Meet the AIDC 2026 Event Team
Bringing you Australia’s essential documentary industry gathering
AIDC is powered by individuals passionate about documentary and factual storytelling, and devoted to supporting the people who make it happen.
Our team brings experience in industry development, programming, international markets, exhibition and production, and much more, with familiar faces joined each year by newcomers to bring all the strands of AIDC together.
Collectively, we’ll be working through the end-of-year period to prepare the 45-session-strong program featuring an inspiring line-up of speakers, ready for announcement on January 29 before the AIDC 2026 conference, 2-5 March at ACMI, Melbourne / Naarm.
Awards & Leading Lights Coordinator - Alex Morris
In his second year with AIDC, Alex Morris takes on a new role as Awards & Leading Lights Coordinator. He has worked for government funded orchestras and arts organisations such as RISING, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Orchestra Victoria and Stonnington Symphony, and is the current co-Music Director of Laneway City Singers with a career as a choral conductor spanning 15 years.
Favourite documentary of 2025: 1000 Women in Horror (2025, dir. Donna Davies)
Programming Coordinator - Jessa Shields
Coming back to AIDC for a second year, this time in a new role, Jessa Shields has worked in programming, marketing, and communications for organisations including ACMI, Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), Golden Age Cinema, Roadshow Films, Hear My Eyes and Moving Story Entertainment. Her writing has appeared in Four&Sons magazine, Inside Film, RUSSH and more.
Favourite documentaries of 2025: Shifty (2025, dir. Adam Curtis) / The Rehearsal (2025, Nathan Fielder)
Marketing & Communications Coordinator - Jasper Caverly
Jasper Caverly is an acclaimed emerging documentary filmmaker, former AIDC Leading Light program participant and 2025 AIDC Awards finalist as producer for the short documentary While We Still Have Time. He has worked for Cinema Nova and AACTA in marketing and events, and as a submissions panellist for MIFF. In 2026, he will be one of 50 participants in a filmmaking workshop mentored by Werner Herzog in the Azores, organised by Barcelona-based Extática Cine.
Favourite documentary of 2025: The Golden Spurtle (2025, dir. Constantine Costi)
Event Manager - Melanie DiMattina
Returning to AIDC for an eighth year, Melanie Dimattina is a sought-after event and program manager who has worked on music, fashion and film festivals including Stereosonic, the Australian Music Prize, So Frenchy So Chic, AIDC, the ADG Awards, Melbourne Fashion Week, MIFF and Frame Documentary.
Favourite documentary of 2025: The Perfect Neighbour (2025 dir. Geeta Gandbhir)
Keep an eye out for the friendly faces of these talented and dedicated people at AIDC 2026, 2-5 March at ACMI, Melbourne / Naarm.
They join already announced Partnerships & Industry Development Manager, Virginia Kay; First Nations Co-Producers, Laurrie Mansfield and Devina McPherson; Conference Programming Manager, Alice McShane; Industry Manager (Acting), Natalie May; Industry Programs Producer, Nicole Tran; and Conference Systems & Production Coordinator, Tahlia J Dimattina, alongside the core AIDC Management Team, to bring AIDC delegates the four days of unmissable sessions, business, and networking planned for AIDC 2026. (Learn more about the AIDC Team)