Australian International Documentary Conference

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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.

Contents

History

First established in 1987, [1] 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. [2]

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). [3]

Description

AIDC is a not-for-profit organisation [4] committed to the sustainability of documentary, factual and unscripted storytelling. Its goal is to connect creators, purveyors and viewers of non-fiction screen content in ways that promote business, inspire creativity and ignite social change. [1]

As of 2018 the Conference is regarded as one of two major annual conferences for filmmakers, the other being the Screen Makers Conference held in Adelaide. [5]

List of Conferences

YearLocationThemeDirector
1987McLaren ValeInaugural ConferenceDaniela Torsh
1991 Canberra Ideas for AustraliaMarguerite Grey
1993 Sydney Reflecting the FutureDaniela Torsh
1995 Melbourne (no theme)Deb Verhoeven
1997 Brisbane New FrontiersMelanie Guiney
1999 Adelaide Creativity & the Freedom to Express ItMichael Elwood
2001 Perth (no theme)Richard Sowada
2003 Byron Bay Outside the FrameCatherine Marciniak [2]
2004 Fremantle Journey 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 [6]
2014AdelaideDocWeekJoost den Hartog [7]
2015AdelaideNet-Work-PlayJoost den Hartog [8]
2016MelbourneTrue StoriesBritt Arthur [9]
2017MelbourneThree Sides to Every Story (30th Anniversary)Britt Arthur / Andrew Wiseman [10] [11]
2018MelbourneSouthern ExposureAlice Burgin [12]
2019MelbourneThe Bigger PictureAlice Burgin [13]
2020MelbourneCollective IntelligenceAlice Burgin [14]
2021onlineMoment of TruthAlice Burgin [15]
2022MelbourneBearing WitnessNatasha Gadd [16]

The conference was held online in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. [15]

The Stanley Hawes Award

The annual Stanley Hawes Award for contribution to the documentary in Australia is announced at each AIDC.

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. [17]

Previous winners

AIDC Awards

In 2021, AIDC announced the first nominees for the inaugural AIDC awards [20] in the following categories:

On February 18, 2022 the nominees for the second time were announced. [21]

David and Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship

The conference created the inaugural David and Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship, worth A$50,000, in 2010, transferring its management to the Documentary Australia Foundation in 2015, when it became biennial. [22]

The fellowship is bestowed 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". [22]

Recipients have included Jennifer Peedom, Matthew Bate, Juliet Lamont, Lynette Wallworth, [23] Al Hicks (2015) [24] and Erica Glynn (2017). [22]

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References

  1. 1 2 "AIDC-About us". Australian International Documentary Conference. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 Sunderland, Kerry (March 2003). "The 2003 Australian International Documentary Conference – A Report". Senses of Cinema issue 25. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "ACMI to host major documentary conference AIDC in 2016". ACMI. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Charitable Organisation Current Details". ABN Lookup.
  5. ↑ Tiley, David (3 October 2018). "Media Resource Centre aims for national conference". ArtsHub. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  6. ↑ Ritchie, Kevin (26 September 2012). "Australia's DocWeek to launch with Pennebaker-Hegedus retrospective". Realscreen. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012.
  7. ↑ Knight, David (23 December 2013). "DocWeek Returns to Adelaide in 2014". The Adelaide Review. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "AIDC Exec Director steps down after decade in the role". IF Magazine. 24 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Emmy award winning producers to headline AIDC 2016". IF Magazine. 3 December 2015. chief executive and co-director, Britt Arthur
  10. ↑ "AIDC 2017 First Program Announcement". AIDC. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017.
  11. ↑ Edwards, Dan. "Documentary in a virtual, post-truth world". RealTime Arts-Magazine. No. 137. interview with AIDC Director Andrew Wiseman
  12. ↑ "AIDC 2018 Program First Look". AIDC. 14 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018.
  13. ↑ "See The Bigger Picture". AIDC. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "AIDC reveals first Headline Speakers, Marketplace Opportunities and Theme for 2020 Conference". AIDC. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  15. 1 2 "AIDC 2021 unveils full online conference program". AIDC. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "AIDC reveals first look at 2022 Hybrid Program". AIDC. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  17. ↑ "Stanley Hawes Award". Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Stanley Hawes Award-Past Winners-read more". AIDC. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "AIDC 2022 Awards Nominees and Stanley Hawes Award Winner announced". AIDC. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "2021 AIDC Awards Nominees". AIDC. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "2022 AIDC Awards Nominees". AIDC. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 Groves, Don (8 June 2017). "Erica Glynn wins $50,000 documentary fellowship". if.com.au. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Chatelin, Bruno (3 June 2015). "David & Joan Williams Documentary Fellowship Winner". Filmfestivals.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022. Editor's blog
  24. ↑ Nancarrow, Amy (3 June 2015). "Alan Hicks wins David and Joan Williams Fellowship". The AU Review. Retrieved 18 February 2022.

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