Full Program Revealed for Regionality Sunshine Coast 2025

AIDC and Screen Queensland, with the support of Sunshine Coast Council and in association with Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, are proud to reveal the full session program and speaker and decision maker line-up for this year’s Regionality Sunshine Coast documentary and factual industry event, taking place at Mantra Mooloolaba Beach on Monday 28 July 2025.

The very special one-day program will provide exclusive insights into crafting compelling documentaries that connect with international audiences, tips for how to engage with and thrive in the online nonfiction content environment, expert advice on successful project development, and a look at how First Nation filmmakers are innovating in the environmental and climate film space. All alongside Regionality’s essential insider access to broadcasters, platforms, funds and distributors via roundtables, structured meetings and networking – providing a fully-rounded program catering to the needs of Queensland-based doc and factual practitioners.  

Leading the program is the international team behind the Oscar®-nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning documentary, Porcelain War – including co-directors Brendan Bollomo (USA) and Slava Leontyev (Ukraine), and producer Camilla Mazzaferro (Australia).

One of 2024’s most celebrated documentaries, Porcelain War is a cinematic and deeply humanist portrayal of Ukrainian artists-turned-citizen-soldiers, providing a new perspective and creative approach to frontline filmmaking.

In this exclusive session, titled Fragile and Everlasting: International Collaborations & Craft, the team will illuminate the artistic process and creative choices that rendered Porcelain War a cinematic work of excellence that has connected with audiences worldwide.

For documentary and factual creators seeking to maximise their opportunities in the current media environment, online funding bodies, industry experts, and innovative content creators will come together for the session Future Visions: Unlocking the Power and Potential of Online.

Featuring Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston, Changer Studios co-founder Farhad Meher–Homji, writer and director Jo-Anne Brechin (Nudge Co Studio, Miss Ink), and independent vertical producer Kate Boylan-Ascione (Why So Disruptive?) in a panel moderated by Screen Queensland’s Jesse McCart, the session will look at new funding opportunities and pathways for direct-to-audience content.

A panel of creators and broadcasters responsible for powerful Indigenous-led environmental and climate stories will lead the session Custodians of Change: First Nations Climate Storytelling, moderated by Screen Queensland’s Danielle Ah Boo.

Join NITV’s Cieron Cody; writer, director and founder of Brown Cabs, John Harvey (Atomic Paradise); producer Barbara Ibuai (Testimony), and No Coincidence Media’s Yale MacGillivray (INDESIGN); as they share insights into innovating the way we create and share environmental and climate stories, and ultimately shape a better future for our shared region.

For practitioners wanting tips on project development, interactive two-part session The Art Of Development: A Roadmap to Greenlight + Doc Hotline will see some of Queensland’s finest filmmakers help build a blueprint for a successful development process, and contribute to a collective effort to creatively solve common doc development dilemmas.

Moderated by Patrick Abboud (Only Human & Dreamchaser, Gayrabia), prolific producers Dean Gibson (Bacon Factory Films, First Weapons), Veronica Fury (Wildbear Entertainment, Joh: The King of Queensland), Ivan O’Mahoney (In Films, Unbreakable:The Jelena Dokic Story) and Camilla Mazzaferro (Songbird Studios, Porcelain War) share invaluable insights and feedback into the art of documentary and factual development.

For filmmakers pitching a project or wanting to make new connections, Regionality Roundtable: Meet the Decision Makers – will introduce the attending broadcasters, platforms, funds and distributors, illuminate their current commissioning, funding or acquisitions priorities, and provide insight into what they’re seeking and how to collaborate with them.

The session will be of particular importance to delegates participating in Regionality’s returning Doc Chat 1:1 Meetings program, which provides attendees with the opportunity to apply for vitally important face-time with decision makers and industry guests of the event.

To cap off the packed day’s program, Networking Drinks at Four Pines Mooloolaba will see all attendees invited to catch-up with industry peers, make new connections, and celebrate South East Queensland’s talented documentary and factual creators.

Boosting the Regionality decision maker line-up, Paul Wiegard (Co-founder & CEO, Madman Entertainment) will join already confirmed guests Richard Huddleston (Head of Documentary, Screen Australia), Kalita Corrigan (Commissioning Editor, Factual, ABC), Bernadine Lim  (Senior Commissioning Editor, Factual, SBS), Cieron Cody (Senior Commissioning Editor, NITV), Danielle Ah Boo (Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit, Screen Queensland), Ian Lynch (Content Director, Screen Queensland), and Jesse McCart (Program Manager, Online Content, Screen Queensland).

All attending decision makers will be participating in Doc Chat 1:1 Meetings, with sign-ups open now for Regionality ticket-holders. Visit the Regionality Sunshine Coast page for more information.

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney, said, “Screen Queensland is proud to partner with AIDC on Regionality as it returns to the Sunshine Coast with a power-packed one-day event designed for the documentary sector. Regionality enables factual storytellers to connect, innovate and collaborate with influential global and domestic voices including Screen Queensland local story champions Danielle Ah Boo, Ian Lynch and Jesse McCart.” 

AIDC CEO / Creative Director Natasha Gadd, said, “Following an incredible edition of Regionality Sunshine Coast in 2024, AIDC is thrilled to return to the region to present another stellar line-up of sessions, speakers and marketplace opportunities thanks to Screen Queensland and the support of Sunshine Coast Council. From crafting docs on the frontlines in Ukraine to creating First Nations climate films with impact, building audiences for online, and hot tips from industry creatives on the art of development, this is a not-to-be-missed event for the South East Queensland doc and factual sector!”

Tickets for Regionality Sunshine Coast are on sale now through AIDC, priced at $110 inc GST, or $90 inc GST for AIDC, Screen Collective and Screenworks members, and $80 inc GST for full-time students and concession card holders, and provide access to all sessions, Doc Chat sign-ups and networking drinks. Doc Chat sign-ups are open now, and close Sunday 20 July at 11.59pm (AEST).

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Regionality Sunshine Coast takes place Monday 28 July 2025 at Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, Mooloolaba, Queensland.