Sydney welcomes Australian International Documentary Conference in 2027

Australia’s home for screen, New South Wales, will welcome the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) in March 2027, with support from Screen NSW as the Principal Partner for the event.

AIDC is the premier industry event for documentary and factual storytelling in the Southern Hemisphere, attracting global buyers - including broadcasters, streamers, distributors, film festivals and funds - as well as local screen industry representatives and practitioners from all Australian states and territories. 2027 marks the 40th anniversary for the conference and will be the first time the event has been hosted in NSW in over 20 years.

AIDC 2027 will take place from Monday 8 March – Thursday 11 March. The conference will be hosted across the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of NSW and Botanic Gardens of Sydney. These three iconic locations will create a unique cultural precinct close to Sydney CBD for all delegates and attendees.

The world-class annual event includes an agenda-setting program, aimed at driving innovation and creativity, cross-sector collaboration, and unlocking market opportunities for Australian documentary and factual storytelling, both locally and internationally. The 2027 program will include sessions covering craft, business and innovation, networking events, and screenings and a globally renowned marketplace for documentary and factual content featuring a central pitching forum, curated pitch meetings, and roundtables. AIDC 2027 will also deliver a suite of bespoke industry and professional development programs for all career levels, including emerging, diverse and First Nations practitioners, as well as a national Awards program to recognise excellence in Australian documentary and factual content. 

Supporting and growing world-class screen events is a key commitment as part of the three-year NSW Screen & Digital Games Strategy. AIDC joins other prominent screen and cultural events hosted in NSW, including Sydney Film Festival, Tropfest, VIVID Sydney and Sydney Festival.

Early bird registration for AIDC 2027 is now open, with the first lineup of guest speakers and industry representatives for the event to be announced in October 2026, followed by the full event program in late January 2027. More information can be found at www.aidc.com.au 

Screen NSW Executive Director Kylie Munnich said: 

“As the leading industry event for the documentary and factual sector in the Southern Hemisphere, I’m proud that NSW will be home to the Australian International Documentary Conference for its 40th anniversary in 2027, with support from Screen NSW. Our iconic NSW cultural institutions will provide the perfect backdrop for the conference, and I’m thrilled to have the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of NSW, along with Botanic Gardens of Sydney on board as host venues.          

“Documentary and factual storytelling is vital and timely, sparking conversations and offering new and different world views for audiences. It’s important the sector is well supported and connected so they can continue to deliver and explore these compelling stories. AIDC is an essential opportunity for practitioners, buyers, commissioners and partners to come together and set priorities for the sector, collaborate and future-proof the industry as it evolves. The conference is also a chance to celebrate and recognise the incredible work of our talented local documentary and factual filmmakers. 

“As the conference prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary, a remarkable milestone to hit, I look forward to welcoming all delegates and attendees to Sydney for AIDC 2027.”

AIDC CEO / Creative Director Natasha Gadd said:

“As AIDC celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2027, we are thrilled to be ushering in our next chapter in the heart of Sydney, home to the highest representation of documentary and factual practitioners, production companies and industry buyers in Australia. 

“At this time of significant change for our sector, funding from Screen NSW will support AIDC to continue to enhance the broader documentary and factual ecosystem and to create vital opportunities for truth telling, diverse perspectives and bold storytelling. 

“Held on Gadigal Country across the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of NSW and Botanic Gardens of Sydney, AIDC 2027 will create a refreshed setting and a unique conference precinct to champion and inspire new ideas, stories, collaborations and project outcomes. 

“We extend our thanks to our new Principal Partner Screen NSW as well as Presenting Partner Screen Australia, Major Partners ABC and SBS and all of our industry partners, to ring in this exciting new era for AIDC and our tenacious, creative and innovative documentary and factual sector. 

“We look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary with you all for AIDC 2027.”

Northern Pictures Head of Factual Karina Holden said:

“Having been part of AIDC for more than 20 years, I’ve seen the magic that happens when our industry steps away from the edit suites and comes together to spark ideas, forge collaborations and remember why we do this in the first place. Bringing AIDC to Sydney feels like an exciting new chapter, and I can’t wait to welcome storytellers from across the country to a city where so many of us work and create, but rarely get the chance to come together as one community.”

Walkley-Award winning journalist, documentary storyteller Marc Fennell said:

“AIDC is one of those rare events that genuinely matters to our industry. It’s the only event in Australia completely dedicated to the art, craft and business of documentary and factual storytelling.

“For people like me who work across documentaries, factual series and audio, it’s a chance to get out of our bubbles, get inspired, meet collaborators and, crucially, find new ways to actually get projects off the ground. And in what is, frankly, a bloody tough market, those connections between filmmakers, commissioners, buyers and funding partners are more vital than ever.

“I’ve been attending AIDC in Melbourne for the last five years and I always leave with new ideas, new relationships and new conversations about projects. I’ve loved the Melbourne pilgrimage, but I’m incredibly excited to see AIDC come to Sydney and connect our huge community of documentary and factual makers with the international industry - which will no doubt ensure more Australian stories find audiences around the world."

Image: L-R: Screen NSW Executive Director Kylie Munnich, Marc Fennell, Katrina Holden, Alan Erson, Dr Naomi Koh Belic, Camilla Mazzaferro, AIDC CEO/Creative Director Natasha Gadd, and Daniel King.