AIDC 2022: What docos Netflix is looking for

Yesterday at the Australian International Documentary Conference, Netflix creative executive Susie Jones told an audience of producers what the streaming service was looking for in Australia.

The Netflix commissioning team is small locally, but is still keen for local stories that will work domestically, and hopefully with international subscribers.

“Put simply we’re after incredible stories with unforgettable characters that are impossible to stop watching and that make you want to tell your friends about them. That’s sort of in a nutshell,” said Jones.

“The raison d’être of Netflix is to entertain the world. ‘Entertainment’ isn’t a dirty word when it comes to factual and docos. Here in Australia, we’re really after specifically Australian stories that will resonate locally first. Of course, nobody will complain if they become global hits as well. But first and foremost, we want you to think about what would resonate with the local audience?

“Our broad commissioning strategy is ‘commercial with a twist’.”

Jones said she would also love the next global hit to be a story from Australia.

“I think those stories are here. I think we’re such a diverse country with so many diverse stories to tell. And I think I’d encourage you to look at what stories haven’t been told in documentary or long form, manner, or what have been told (but not in a) Netflix manner before,” she continued.

“We’re open to feature docos and series, and we’re not really prescriptive about durations of series. Really it can be whatever best serves the story. …. that informs all of our decisions.”

She also outlined what Netflix is not looking for in the documentary space.

“At the minute, we’re not after closed-episode series. We really do want that sort of pull-through, that bingeeable nature of a story that has hooks, whether that be a doco, or a series. We’re not after dating, food, travel or lifestyle. This is just to help you narrow the goalposts of what to bring to us. We’re also not after anthology series at the moment. So just consider what it is about your pitch that will keep us talking about it and watching it.”

New Netflix docu-soap Byron Baes premieres tomorrow.

The Australian International Documentary Conference in Melbourne.