  Indigenous Creators Program series of sessions

○  Non-Fiction Documentary Showcase ( with ACMI)

For full program details, including all sessions, marketplace activities, social and networking events, and screenings, please visit: www.aidc.com.au

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