OVERVIEW

AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program is a dedicated strand of sessions designed by and for First Nations practitioners to come together, share ideas and elevate the craft and business of First Nations stories.

Launched in 2019, the Indigenous Creators program welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners as well as First Nations practitioners from across the globe. The program is targeted at all experience levels across the documentary and factual sector and is designed to bring together creators working in all forms of nonfiction screen content.

The Indigenous Creators Program consists of sessions designed to provide targeted information to practitioners from all skill levels around topics such as pitching, storytelling, funding and distribution for Indigenous-led stories.

The program takes place alongside AIDC’s yearly conference program, giving First Nations practitioners access to AIDC’s full suite of offerings including industry sessions, marketplace activities and networking events.

Developer, facilitator and producer for the screen arts, Laurrie Mansfield (née Brannigan-Onato) will return for a second year as First Nations Producer at AIDC 2024.

“AIDC RESPECTS AND VALUES THE OLDEST AND ORIGINAL ‘DOCUMENTING’ STORYTELLERS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE INDIGENOUS CREATORS PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KEY FILM STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR MOBS, AND TO SHOWCASE NEW ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER WORK TO THE FILM MARKET SPACE.”

– DOUGLAS WATKIN
FILM DIRECTOR & AIDC BOARD MEMBER

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Yarning Circle

Presented by ABC Indigenous

To open the 2024 Indigenous Creators Program, we welcome all First Nations Practitioners from Australia and across the globe to come together with Kelrick Martin and Aunty Kaylene Butler.

Indigenous Creators Program Welcome

Presented by ABC Indigenous

Indigenous Creators Program participants are invited to join us at Mabu Mabu – Big Esso for a meet and greet with First Nations practitioners attending AIDC in person in Naarm (Melbourne).

Opportunities for Impact

Presented by Screenwest

First Nations-authored projects are inherently impactful, but how can we dream bigger for our communities?

Speakers: José Kaeté, Karla Hart

Visionaries – Crafting Excellence

Presented by Screen Queensland

First Nations visionaries reveal their unique creative processes in the art of First Nations documentary storytelling and craft.

Speakers: Dena Curtis, Douglas Watkin, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Bob Moore, Emile Hertling Péronard

Meet the Buyers Seeking Indigenous-Authored Stories

An opportunity for Indigenous Creators Program participants to hear from and have an informal yarn with decision makers seeking Indigenous-authored stories.

HOW TO REGISTER

To be eligible for the Indigenous Creators Program, simply register for an All Access Pass or Sessions Pass to attend AIDC 2024. Once registered, Indigenous practitioners will immediately be eligible to participate in all the program’s sessions.

To register for AIDC, visit our Passes page.

Indigenous practitioners are also eligible to apply for AIDC pass and conference travel support through state screen agencies. See below for details about registration support.

REGISTRATION SUPPORT

AIDC is working with Australian State and Territory screen agencies across the country to support Indigenous practitioners to attend AIDC. To see if you might be eligible for support, click the ‘READ MORE’ section below for information on how to apply.