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INVERTING SURVEILLANCE: GEETA GANDBHIR AND THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
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INVERTING SURVEILLANCE: GEETA GANDBHIR AND THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

Academy Award®-nominee Geeta Gandbhir delves into the heart of her documentary storytelling practice, culminating with the groundbreaking feature The Perfect Neighbor, an unprecedented investigation into the fight for justice against the backdrop of race politics in America.

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GLOBAL STORIES WITH ALOKE DEVICHAND AND MINDHOUSE
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GLOBAL STORIES WITH ALOKE DEVICHAND AND MINDHOUSE

Join Aloke Devichand, the head of documentaries at Mindhouse (the UK-based production company founded by Louis Theroux) and former commissioner for Netflix and Al Jazeera, as he shares his innovative approach to commissioning and producing distinctive global stories.

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RITA BAGHDADI: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
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RITA BAGHDADI: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Join Emmy Award®-winning documentary filmmaker Rita Baghdadi as she explores her career as a multi-hyphenate director, producer and cinematographer of bold, independent, character-driven docs, including her Sundance hit Sirens and yet-to-be-released Stallions, while also creating projects for streamers such as Netflix and National Geographic.

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THE VENTURELAND YEARS WITH JOHN BATTSEK
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THE VENTURELAND YEARS WITH JOHN BATTSEK

Join us for an unmissable spotlight with Oscar®-winning producer John Battsek (One Day In September, Searching for Sugar Man), co-founder of Ventureland and responsible for streaming-era hits like The Deepest Breath, Wham! and Beckham. In conversation with Nick Batzias (Good Thing Productions), Battsek takes us deep inside the creative philosophy that has driven his signature style and Ventureland's diverse slate of globally renowned premium docs.

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ADAM BHALA LOUGH AND DEEPFAKING SAM ALTMAN
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ADAM BHALA LOUGH AND DEEPFAKING SAM ALTMAN

Dive into Adam Bhala Lough’s (Telemarketers, HBO, 2023) provocative and irreverent SXSW Audience Award-nominated documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman, which turned the table on its intended participant to create an AI-generated version of the OpenAI founder when the real Altman refused to be interviewed.

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PUSHING FORM IN INDIGENOUS DOCUMENTARY CRAFT
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PUSHING FORM IN INDIGENOUS DOCUMENTARY CRAFT

From Ursula Grace Williams’s music documentary Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds, to Jason Ryle’s animated feature Endless Cookie and Kieran Satour’s cinematic project based on audio testimonials, Facing the Numbers – First Nations filmmakers unpack the creative and cultural drivers of their innovative documentary approaches.

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INTOLERABLE BEAUTY: INNOVATING CLIMATE STORYTELLING
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INTOLERABLE BEAUTY: INNOVATING CLIMATE STORYTELLING

Filmmakers behind Yurlu | Country, Floodland and Power to Country share their approach to climate storytelling that invites us to witness climate realities not as distant crises, but as shared futures demanding innovation and care to drive the urgent action needed now.

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DOCUMENTING INDIGENOUS ICONS: JOURNEY HOME, DAVID GULPILIL AND EMILY: I AM KAM
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DOCUMENTING INDIGENOUS ICONS: JOURNEY HOME, DAVID GULPILIL AND EMILY: I AM KAM

The creative teams behind Journey Home, David Gulpilil and Emily: I Am Kam, in conversation with Rachel Perkins, share insights into crafting complex and multi-layered biographies of two Indigenous artists who have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape with their art in life and in death.

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A WORLD OF WONDER WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
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A WORLD OF WONDER WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Tom McDonald, National Geographic’s EVP of Content, takes us through the Nat Geo ecosystem and the projects, genres and formats that have hit the stratosphere, from Ocean with David Attenborough to Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time and A Real Bug’s Life.

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RISKY BUSINESS: PROTECTING YOUR FILM, YOUR TEAM AND YOURSELF
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RISKY BUSINESS: PROTECTING YOUR FILM, YOUR TEAM AND YOURSELF

Join the filmmakers behind Silenced, Our Medicine, and Revealed: Death Cap Murders, in conversation with Richard Huddleston (Screen Australia), as they reveal how their high profile productions navigated editorial uncertainty, legal exposure, ethical complexity, and duty of care. 

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THE SUBLIME ART OF THE EVERYDAY IN DOCUMENTARY
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THE SUBLIME ART OF THE EVERYDAY IN DOCUMENTARY

From porridge-making and spreadsheet championships to life in regional towns – how do you transform ordinary subjects into extraordinary stories? Join the filmmakers behind The Golden Spurtle, Spreadsheet Champions and Flathead, whose deeply human documentaries have landed with audiences around the world.

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FILM FESTIVALS & DISTRIBUTION: THE BEST (AND WORST) STRATEGIES FOR FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
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FILM FESTIVALS & DISTRIBUTION: THE BEST (AND WORST) STRATEGIES FOR FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES

Film festivals have long been an essential platform for distribution opportunities - but increasingly, coveted A-list premieres no longer guarantee international sales. Experts in the field, including Dogwoof, Madman Entertainment, Raina Films and TIFF, discuss strategies for maximising festival exposure and converting laurels into opportunities.

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DRIVING CHANGE: THE UNDENIABLE POWER OF IMPACT PRODUCING
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DRIVING CHANGE: THE UNDENIABLE POWER OF IMPACT PRODUCING

Helmed by Alex Kelly (Unquiet Collective), leading impact producers Sarah Beard (Trade Secret, Ocean with David Attenborough), Maya Newell (In My Blood it Runs, Gayby Baby), and Genevieve Grieves (Motherhood in the Colony, Power to Country) offer a timely review of the role of the impact producer in driving lasting change.

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CROSSING CHANNELS: COLLABORATIONS IN BROADCAST
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CROSSING CHANNELS: COLLABORATIONS IN BROADCAST

Public broadcasting is under unprecedented pressure, so how can producers and broadcasters keep making bold, culturally defining nonfiction? Erika Dilday (American Documentary | POV), Aloke Devichand (Mindhouse) and Karina Holden (Northern Pictures) join moderator Stephen Oliver (ABC) to confront the most urgent questions facing public broadcasting today.

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FEARLESS IDEAS: FROM PITCH TO SCREEN WITH THE ABC
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FEARLESS IDEAS: FROM PITCH TO SCREEN WITH THE ABC

What makes an idea irresistible to the ABC? ABC is joined by producers of recent hard-hitting projects - from the Tampa affair to the crimes of Rolf Harris and court cases that shaped the nation - to explore how these projects made the wild ride from pitch to screen.

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MAGNATES, MYTHS AND MYSTERY: INVESTIGATING THE STORIES OF OUR TIMES IN AUDIO
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MAGNATES, MYTHS AND MYSTERY: INVESTIGATING THE STORIES OF OUR TIMES IN AUDIO

From portraits of Australian media and mining titans to hard-hitting investigations into the Northern Territory Intervention – discover how leading journalists weave creative storytelling with investigative reporting to crack open high-profile Australian stories in gripping long-form audio documentaries.

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THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE: FESTIVALS, FUNDS, PHILANTHROPY
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THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE: FESTIVALS, FUNDS, PHILANTHROPY

Navigate the current funding landscape with Documentary Australia, Minderoo Pictures, Shark Island Foundation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, and Points North Institute, and learn how to access and unlock funds for your next project.

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SUBSCRIBE NOW: UNDERSTANDING THE CREATOR ECONOMY
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SUBSCRIBE NOW: UNDERSTANDING THE CREATOR ECONOMY

The “creator economy” is no longer a niche or alternative mode for storytellers. Leaders in the field - Changer Studios and Cinch Media - share invaluable insights into how all nonfiction practitioners can embrace the potential that direct-to-audience pathways offer to reach new audiences on social platforms.

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STATE OF PLAY: SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY IN 2026 AND BEYOND
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STATE OF PLAY: SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY IN 2026 AND BEYOND

Join Stephanie King (Documentary Australia) and a panel of industry experts for our third annual state of play analysis, exploring the most urgent issues facing our sector – from technological developments, legislative changes and market forces.

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STORIES WITHOUT BORDERS: MEET THE INTERNATIONAL DECISION MAKERS AT AIDC
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STORIES WITHOUT BORDERS: MEET THE INTERNATIONAL DECISION MAKERS AT AIDC

Meet AIDC's international guest decision makers, representing broadcasters, festivals, distributors and funds as they share what they're on the lookout for and how best to collaborate across territories.

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STATE OF THE NATION: MEET THE SCREEN AGENCIES
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STATE OF THE NATION: MEET THE SCREEN AGENCIES

Not only are state and territory screen agencies critical to the production pipeline, they are often first on board and therefore the first to take a risk in the early development process. Join agency representatives for up-to-date insights into documentary and factual funding opportunities, industry development initiatives, sector trends and recent success stories.

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OOPS I DID IT AGAIN: HOW TO GET A RETURNABLE SERIES WITH SBS
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OOPS I DID IT AGAIN: HOW TO GET A RETURNABLE SERIES WITH SBS

What’s the secret sauce that ensures your documentary or factual series has a second season (and beyond)? This panel of producers and broadcasters representing SBS, Endemol Shine and Smashing Films discusses real-world examples of hit Australian returnable series.

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GENRE MASH-UP: HOW TO LAND A HIT WITH SBS
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GENRE MASH-UP: HOW TO LAND A HIT WITH SBS

Melding genres can give your project an edge, but how do you do the genre mash successfully? This panel of SBS commissioning editors plus filmmakers John Safran and Michael Cordell explore the growing trend of factual hybrids.

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YOU CAN ASK THAT: YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY THE ABC
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YOU CAN ASK THAT: YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY THE ABC

The floor is yours. Hear directly from the ABC team as they answer everything you ever wanted to know about documentary and specialist content at the broadcaster. Submit your question in advance (anonymously, if you prefer).

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CREATIVE INNOVATION, ETHICS AND TRUTH IN THE AGE OF AI
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CREATIVE INNOVATION, ETHICS AND TRUTH IN THE AGE OF AI

In this timely discussion, Valerie Veatch, director Ghost in the Machine (Sundance NEXT 2026), Angie Abdilla, founder, Old Ways, New and Clayton Jacobson, Gunshy Cowboys founder, join Lexi Landsman (BBC Studios ANZ) to share their unique perspectives on how documentary makers can harness AI creatively while safeguarding truth and trust.

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MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! HOW TO NAIL SOCIAL MEDIA-FIRST STORYTELLING
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MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! HOW TO NAIL SOCIAL MEDIA-FIRST STORYTELLING

How do you nail online content that stops audiences mid-scroll? Hear from this panel of creators and collaborators including Dr Naomi Koh Belic (Bimbo Biology), Dr Esmé Louise James (Kinky History), Mustafa Allawi (Hazen) and Lee Naimo (Haven’t You Done Well Productions), who have gone viral for all the right reasons.

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SHORT CUTS: PATHWAYS TO GETTING YOUR SHORT DOCS MADE (AND SEEN)
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SHORT CUTS: PATHWAYS TO GETTING YOUR SHORT DOCS MADE (AND SEEN)

Discover firsthand insights into the craft and business of short documentaries. Join commissioners from Al Jazeera and Powerhouse and award-winning filmmakers Ursula Grace Williams and Kieran Satour in conversation with Anu Hasbold (MOFA).

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FAIR PLAY FOR AI: THE FUTURE OF SCREEN LICENSING WITH SCREENRIGHTS
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FAIR PLAY FOR AI: THE FUTURE OF SCREEN LICENSING WITH SCREENRIGHTS

Screenrights Chief Executive James Dickinson explores how extended collective licensing can secure fair remuneration for rights holders in the GenAI era.

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SHAPING TRUTH THROUGH VISUAL LANGUAGE WITH 21-19
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SHAPING TRUTH THROUGH VISUAL LANGUAGE WITH 21-19

Join 21-19 for an invigorating and forward-looking talk on how design can not only help package a documentary series, but also how it can shape the way truth is felt, understood and remembered.

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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: YARNING CIRCLE
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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: YARNING CIRCLE

To open the 2026 Indigenous Creators Program, join AIDC First Nations practitioners from Australia and across the globe for a welcome yarning circle.


First Nations practitioners only.

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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: WHEEL OF YARNS
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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: WHEEL OF YARNS

Moderated by Narelda Jacobs, OAM, we're turning the tables on the pitch format and putting First Nations broadcasters and screen agencies in the hot seat: they'll receive a random topic with just three minutes to prep before pitching their ideas to a panel of judges made up of discerning producers.



First Nations practitioners only.

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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: THE COLLEANO HEART WITH PAULINE CLAGUE
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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: THE COLLEANO HEART WITH PAULINE CLAGUE

A documentary exploring a circus family’s hidden legacy unfolds as descendants reunite across continents, uncovering their Aboriginal ancestry, global stardom and the extraordinary secrets they kept in order to survive. Director Pauline Clague will share her expertise on the making of The Colleano Heart.



First Nations practitioners only.

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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH
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INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM: INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH

Indigenous Creators Program participants are invited to join us for the second AIDC Indigenous Creators Pitch. Selected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators will pitch their projects in development to a closed room of local and international buyers looking to support Indigenous-led nonfiction stories.


First Nations practitioners only.

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LEADING LIGHTS: IN DEVELOPMENT
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LEADING LIGHTS: IN DEVELOPMENT

In this exclusive session for Leading Lights participants, alumni Thomas Charles Hyland (This is Going to Be Big) and Harriet Spark (Seahorse School) share practical insights into their development processes from ideation to realisation.


Leading Lights participants only.

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LEADING LIGHTS PITCH
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LEADING LIGHTS PITCH

In this exclusive Leading Lights session, four participants pitch their projects in development to industry representatives including broadcasters, funds and production companies to receive invaluable industry insights and feedback. All 2026 Leading Lights participants are invited to support their fellow pitchers.
 
Leading Lights participants only.

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THE FACTory - CENTRAL SHOWCASE
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THE FACTory - CENTRAL SHOWCASE

Presented by VicScreen, The FACTory’s Central Showcase brings experienced project teams face-to-face with local and international decision makers in a live pitch format.

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THE FACTory - NEW TALENT SHOWCASE
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THE FACTory - NEW TALENT SHOWCASE

Presented by VicScreen, The FACTory’s New Talent Showcase presents pitches from the world's brightest new screen talents to industry decision makers from around the globe.

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THE FACTory - ROUGH CUT SHOWCASE
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THE FACTory - ROUGH CUT SHOWCASE

Presented by VicScreen, The FACTory’s Rough Cut Showcase spotlights three projects in their final stages to a panel of local and international decision makers.

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