40th Australian International Documentary Conference Announces First Group Of Speakers: Poh Si Teng, Tamara Kotevska, Basil Tsiokos & More

The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) will be welcoming some of the top talents in the documentary field to its upcoming 40^th edition.

Among the first speakers to be announced: Poh Si Teng, director of Oscar contender American Doctor and founder of Tiny Boxer Films; Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tamara Kotevska (The Tale of Silyan, Honeyland); Basil Tsiokos, senior programmer, Sundance Film Festival; Rachel Antell, co-founder of the Archival Producers Alliance; Mandy Chang, CEO of Documentary Film Council, and Darren Dale, managing director and producer, Blackfella Films.

AIDC, which describes itself as “the Southern Hemisphere’s premier industry event for documentary and factual storytelling,” will unfold from March 8-11 in Sydney – the first time the conference has been held in the capital of New South Wales in more than 30 years. An online marketplace follows, running from March 23-24.

The conference also announced its theme for 2027: Reframed, which AIDC says “invites us to look at the same realities through different lenses: to ask who gets to frame the truth, and what happens when we challenge the narratives through which accepted points of view have been historically understood.

“Through guest speakers and sessions, Reframed will call into question selective reframing through propaganda, misinformation, censorship and distorted realities, and will prompt us to harness alternate ways of seeing an existing truth through a contemporary lens by bringing in new, different and multiple viewpoints.”

AIDC notes the 2027 edition of the conference offers the opportunity to “look back in order to look forward, acknowledging that our understanding of the world is never fixed and ever changing. Reframed asks us to reconsider what we think we know: to reveal what has been hidden, challenge what has been accepted, restore voices that have been silenced, and shine a light on what previous frames have left out.”

In a statement, AIDC CEO and creative director Natasha Gadd said, “Celebrating our 40th anniversary as we embark on a new era, AIDC 2027 will be an essential gathering place for the documentary and factual sector to showcase not only what our diverse and creative storytelling community continues to create but to also actively reframe what the future could hold through bold thinking, innovative practice and radical solutions to complex sector challenges.”

Gadd continued, “Through our 2027 theme, Reframed, AIDC provides a vital forum to explore and interrogate who gets to frame the truth, the forces that shape our understanding of reality, and to consider what becomes visible when we change the frame.”

AIDC’s move to Sydney has been made possible by a new Principal Partnership with the government of New South Wales through Screen NSW.

“Screen NSW is proud to support the return of AIDC to NSW for its landmark 40^th anniversary edition,” commented Screen NSW executive director Kylie Munnich. “With a packed line-up of compelling speakers and sessions, AIDC is set to bring together the best minds in documentary filmmaking, commissioning and financing from around the world.

“We’re excited to see Sydney become a hub for discussion and collaboration, reinforcing NSW’s position as a leading destination for the screen industry. We’re also delighted to present the FACTory International Pitching Forum, which continues to connect talented creators with decision makers and to champion bold new documentary projects.”

More than 750 Australian and international delegates attended AIDC’s 2026 edition. The organization announced a group of decision makers attending for the first time in 2027 along with companies new to AIDC’s market. In addition to Basil Tsiokos of the Sundance Film Festival, 2027 participants include Howard Myers-Rifai, Head of Unscripted Originals, Foxtel/Binge (Australia); Denise Barren, Assistant Director, The Whickers (UK); Aleksandra Derewienko, Head of Sales, CAT&Docs (France); Jane Nice, Head of Development, Icon Entertainment (Australia); Cynthia Paribello, Development Coordinator, Original Content, ESPN (USA), and Caden Pearson, Commissioning Editor, NITV (Australia), with more to be confirmed.

Returning commissioners and funders from high profile companies in the doc and factual space include Zoe Stinson, Acquisitions and Productions Manager, TVF International (UK); Pamela Martínez, CEO/Managing Director, Limonero Films (Spain); Bo Zhang, Head of International Department – Factual, bilibili (China); Jessie Shih, Director of Program Development, PTS | Taiwan Plus (Taiwan); Choy Lin Mok, Commissioning Editor, TRT World (Turkiye); Kazz Basma, Head of Sales & Acquisitions, Sideways Film (Spain), and Paul Wiegard, Co-Founder and CEO, Madman Entertainment (Australia).

These are additional program announcements made by AIDC for its 40^th edition:

AIDC MARKETPLACE & INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

AIDC’s 2027 Marketplace & Industry Development Program will once again provide an expansive range of business and development opportunities specifically for documentary and factual practitioners.

Alongside sales, acquisitions, and funding decisions resulting from AIDC marketplace activity, in the past seven years, AIDC’s industry development initiatives have unlocked over $3.6 million in professional and project development opportunities, and awards and prizes.

Confirmed AIDC Marketplace attendees include representatives from high-profile broadcasters, streamers, distributors, sales agents and funding bodies like: ABC (Australia), BBC Storyville (UK), bilibili (China), Boardwalk Pictures (USA/Australia), Cargo Film & Releasing (USA), CAT&Docs (France), DMZ Docs (South Korea), DocPlay (Australia), Documentary Australia (Australia), ESPN (USA), Foxtel/Binge (Australia), Icon Entertainment (Australia), In-Docs | Docs By The Sea (Indonesia), Jambika Docs (Spain), Limonero Films (Spain), Madman Entertainment (Australia), NITV (Australia), Paramount ANZ (Australia), PTS | Taiwan Plus (Taiwan), SBS (Australia), Shark Island Foundation (Australia), Sideways Film (Spain), Sundance Film Festival (USA), The Post Lounge Group (Australia), TRT World (Türkiye), TVF International (UK), The Whickers (UK).

The 12th edition of AIDC’s market centerpiece, The FACTory International Pitching Forum, presented by Screen NSW, is currentlyaccepting submissions, with projects sought across three strands; theCentral Showcase (for projects in development with internationalpotential); New Talent Showcase (for projects by filmmakers presentingtheir first major work); and Rough Cut Showcase (for projects seekingsales, distribution, and exhibition opportunities). Selected projects willpitch live to decision makers during AIDC 2027, and also compete for seveninternational pitch prizes from festivals and markets, including SheffieldDocFest (UK), Visions du Réel (Switzerland), Doc Edge (New Zealand),Docs by the Sea (Indonesia), DMZ Docs (South Korea), Tokyo Docs(Japan) and Hot Docs (Canada). The final submission deadline is Sunday, 8November.

Meetings between industry guests and accredited producers will again take place through Cut to the Chase, AIDC’s curated meetings program for Business Pass and All Access Pass-holders. Now open for submissions, Cut to the Chase matches producers and their projects to the most relevant commissioning editors, acquisitions executives, distributors, sales agents, financiers and funders, with meetings with local and international decision makers participating in person taking place during AIDC and additional international meetings arranged online.

Returning for its fourth year is AIDC’s slate-pitching program The Showroom, designed specifically for established Australian production companies with multiple non-fiction projects in development. The Showroom generates business opportunities through extended meetings and exclusive access to high-level buyers representing international broadcasters, streamers and sales agents attending AIDC. Applications open 18 November.

The AIDC 2027 Marketplace & Industry Development program will also host a number of partnered initiatives, including the fifth year of the $100,000 Shark Island Foundation Feature Docs Pitch, offering up to four projects a $25,000 development grant and the opportunity to participate in the Shark Island Kangaroo Valley Development Lab; The Post Lounge Group Doc Pitch, with selected projects sharing in up to $35,000 of equity investment through development, production, and post-production support; and the $20,000 DocPlay Indie Booster, providing two independent feature documentaries at any stage, from development to completion, with up to $10,000 per project to boost their theatrical screening campaigns. Pitch meetings for each initiative take place as part of Cut to the Chase.

AIDC’s philanthropically-funded program for emerging and diverse storytellers – Leading Lights – will also return for its 10th anniversary edition, featuring a tailored professional development program and the exclusive Leading Lights Pitch co-presented by AFTRS. Applications for Leading Lights are accepted until 6 December, with successful recipients receiving a complimentary AIDC 2027 Sessions Pass.

2027 AIDC AWARDS

Set to close AIDC 2027 on Thursday 11 March 2027, entries are currently sought for the prestigious 7th annual AIDC Awards, recognizing outstanding completed works of new Australian documentary and factual content across a refreshed seven categories: Best Feature Documentary, Best Documentary Series, Best Factual Series, Best Documentary/Factual Single, Best Short Documentary, Best Audio Documentary and Best Digital First Documentary. Submissions close Sunday 22 November, with late submissions accepted until Wednesday 25 November (late fee applies).

AIDC members will also soon be able to nominate Australian industry professionals for the fourth annual AIDC Southern Light Award, a $5,000 cash prize given by AIDC to an Australian documentary and factual industry luminary for their outstanding contribution to the sector. Opening date to be announced soon.

Between AIDC’s combined Marketplace, Industry Development and Awards programs, AIDC 2027 has already unlocked access to over $275,000 in project development funding, professional development and prizes for delegates. Further announcements about AIDC’s Indigenous Creators Program and major new initiatives and pitching opportunities will follow in the coming weeks, with the full session program to be revealed 2 February 2027.