{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{use Australian English|date=August 2019}} thumb|250x250px The ''' Australian International Documentary Conference''' ('''AIDC''') 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,<ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |title=AIDC-About us |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/about/our-organisation/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808104702/https://www.aidc.com.au/2017/about/aidc |archive-date=8 August 2016 |access-date=26 July 2016 |website=Australian International Documentary Conference}}</ref> 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.<ref name="aidc2003">{{cite web |last=Sunderland |first=Kerry|title=The 2003 Australian International Documentary Conference – A Report|date=March 2003|work=Senses of Cinema issue 25|url=https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/contemporary-australia/aidc2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810112134/https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/contemporary-australia/aidc2/|archive-date=10 August 2016}}</ref>
It was held in Melbourne in 2006 (and possibly previous to this), 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 (ACMI),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acmi.net.au/acmi-channel/2015/acmi-aidc-partnership/|website=ACMI|title=ACMI to host major documentary conference AIDC in 2016|date=25 February 2015|access-date=5 August 2019}}</ref> and remained there for four years. In 2020, the event moved to State Library Victoria for one edition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-05 |title=AIDC REVEALS FIRST HEADLINE SPEAKERS, MARKETPLACE OPPORTUNITIES AND THEME FOR 2020 CONFERENCE |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-reveals-first-headline-speakers-marketplace-opportunities-and-theme-for-2020-conference/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> The conference was held online in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia,<ref name="21online" /> before returning to ACMI for following editions.
==Description== AIDC is a not-for-profit organisation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?abn=31098558313|title=Charitable Organisation Current Details|website=ABN Lookup|date=November 2014 }}</ref> committed to supporting and elevating nonfiction storytelling through creative and business opportunities across film, television, streaming, and digital media.<ref name="Archived copy"/>
==List of Conferences==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Location !! Theme !! Director |- | 1987 || McLaren Vale || Inaugural Conference || Daniela Torsh |- | 1991 || Canberra || Ideas for Australia || Marguerite Grey |- | 1993 || Sydney || Reflecting the Future || Daniela Torsh |- | 1995 || Melbourne || (no theme) || Deb Verhoeven |- | 1997 || Brisbane || New Frontiers|| Melanie Guiney |- | 1999 || Adelaide || Creativity & the Freedom to Express It || Michael Elwood |- | 2001 || Perth || (no theme) || Richard Sowada |- | 2003 || Byron Bay || Outside the Frame || Catherine Marciniak<ref name="aidc2003" /> |- | 2004 || Fremantle || Journey to where sand & sea meet || John Beaton |- | 2005 || Adelaide || Common Ground New Horizons || Heather Croall |- | 2006 || Melbourne || Survival of the Fittest || Heather Croall |- | 2007 || Adelaide || Documentary: what is it good for? || Joost den Hartog |- | 2008 || Fremantle || Follow the Story... || Joost den Hartog |- | 2009 || Adelaide || Who's Watching || Joost den Hartog |- | 2010 || Adelaide || It's a small world after all || Joost den Hartog |- | 2011 || Adelaide || Network, Deal, Inspire || Joost den Hartog |- | 2012 || Adelaide || Network, Deal, Inspire || Joost den Hartog |- | 2013 || Adelaide || DocWeek || Joost den Hartog<ref>{{cite web|last=Ritchie|first=Kevin|title=Australia's DocWeek to launch with Pennebaker-Hegedus retrospective|date=26 September 2012|website=Realscreen|url=https://realscreen.com/2012/09/26/australias-docweek-to-launch-with-pennebaker-hegedus-retrospective/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113161530/https://realscreen.com/2012/09/26/australias-docweek-to-launch-with-pennebaker-hegedus-retrospective/|archive-date=13 November 2012}}</ref> |- | 2014 || Adelaide || DocWeek || Joost den Hartog<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Knight|first=David|title=DocWeek Returns to Adelaide in 2014|date=23 December 2013|magazine=The Adelaide Review|url=https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/arts/cinema/2013/12/23/docweek-returns-to-adelaide-in-2014/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112072609/https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/arts/cinema/2013/12/23/docweek-returns-to-adelaide-in-2014/|archive-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> |- | 2015 || Adelaide || Net-Work-Play || Joost den Hartog<ref>{{cite magazine|title=AIDC Exec Director steps down after decade in the role|date=24 February 2015|magazine=IF Magazine |url=http://if.com.au/2015/02/24/article/AIDC-Exec-Director-steps-down-after-decade-in-the-role/QGNMXRWVAP.html}}</ref> |- | 2016 || Melbourne || True Stories || Britt Arthur<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Emmy award winning producers to headline AIDC 2016|date=3 December 2015|magazine=IF Magazine |url=https://if.com.au/emmy-award-winning-producers-to-headline-aidc-2016/|quote=chief executive and co-director, Britt Arthur}}</ref> |- | 2017 || Melbourne || Three Sides to Every Story (30th Anniversary) || Britt Arthur / Andrew Wiseman<ref>{{cite web|title=AIDC 2017 First Program Announcement|date=8 November 2016|website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/blogs/news/articles/aidc-2017-first-program-announcement|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302013923/https://www.aidc.com.au/blogs/news/articles/aidc-2017-first-program-announcement|archive-date=2 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Edwards|first=Dan|title=Documentary in a virtual, post-truth world|magazine=RealTime Arts-Magazine |issue=137 |url=http://www.realtimearts.net/article/137/12512|quote=interview with AIDC Director Andrew Wiseman}}</ref> |- | 2018 || Melbourne || Southern Exposure || Alice Burgin<ref>{{cite web|title=AIDC 2018 Program First Look|date=14 November 2017|website=AIDC |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/blogs/news/articles/aidc-2018-program-first-look|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324212017/https://www.aidc.com.au/blogs/news/articles/aidc-2018-program-first-look|archive-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> |- | 2019 || Melbourne || The Bigger Picture || Alice Burgin<ref>{{cite web|title=See The Bigger Picture|date=7 November 2018|website=AIDC |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/see-the-bigger-picture/|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> |- | 2020 || Melbourne || Collective Intelligence || Alice Burgin<ref>{{cite web|title=AIDC reveals first Headline Speakers, Marketplace Opportunities and Theme for 2020 Conference|date=5 November 2019|website=AIDC |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-reveals-first-headline-speakers-marketplace-opportunities-and-theme-for-2020-conference/|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> |- | 2021 || online || Moment of Truth || Alice Burgin<ref name="21online">{{cite web|title=AIDC 2021 unveils full online conference program|date=28 January 2021|website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-2021-unveils-full-online-conference-program/|access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> |- | 2022 || Melbourne || Bearing Witness || Natasha Gadd<ref>{{cite web|title=AIDC reveals first look at 2022 Hybrid Program|date=4 November 2021|website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-reveals-first-look-at-2022-hybrid-program/|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> |- |2023 |Melbourne |Agents of Change |Natasha Gadd<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-02 |title=AIDC Reveals 2023 Theme and First Look at Program Line-Up |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-reveals-2023-theme-and-first-look-at-program-line-up/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- |2024 |Melbourne |Frontlines |Natasha Gadd <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=AIDC REVEALS 2024 THEME AND FIRST LOOK AT PROGRAM LINE-UP & MARKETPLACE |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-reveals-2024-theme-and-first-look-at-program-line-up-marketplace/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- |2025 |Melbourne |Future Telling |Natasha Gadd<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-28 |title=AIDC Announces 2025 Theme and First Look at Program Line-Up and Marketplace |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-announces-2025-theme-and-first-look-at-program-line-up-and-marketplace/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |- |2026 |Melbourne |Hold True |Natasha Gadd<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harms |first=Chris |date=2025-10-29 |title=AIDC Reveals 2026 Theme and First Look at Program & Marketplace Line-Up |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-reveals-2026-theme-and-first-look-at-program-marketplace-line-up/ |access-date=2026-05-21 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |}
==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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/2017/about/awards |title=Stanley Hawes Award|access-date=26 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808095524/https://www.aidc.com.au/2017/about/awards |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Previous winners=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Graham Chase (1997)<ref name="hawesaward" /> * John Heyer (1999) * Pat Fiske (2001) * Stewart Young (2003) * Robin Hughes (2004) * CAAMA Productions (2005) * John Hughes (2006) * Michael Gissing (2007) * David Bradbury (2008) * Bob Connolly (2009) * Tom Zubrycki (2010) * Rachael Perkins (2011) * Julia Overton (2012) * Documentary Australia Foundation (2013) * Chris Hilton (2014) * Pauline Clague (2015) * Sonya Pemberton (2016) * Brian Beaton (2017) * Curtis Levy (2018) * James Bradley (2019) * Janine Hosking (2020) * Michaela Perske (2021)<ref name="hawesaward">{{cite web|title=Stanley Hawes Award-Past Winners-read more|website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/stanley-hawes-award-2/|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> * David Tiley (2022)<ref name="2022awards">{{cite web|title=AIDC 2022 Awards Nominees and Stanley Hawes Award Winner announced|date=18 February 2022|website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-2022-awards-nominees-and-stanley-hawes-award-winner-announced/|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> * Dr Cathy Henkel (2023) <ref name="2023awards">{{cite web|title=AIDC 2023 Awards Nominees and Stanley Hawes Award Winner announced|date=23 February 2023|website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-2023-awards-nominees-stanley-hawes-award-winner-announced/|access-date=23 February 2023}}</ref> {{div col end}}
== The Southern Light Award == 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 (2024) <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=2024 AIDC Awards Nominees & $5,000 AIDC Southern Light Award Winner Announced |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/2024-aidc-awards-nominees-5000-aidc-southern-light-award-winner-announced/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Celia Tait (2025) <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=2025 AIDC Awards Nominees & $5,000 AIDC Southern Light Award Winner Announced |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/2025-aidc-awards-nominees-5000-aidc-southern-light-award-winner-announced/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Karla Hart, Simon Nasht (joint winners 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caverly |first=Jasper |date=2026-02-12 |title=2026 AIDC Awards Nominees & $5,000 AIDC Southern Light Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/2026-aidc-awards-nominees-5000-aidc-southern-light-award-winners-announced/ |access-date=2026-05-21 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==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.<ref name=aidcawards2021>{{cite web|title=2021 AIDC Awards Nominees |website=AIDC|url=https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/nominees/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210020009/https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/nominees/|archive-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Best Feature Documentary !Best Documentary / Factual Series !Best Documentary / Factual Single !Best Short-Form Documentary !Best Audio Documentary !Best Interactive / Immersive Documentary |- |2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 AIDC Awards Nominees and Winners |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/nominees/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |''The Australian Dream'' |''Miriam Margoyles: Almost Australian'' |''Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky'', directed and co-written by Steven McGregor, co-written and presented by Steven Oliver<ref name="aidcawards2021" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Steven McGregor |url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A104541 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=AustLit}}</ref> |''My Body Says'' |''The Eleventh'' |''Mt Resilience'' |- |2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 AIDC Awards Winners & Nominees |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/nominees-2/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |''I'm Wanita'' |''See What You Made Me Do'' |''Our African Roots'' |''Freedom Swimmer'' |''Tender: Roia Atmar'' |''Gondwana'' |- |2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 AIDC Awards Winners & Nominees |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/nominees-2023/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |''Wash My Soul in the River's Flow'' |''The Australian Wars'' |''Still We Rise'' |''Eden Alone Surpasses Thee'' |''The Greatest Menace: Inside the Gay Prison Experiment'' |''Night Creatures'' |- |2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 AIDC Awards Nominees & Winners |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/awards/nominees-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |''This is Going to be Big'' |''Never Let Him Go'' |''Rebel With a Cause: Oodgeroo Noonuccal'' |''Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black)'' |''House of Skulls'' |''Turbulence: Jamais Vu'' |- |2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-06 |title=AIDC 2025 Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-2025-award-winners-announced/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |''Left Write Hook'' |''Stuff The British Stole Series 2'' |''Tough Not Toxic'' |''Mahika Kai'' |''This is Not a Game'' |''Las Awichas'' |- |2026<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harms |first=Chris |date=2026-03-06 |title=AIDC 2026 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED |url=https://www.aidc.com.au/aidc-2026-award-winners-announced/ |access-date=2026-05-21 |website=AIDC |language=en-AU}}</ref> |''<nowiki>Yurlu | Country</nowiki>'' |''Revealed: Death Cap Murders'' |''Emily: I am Kam'' |''Wieambilla Reconstructed'' |''Broken Trust'' |''The World Came Flooding In'' |}
==David and Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship== <!---redirects target this section, until article for Documentary Australia Foundation has been created.---> The David and Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship was established in 2011 by Kim Williams,<ref name=announce>{{cite web | title=New documentary fellowship announced by Kim Williams | website=Inside Film | date=18 March 2011 | url=http://if.com.au/2011/03/18/article/XWLLTIQIHP.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329010426/http://if.com.au/2011/03/18/article/XWLLTIQIHP.html | archive-date=29 March 2015 | url-status=dead | access-date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= David & Joan Williams Fellowship | website=AIDC| date=2013| url=http://docexchange.org.au/pages/fellowship/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809174533/http://docexchange.org.au/pages/fellowship/ | archive-date=9 August 2013 | url-status=dead | access-date=22 October 2022}}</ref> 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".<ref name=if/>
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,<ref name=announce/> to producer Jennifer Peedom.<ref name=cv>{{cite web | title=CV | website=Jennifer Peedom | url=http://www.jenpeedom.com.au/page-cv | access-date=6 May 2024}}</ref>
In 2015, the fellowship was worth {{AUD|50,000}}, and became biennial at the same time as transferring its management to the Documentary Australia Foundation.<ref name=if>{{cite web| url=https://www.if.com.au/erica-glynn-wins-50000-documentary-fellowship/| title=Erica Glynn wins $50,000 documentary fellowship|first= Don |last=Groves|date= 8 June 2017| website=if.com.au| access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
Other recipients have included Matthew Bate, Juliet Lamont, Lynette Wallworth,<ref>{{cite web|last=Chatelin|first=Bruno|title=David & Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship Winner|date=3 June 2015 |website=Filmfestivals.com |url=https://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/editor/david_joan_williams_documentary_fellowship_winner|access-date=18 February 2022|quote=Editor's blog}}</ref> Al Hicks (2015),<ref>{{cite web|last=Nancarrow|first=Amy|title=Alan Hicks wins David and Joan Williams Fellowship|date=3 June 2015|website=The AU Review|url=https://www.theaureview.com/watch/alan-hicks-wins-david-and-joan-williams-fellowship/|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> and Erica Glynn (2017).<ref name=if/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *[http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/contemporary-australia/aidc1/ Campey, Philippa (2003) ''The 2003 Australian International Documentary Conference: A Report'']
==External links== *{{official|https://www.aidc.com.au/}}
Category:International conferences in Australia Category:Documentary film organizations Category:Film organisations in Australia Category:1987 establishments in Australia Category:Recurring events established in 1987 Category:Annual events in Australia