The AIDC 2026 Indigenous Creators Pitch, an initiative of the Indigenous Creators Program, is proudly presented with support from Indigenous Business Australia (IBA).
The Indigenous Creators Pitch is designed to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators with the opportunity to pitch a project in development to a closed room of local and international buyers looking to support Indigenous-led nonfiction stories and secure potential market support for their project.
One project will also be selected to receive the $5,000 Indigenous Creators Pitch Prize presented by AIDC.
The Pitch will be presented as a session within the Indigenous Creators Program in a roundtable format at AIDC 2026. All Indigenous Creators Program participants will also be invited into the pitch session to support the pitching teams and glean useful tips in the art of pitching and valuable industry insights from the decision makers in the room.
AIDC is now inviting submissions from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers with a documentary or factual project in development to take their project to the next level.
Applications are now open for documentary or factual projects in development that present bold, distinctive and authentic stories by Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander filmmakers across any genre, style and subject matter.
FORMAT
Applications must be for documentary or factual projects suitable for online, broadcast, theatrical and / or streaming.
The following formats are acceptable but must be over 20 minutes in duration, including:
- Shorts
- Singles/One-offs
- Features
- Series
Please note: Shorts under 20 minutes in duration, audio docs (podcasts), XR, immersive or interactive works are NOT eligible.
STYLE
There are no restrictions on visual style, aesthetics, or treatment. Projects could be:
- Observational
- Experimental / Hybrid / Poetic
- Animated Documentary
- Presenter-led / Participatory
- Investigative
“IT’S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH COME INTO BEING AT AIDC AND HAVING THIS PLATFORM CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR FIRST NATIONS STORYTELLERS IS TRULY HEARTENING. IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR PROJECT ‘CRYSTAL LOVE’ TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTERS, GAIN VALUABLE FEEDBACK AND INSIGHTS, AND FORTUNATELY, RECEIVE THE AIDC INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH PRIZE … THE PITCH ALSO LED DIRECTLY TO BROADCASTER INTEREST AND WE NOW HAVE A PARTNER ATTACHED AND ARE ACTIVELY DEVELOPING THE PROJECT TOGETHER.”
– GENEVIEVE GRIEVES
PRODUCER OF CRYSTAL LOVE, 2025 INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH RECIPIENT OF THE $5,000 AIDC CASH PRIZE
Four projects will be selected to take part in the Indigenous Creators Pitch at AIDC 2026 and project representatives (up to 2 per project) will receive a suite of mentoring and marketplace support prior to and during AIDC 2026 including:
- The opportunity to present a live pitch at AIDC 2026 to a closed room of local and international industry decision makers including online platforms, broadcasters and funds seeking to support Indigenous-led projects, as well as Indigenous Creators Program participants
- Online pitch training session with AIDC representatives including the AIDC’s Industry Manager and First Nations producer
- Pitch training and mentorship prior to AIDC 2026 (2 x 1:1 online sessions) with an industry mentor to develop and finesse their seven-minute pitch and prepare their AV materials
- The opportunity to participate in follow-up 1:1 meetings with Industry Decision Makers through AIDC’s curated Cut to the Chase meetings program
- The opportunity for one project to be selected to receive a $5,000 pitch prize presented by AIDC
- Complimentary All Access passes for pitching representatives (up to 2 per project) to attend AIDC 2026 in person and to participate in the Indigenous Creators Program and Pitch as well as Cut to the Chase
All submissions for the Indigenous Creators Pitch will be assessed by a panel of experienced screen professionals.
Projects are assessed and shortlisted based on the following criteria:
- Creative strength and originality of the project
- Access to engaging and compelling characters and / or story
- The nature and quality of the submitted video materials as proof of concept
- Capacity of the individual/team to meet the creative vision and manage and deliver the project
- The practicality of the proposed finance plan
- The market viability of the project
- The team’s commitment to principles of inclusive and authentic storytelling and cultural appropriateness
Applicants must provide visual materials (trailer, teaser, or footage from the project) as part of their submission.
- Kelrick Martin, Head of Indigenous, ABC (Australia)
- Dena Curtis, Head of Indigenous Commissioning & Production, NITV (Australia)
- Kate Hodges, Executive Director, Shark Island Foundation (Australia)
- Erika Dilday, Executive Director / Executive Producer, American Documentary | POV (USA)
- Jason Ryle, International Programer, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and Global Indigenous Cinema, TIFF (Canada)
- Kate Lemberg, Associate Manager, Industry Relations & Artist Programs, Points North Institute (USA)
With more to be announced.
ONLINE INFORMATION SESSION
Before AIDC 2026, all select Indigenous Creators Pitch participants will be invited to attend an online session which will include advice on:
- The format of the pitch and what to expect on the day
- Structure of a good pitch
- When and how to use your trailer to complement your pitch
- Important elements to include in your pitch, including: story and characters; director’s intent, access and urgency/timeliness; style and format; impact; production plans; and articulating what you need from buyers
- Common questions you’ll receive in the feedback portion of the pitch and how to respond effectively
PITCH TRAINING, MENTORING AND TRAILER CONSULTATIONS
Each project will be paired with an experienced First Nations practitioner for two 1:1 mentoring sessions focusing on story interrogation, pitch training and trailer consultation through February to get pitch and market-ready. These sessions are self-directed, with pitch teams having the opportunity to outline other parts of their pitch or project they’d like to explore with a mentor.
THE INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH AT AIDC
The Indigenous Creators Pitch will be held during AIDC 2026 as part of the Indigenous Creators Program. The four project teams will pitch their projects in a roundtable format to a closed room of industry decision makers as well as the Indigenous Creators Program participants.
Each project will have seven minutes to pitch (including a verbal pitch and teaser) with five minutes of feedback from the panel of experts on how to take projects to the next level.
INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH 1:1 MARKETPLACE MEETINGS
Following the Indigenous Creators Pitch, AIDC’s Industry team will coordinate meetings between pitching teams and relevant buyers seeking Indigenous-led projects for 15-minute meetings as part of AIDC’s Cut to the Chase Program. Buyers will include broadcasters, festivals, funds, grants, sales agents and distribution professionals looking to meet with First Nations producers to support the development of new documentary and factual work. These meetings are curated by AIDC’s Industry team to ensure the best chance of successful business and creative outcomes for all participants.
PRIZE
One project will be selected to receive the $5,000 Indigenous Creators Pitch prize presented by AIDC.
Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible for the Indigenous Creators Pitch:
- Applicants must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander practitioners
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or over
- Individuals or teams may apply
- An individual applicant must be an Aboriginal and/or a Torres Strait Islander practitioner in a key creative role including as a director and /or producer
- For teams, the project must have Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander practitioners in key creative roles including as a director and producer
- Applicants must be the rights holder of the idea
- Applicants, or one key creative in the team, must demonstrate they have created at least one short documentary readily available to Australian audiences via widely used platforms
- Successful applications must be available to attend a one-hour online introductory session as well as 2 x 1:1 mentoring sessions with a selected mentor in late January to early February (exact dates to be confirmed)
- Successful applicants must be able to pitch their project live as part of the Indigenous Creators Pitch at AIDC 2026. Preference is for teams to take part in person at AIDC in Melbourne, however, consideration may be given to participants who need to take part virtually upon written approval.
Project Eligibility
- Entry is open to shorts, singles/ one offs, features and series over 20 mins in duration intended for online, broadcast and/or theatrical distribution
- Projects need to be clearly recognised factual or documentary formats. The Australian Content Standard defines documentary as ‘a program that is a creative treatment of actuality other than a news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment or light entertainment program’. For more info, visit the ACMA website.
- Applications for each project must be submitted via the Indigenous Creators Pitch portal.
Applications open: Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 11:00 AEDT
Submissions close: Thursday 15 January 2026 at 23:59 AEDT
- Submission Guidelines (.pdf)
- Submission Guidelines (.docx)
- Terms & Conditions (.pdf)
- Terms & Conditions (.docx)
“ONE OF THE STANDOUT EXPERIENCES FOR ME AT AIDC 2025 WAS THE FIRST NATIONS PROGRAM, WHICH CREATED SPACE FOR BLAK FILMMAKERS TO CENTRE OUR VOICES, SPEAK OUR TRUTHS, AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING. MY TEAM AND I HAD THE HONOUR OF PITCHING MARLIYA AT THE INAUGURAL INDIGENOUS CREATORS PITCH. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT TO SEE OUR STORY CELEBRATED, AND TAKING OUT THE SHARK ISLAND PRIZE …WAS AN AFFIRMING MILESTONE, A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER AND POTENTIAL OF FIRST NATIONS-LED STORYTELLING ON THE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL STAGE.”
– SHONTELL KETCHELL
PRODUCER, MARLIYA
AIDC (Australian International Documentary Conference) acknowledges the Wurundjeri/ Woiwurrung and Bunurong people of the Kulin nations as the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather for AIDC each year in Naarm / Melbourne. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all nations as the original storytellers of this land.
