Australian International Documentary Conference


The Australian International Documentary Conference is an Australian conference for the promotion of documentary, factual and unscripted screen content, regarded as one of two major national conferences for filmmakers.

History

First established in 1987, AIDC began life as a biennial conference. Over time the event has moved to several different regions in Australia, mostly being held in capital cities. Over the years it has grown from being a small conference with a few international guests, to being a major annual international event. Serving both the commercial and creative needs of the industry, the conference provides a marketplace for documentary product for national and international buyers and distributors, showcases the work of Australian and international documentary makers, and creates a forum to discuss content, craft, technology and future directions.
It was as a result of the first AIDC, held in 1987 at McLaren Vale, in the heart of South Australia's wine growing region, that the ABC introduced its pre-sale commissioning system.
It was held in Melbourne in 2006, before relocating back to Adelaide for five successful years until 2015, again moving to Melbourne in 2016. In that year it was held at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and remained there for four years. In 2020, the event moved to State Library Victoria for one edition. The conference was held online in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, before returning to ACMI for following editions.

Description

AIDC is a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting and elevating nonfiction storytelling through creative and business opportunities across film, television, streaming, and digital media.

List of Conferences

YearLocationThemeDirector
1987McLaren ValeInaugural ConferenceDaniela Torsh
1991CanberraIdeas for AustraliaMarguerite Grey
1993SydneyReflecting the FutureDaniela Torsh
1995MelbourneDeb Verhoeven
1997BrisbaneNew FrontiersMelanie Guiney
1999AdelaideCreativity & the Freedom to Express ItMichael Elwood
2001PerthRichard Sowada
2003Byron BayOutside the FrameCatherine Marciniak
2004FremantleJourney to where sand & sea meetJohn Beaton
2005AdelaideCommon Ground New HorizonsHeather Croall
2006MelbourneSurvival of the FittestHeather Croall
2007AdelaideDocumentary: what is it good for?Joost den Hartog
2008FremantleFollow the Story...Joost den Hartog
2009AdelaideWho's WatchingJoost den Hartog
2010AdelaideIt's a small world after allJoost den Hartog
2011AdelaideNetwork, Deal, InspireJoost den Hartog
2012AdelaideNetwork, Deal, InspireJoost den Hartog
2013AdelaideDocWeekJoost den Hartog
2014AdelaideDocWeekJoost den Hartog
2015AdelaideNet-Work-PlayJoost den Hartog
2016MelbourneTrue StoriesBritt Arthur
2017MelbourneThree Sides to Every Story Britt Arthur / Andrew Wiseman
2018MelbourneSouthern ExposureAlice Burgin
2019MelbourneThe Bigger PictureAlice Burgin
2020MelbourneCollective IntelligenceAlice Burgin
2021onlineMoment of TruthAlice Burgin
2022MelbourneBearing WitnessNatasha Gadd
2023MelbourneAgents of ChangeNatasha Gadd
2024MelbourneFrontlinesNatasha Gadd
2025MelbourneFuture TellingNatasha Gadd

The Stanley Hawes Award

The annual Stanley Hawes Award for contribution to the documentary in Australia was announced at each AIDC until 2023.
The Stanley Hawes Award was established in 1997 to honour Stanley Hawes as first Producer-in-Chief of the Australian National Film Board and Commonwealth Film Unit. The award recognises the significant support he gave independent filmmakers in the documentary sector and is awarded to a person that makes an outstanding contribution to the documentary sector in Australia.

Previous winners

The annual AIDC Southern Light Award was established in 2024 to celebrate luminaries of the Australian documentary and factual industry.
Expanding the eligibility scope of the pre-existing Stanley Hawes Award, presented from 1997 – 2023, the AIDC Southern Light Award is a $5,000 cash prize presented by AIDC to an Australian industry professional for their outstanding contribution to nonfiction screen, digital and/or audio media.

Previous winners

  • Karina Holden
  • Celia Tait

    AIDC Awards

The annual AIDC Awards were established in 2021 to recognise outstanding completed works of new Australian documentary and factual content across six categories. The awards are traditionally announced on the final day of the AIDC conference.
YearBest Feature DocumentaryBest Documentary / Factual SeriesBest Documentary / Factual SingleBest Short-Form DocumentaryBest Audio DocumentaryBest Interactive / Immersive Documentary
2021The Australian DreamMiriam Margoyles: Almost AustralianLooky Looky Here Comes Cooky, directed and co-written by Steven McGregor, co-written and presented by Steven OliverMy Body SaysThe EleventhMt Resilience
2022I'm WanitaSee What You Made Me DoOur African RootsFreedom SwimmerTender: Roia AtmarGondwana
2023Wash My Soul in the River's FlowThe Australian WarsStill We RiseEden Alone Surpasses TheeThe Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison ExperimentNight Creatures
2024This is Going to be BigNever Let Him GoRebel With a Cause: Oodgeroo NoonuccalMarungka Tjalatjunu House of SkullsTurbulence: Jamais Vu
2025Left Write HookStuff The British Stole Series 2Tough Not ToxicMahika KaiThis is Not a GameLas Awichas

David and Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship

The David and Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship was established in 2011 by Kim Williams, former CEO of News Limited, Foxtel and Fox Studios Australia, in honour of his parents. It is intended "to give an independent filmmaker enough money and time to reflect and prepare for his or her next work or to undertake relevant study and research".
The fellowship is given in the form of grants, initially overseen by filmmakers Bob Connolly and Victoria Treole, and administered by the AIDC. The first fellowship was awarded in June 2011, to producer Jennifer Peedom.
In 2015, the fellowship was worth, and became biennial at the same time as transferring its management to the Documentary Australia Foundation.
Other recipients have included Matthew Bate, Juliet Lamont, Lynette Wallworth, Al Hicks, and Erica Glynn.