Leading Lights is a philanthropic funding initiative designed to enable emerging and diverse practitioners to attend AIDC for the first time and participate in a customised professional development program.
Leading Lights eligibility spans a range of backgrounds and contexts, including emerging and early-career, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse, regional and remote, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) nonfiction practitioners.
The program provides vital assistance to industry newcomers in establishing themselves as part of Australia’s documentary, factual and nonfiction practitioner community.
Thanks to the contributions of industry donors, 350 emerging and diverse screen creatives have been able to attend AIDC and participate in Leading Lights since the program’s launch in 2018.
All Leading Lights recipients receive a Sessions Pass to attend AIDC and are eligible to participate in the Leading Lights professional development program.
Applications for the 2027 Leading Lights program will open in October 2026.
“THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE WAS A FEAST OF INSPIRATION AND HELPFUL INFORMATION. I WALKED AWAY WITH A PHONE FULL OF NEW CONTACTS AND A NOTEBOOK FULL OF IDEAS. I’M SO THANKFUL FOR THE LEADING LIGHTS PROGRAM FOR ALLOWING ME AND OTHER EMERGING FACTUAL CREATORS TO EXPERIENCE IT.”
– MARKOS HASIOTIS, LEADING LIGHTS RECIPIENT 2026
Leading Lights is a philanthropically funded program – dedicated to creating a more inclusive and diverse screen industry.
Want to light the way for the next generation of emerging and diverse doc and factual practitioners and a sustainable, inclusive and diverse screen industry? AIDC is now calling for industry donors as part of our 2027 Leading Lights campaign.
With your support, AIDC can continue to provide vital assistance to industry newcomers in establishing themselves as part of Australia’s documentary and factual community.
Any Australian screen business or individual can make a tax-deductible donation to our Leading Lights program.
AIDC is committed to delivering an exclusive, bespoke program that provides maximum opportunities for our Leading Lights but can only do this with your donation.
Donation Tiers*:
- $715 – 1 x Leading Lights recipient
- $1,430 – 2 x Leading Lights recipients
- $2,145 – 3 x Leading Lights recipients
- $2,860 – 4 x Leading Lights recipients
- $3,575 – 5 x Leading Light recipients
*Additional donations are welcome in increments of $715.
Leading Lights donors are acknowledged across AIDC platforms and at the conference including:
- AIDC program guide acknowledgment
- AIDC website acknowledgment
- On-screen acknowledgment before every conference session/screening at AIDC
- Donor and Application communications campaigns
AIDC is a not-for-profit organisation with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. All donations are tax-deductible.
To make a donation or to find out more, please contact accounts@aidc.com.au
“LEADING LIGHTS IS A POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR EMERGING AUSTRALIAN NONFICTION TALENT – PROVIDING VALUABLE ACCESS TO ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY PRACTITIONERS, MENTORSHIP, AND TRAINING. BOARDWALK PICTURES AUSTRALIA HAS SPONSORED THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION, FACILITATING CREATIVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, THE UNITED STATES, THE UK, AND BEYOND. AS AN ASSESSOR ON THE 2025 PITCH PANEL, I WAS ENTERTAINED, ENGAGED, AND INSPIRED BY THE PROPOSALS OF THESE STORYTELLERS. THE LEADING LIGHTS PROGRAM WRITES A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE INDUSTRY, AND OF COURSE WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE SPONSORS AGAIN THIS YEAR.”
– MICHAEL HILLIARD, PRODUCER, BOARDWALK PICTURES