AIDC 2026: SECOND INAUGURAL INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH PROJECTS AND PITCH MENTORS ANNOUNCED

We are pleased to announce the three projects selected for the second AIDC Indigenous Creators Pitch, proudly presented by Indigenous Business Australia, set to happen during AIDC 2026.

An initiative of AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program, the Indigenous Creators Pitch provides Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander filmmakers with the opportunity to pitch a project in development to a closed room of local and international buyers looking to support Indigenous-led nonfiction stories. One project will be selected to receive the $5,000 Indigenous Creators Pitch prize presented by AIDC.

All Indigenous Creators Program participants will be invited to the pitch session to support the pitching teams and glean useful tips in the art of pitching and valuable industry insights from the decision makers in the room.

AIDC 2026’s Indigenous Creators Program and Indigenous Creators Pitch are both supported by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), marking the organisation’s second year of collaboration with AIDC. IBA was created to assist and enhance the economic development opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia – through home ownership, business success, and investment opportunities.

SELECTED PROJECTS

THE BLAK LENS

Pitch Team: Michael Torres

Logline: First Nation photographers in Australia confront systemic racism in mainstream and local photography, working to represent Blak faces in a predominantly white industry while inspiring future generations.

FOREVER FIFTEEN

Pitch Team: Karla Hart, Amanda Morrison

Logline: After the death of her 15-year-old son, Cassius Turvey, a grieving mother turns relentless love into a national campaign to ensure his name is remembered and justice is fully delivered.

MIBBARR

Pitch Team: Cian Mungatj McCue

Logline: Bininj elders and families reunite across clans to re‑write secret men’s ceremony and revive the Mibbarr Songline, as they search for Burranjila before their last knowledge holders and worlds of memory are lost.

PARTICIPATING DECISION MAKERS

Pitch participants will present their projects in a roundtable format to the following decision makers:

• Kelrick Martin, Head of Indigenous, ABC (AUS)
• Dena Curtis, Head of Indigenous Commissioning & Production, NITV (AUS)
• Kate Hodges, Executive Director, Shark Island Foundation (AUS)
• Erika Dilday, Executive Director/Executive Producer, American Documentary | POV (USA)
• Jason Ryle, International Programmer, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and Global Indigenous Cinema, TIFF (CAN)
• Kate Lemberg, Associate Manager, Industry Relations & Artist Programs, Points North Institute (USA)
• Eddie Coupe, Head of Industry, Melbourne International Film Festival / MIFF Premiere Fund (AUS)
• Mat Kesting, CEO/Creative Director, Adelaide Film Festival / AFF Investment Fund (AUS)

INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH MENTORS

Each project team was paired with an experienced First Nations practitioner for 1:1 mentoring sessions in the lead-up to AIDC 2026. These sessions were focused on story interrogation, pitch training and trailer consultation to help the project teams get pitch- and market-ready.

Many thanks to this year’s Indigenous Creators Pitch mentors:

• Pauline Clague, Founder / Artistic Director, Winda Film Festival
• Jub Clerc, Independent Filmmaker
• Dean Gibson, Co-Founder, Producer, Writer, Director, Allstory Pictures

The Indigenous Creators Pitch, presented by Indigenous Business Australia, will take place on Wednesday 4 March at ACMI during AIDC 2026. The session is accessible to First Nations practitioners and invited decision makers only.

Learn more on the Indigenous Creators Pitch page.

Main Image: Kaylene Whiskey, Revive and Resist (2025) Entropico and GARUWA for Biennale of Sydney and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, DIR: Kieran Mpetyane Satour, DOP: Tyson Perkins, Gadigal Country