AIDC’s international pitching showcase for new documentary and factual projects. 

OVERVIEW

Proudly presented by VicScreen, The FACTory is AIDC’s international pitching showcase for new documentary and factual projects.

Do you have a unique documentary or series project in development that has global appeal and is market ready? Would you like the opportunity to pitch your project to a world-class line-up of Australian and international commissioners, sales agents, funders, and distributors at AIDC 2024?

Applications for the 2024 edition of AIDC’s international pitching showcase for new documentary and factual projects – The FACTory – are open from Wednesday 20 September 2023.

Projects with strong market potential will be selected to pitch to international and local decision makers across three strands: Central Showcase, New Talent Showcase and Rough Cut Showcase. Decision makers come from a range of backgrounds and include commissioning editors, broadcasters, streamers, sales agents, distributors, funders, and festivals. 

In 2024, AIDC welcomes all producers and decision makers to attend the FACTory in-person while still providing the opportunity to participate online if needed.

In 2024, The FACTory will feature: 

  • an enhanced line-up of international decision makers assessing and providing feedback on projects;
  • access to more extensive online mentoring conducted by experienced screen practitioners, in addition to group and individual pitch training;
  • greater opportunity for one-on-one meetings with key decision makers by having high visibility and priority in the marketplace.

In the last eight years, AIDC has supported more than 100 project teams to participate in The FACTory. Don’t miss your chance to pitch to the people who can help realise your vision! 

For details and deadlines, see below.

HOW IT WORKS

AIDC’s Industry Team works closely with an international assessment committee to shortlist projects for the prestigious FACTory program.

The program will offer tailored feedback and training from industry experts in the lead-up, and increased opportunities for business outcomes by hosting both a live pitch and a tailored one-to-one meeting program with decision makers during AIDC.

Selected projects will pitch and present their trailers over 7 minutes (or 15 minutes for Rough Cuts), and will also be required to submit a pre-recorded pitch ahead of AIDC (with trailer or footage included in this edit), to be made available to decision makers who cannot physically attend.  Select decision makers will then:

  • Request meetings with projects to occur during AIDC
  • Provide feedback on the projects

Entry to the FACTory is competitive, so please ensure your projects are original ideas that will appeal to buyers across Australian and international markets.

CENTRAL SHOWCASE

The FACTory’s Central Showcase is designed to present experienced project teams to international decision makers, including commissioners, funders, streamers, distributors, sales agents, and festivals. Projects in development and production demonstrating strong international potential will be automatically considered for this showcase. 

Click ‘Read More’ below for information about Applicant Eligibility and Project Eligibility.

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NEW TALENT SHOWCASE

The FACTory’s New Talent Showcase is designed to present the brightest new screen talents to decision makers and production companies around the world. Projects in development and production featuring a director or producer presenting their first major work will be automatically considered for this showcase.

Click ‘Read More’ below for information about Applicant Eligibility and Project Eligibility.

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ROUGH CUT SHOWCASE

The FACTory’s Rough Cut Showcase is designed to present projects in late stages and post-production that need to close financing gaps, and secure sales, distribution and festival opportunities. 

Click ‘Read More’ below for information about Applicant Eligibility and Project Eligibility

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“I COULDN’T RECOMMEND THE FACTORY HIGHLY ENOUGH. IT’S SUCH A VALUABLE PLATFORM FOR BOTH A PROJECT AND TEAM BEHIND IT, ALLOWING FOR A RARE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF SOME OF THE TOP DECISION MAKERS IN THE INDUSTRY. THE MENTORSHIP PROVIDED BY THE TEAM AND ADVISORS IS INVALUABLE, IT’S SUCH AN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE PROCESS THAT SETS EACH PROJECT UP FOR SUCCESS.”

– MOLLY O’CONNOR
FILM CAMP

SELECTION PROCESS

All 2024 submissions for the FACTory will be independently assessed by a panel of highly experienced screen professionals hand-picked by AIDC. 

Projects are assessed and shortlisted based on the following criteria:

  • Strength and originality of the project; 
  • The commercial viability of the project in the marketplace; 
  • The project’s international appeal;
  • The track record of the creative team and any finance already in place.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide visual materials (trailer, teaser, or footage from the project) as part of their submission. 

MEET THE ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

  • Theresa Navarro, Co-Director & COO, Catapult Film Fund (USA)
  • Alexandre Marionneau, Commissioning Editor & Head of International Co-Productions, ARTE France (France)
  • Lindsay Monture, Festival Director, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (Canada)
  • Patrick Hurley, Head of Distribution & Business Affairs, Sandbox Films, (USA)
  • Jia Zhao, Director Co-production & Sales (Asia), Off the Fence (Netherlands/China)

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Assessment Committee members.

MENTORING AND PITCH TRAINING

Building on previous offerings of support to FACTory pitching teams, AIDC is increasing the opportunities available to selected projects.  Teams will be paired with a mentor/tutor in the lead-up to AIDC, and sessions will focus on:

  • Story interrogation
  • Budget and finance interrogation (if needed)
  • Pitch training
  • Trailer consultations

MEET THE 2024 MENTORS

  • Jane Mote, Editorial Consultant, The Whickers (UK)
  • Zeynep Güzel, Filmmaker, Consultant and Head of Doc Station at Berlinale Talents (Germany)
  • Gary Byungseok Kam, Founder, Producer & Director, Mirror & Story (Korea)

Learn more about the 2024 Mentors HERE.

PITCH PRIZES

Each year, AIDC partners with international documentary industry events to provide FACTory pitch prizes, allowing successful projects to attend and / or participate in other forums and marketplaces.

2024 PITCH PRIZES

  • Two complimentary passes to participate in DOK Leipzig 2024 (Leipzig, Germany)
  • Two complimentary passes to participate in Doc Edge 2024 (Auckland, New Zealand)
  • Two complimentary festival passes to participate in Sheffield DocFest 2024 (Sheffield, UK)
  • Two complimentary passes to participate in Hot Docs Industry 2024 (Toronto, Canada)
  • Two complimentary passes to participate in Sunny Side of the Doc 2024 (La Rochelle, France) 
  • Two complimentary passes to participate in Docs by the Sea 2024 (Bali, Indonesia) 

Plus more to be announced!

“AIDC IS A FANTASTIC GATHERING OF PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT TELLING TRUE STORIES, IN A WAY THAT HELPS US MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD. IT IS LOCKED IN THE DIARY EVERY YEAR, AND EVERY TIME I COME AWAY INSPIRED AND EVEN MORE COMMITTED TO THIS GREAT COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE.” 

– STEPHEN OLIVER
COMMISSIONING EDITOR, FACTUAL, ABC 

2024 PROJECTS


CENTRAL SHOWCASE PROJECTS


 

CHASING THE LAST GIANTS

Married couple Steve Pearce and Dr. Jen Sanger photograph striking ‘giant tree portraits’ around the world on their quest to save Tasmania’s Grove of Giants from being lost forever.

Writer/Director/Producer: Joseph Nizeti; Writer/Producer: Rob Innes

Cosmic Breakfast and Mashup Pictures (Australia)

 

CAMELS OF THE SEA

Facing rampant and often illegal industrialization on India’s western coast, a nomad called Adam Abderrehman struggles to keep his family, his swimming camels and his sense of self together.

Director: Vikram Singh; Producer: Mandakini Gahlot

Elefant Films (India)

 

STREETSIDE

Set against the glittering Sydney skyline, young doctor Daniel Nour and his team convert ambulances to streetside clinics taking healthcare to those who are falling through the cracks. 

Co-Directors: John-Paul McElwee and Pete Ward; Producer: Rebecca Bennett

Shooting FIlms (Australia)

 

AUNTY UNTITLED FILM

A coming of golden-age story following a group of Chinese women immigrants in the US, finding themselves in later life through dance, with the dream of performing on America’s Got Talent.

Director: Haohao Yan; Producer: Guo Guo

Aunty Untitled Film LLC (USA)

 

QUEENS OF CHOCOLATE

A character-driven series about women around the world finding environmental and social solutions to the issues that have beset the chocolate industry for centuries and now threaten its survival.  

Director: Felicity Morgan-Rhind, Producer: Arani Cuthbert

Diva Productions (New Zealand)

 

THE HOUSE OF LOVE

The untold story of a musical revolution when Sydney was the dance party capital of the world.

Writer/Director: Mark Murphy; Producer: Michaela Perske

Pursekey Productions (Australia)

 


NEW TALENT PROJECTS


 

SPREADSHEET CHAMPIONS

Students from around the world give it their all in the biggest competition you’ve never heard of, the Excel Spreadsheet World Championships.

Director: Kristina Kraskov; Producer: Anna Charalambous

GoodThing Productions and Peculiar Pictures (Australia)

 

DOWNHILL KARGIL

In the Himalayan cold-desert of Kargil, Mehroon forms the first women’s ice-hockey team with local coach Imtiyaz. But with the threat of climate change and Mehroon migrating to Delhi, can Imtiyaz keep the team together?

Co-Director/Producer: Nupur Agrawal; Co-Director/Editor: Shivajee Biswanath

Autumn Wolves Media LLP, Camera & Shorts Media Pvt Ltd (India)

 

COPAN

Copan is a microcosm of everything Brazil stands for: the good, the bad and the ugly. This portrait of the largest residential building in Latin America and its inhabitants shines a light in a country being torn apart by a collapsing democracy.

Director: Carine Wallauer; Producer: Nabil Bellahsene

MVM and Clariô Filmes (Brazil) / Les Valseurs Bordeaux (France)

 

FRONTLINE RANGERS

Indigenous rangers are combining traditional practices with future technology to provide globally significant solutions to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.

Director/Co-Producer: David Cook; Co-Producer: Margee Brown; Executive Producer: Anna Kaplan

New Dream Productions with Regen Studios & Margee Brown (Australia)

 

LIFE IN THE SHADOWS

Years after his classmates were massacred at his school, K.D. records the lives of Machid, who attends the same school, and Khatima, who works in the cemetery where the dead students are buried. 

Director: K.D.; Producer: Ilyas Yourish

Kamay Films (Afghanistan, Germany)

 

REPLICA

With the widespread use of AI chatbots, young urban women in China are trying out a ‘never- ending’ love affair with machines.

Director: Chouwa Liang; Producer: Andy Huang

Axel Rise Films (China, Australia), The Why Foundation (Denmark)

 


ROUGH CUT PROJECTS


 

THE REAL MEANING OF PLEASURE

A cancer patient living with Aspergers, his asexual, autistic sister and neuro-diverse niece set out to discover the true meaning of pleasure.

Director: Laneikka Denne; Producer: Adam Finney; Co-Producer: Tilly Towler

Barking Owl (Australia)

 

TOUCH THE COLOUR

A mother is serving life in prison for taking care of a missing boy. After more than 20 years, the kidnapped boy comes forward to set her free.

Director: Baby Ruth Vilarama; Producers: Chuck Gutierrez and Gary Kam; Editor: Jaye Jacinto

Voyage Studios (Philippines), Mirror & Story (South Korea)

 

YURLU | COUNTRY

YURLU | COUNTRY follows Banjima elder, Maitland Parker whose final wish is to heal a landscape devastated by mining. The country that once nourished him has made him terminally ill.

Writer/Director/Producer: Yaara Bou Melham; Co-Writer: Maitland Parker; Producer: Lisa Main

Illuminate Films (Australia)

GETTY IMAGES FREE ARCHIVE OFFER

Submitting to The FACTory?

To help you prepare your best possible pitch, Getty Images have partnered with AIDC to provide you – absolutely free – access to their extensive library of stills and video you can use for your application.

The Getty Images online library has over 25 million clips, including content from leading editorial video producers such as TVNZ, NBC News Archives, BBC Motion Gallery, ITN and Bloomberg.

Content is available for every subject imaginable – from the moments that define humanity, to wildlife, climate change and sustainability, modern and historical change-makers and much, much more.

For more information or to request archive stills or footage, click the link below.

LEARN MORE

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