Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Australian International Documentary Conference is expanding its awards to recognise digital-first storytelling, while opening applications for the 10th anniversary of its Leading Lights program.

The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) has opened submissions for its 2027 Awards, introducing new categories designed to reflect the changing landscape of Australian documentary and factual filmmaking.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2027, AIDC will recognise excellence across seven categories, including a new award for digital-first documentaries created for platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Now in their eighth year, the AIDC Awards are Australia’s only dedicated awards for the documentary and factual sector, celebrating outstanding work across screen, digital and audio storytelling.

For the first time, documentary series and factual series will be recognised in separate categories, acknowledging the different creative approaches involved in producing each format.

The seven categories for 2027 are Best Feature Documentary, Best Documentary Series, Best Factual Series, Best Documentary/Factual Single, Best Short Documentary, Best Audio Documentary and Best Digital First Documentary.

The new digital-first category replaces and expands the previous Best Interactive/Immersive Documentary award, opening the competition to a broader range of nonfiction storytelling formats and distribution platforms.

AIDC CEO and Creative Director Natasha Gadd said the changes recognise the challenges facing Australian documentary makers and the increasingly diverse ways audiences engage with nonfiction content.

“In an increasingly challenging climate for documentary and factual creators, the AIDC Awards are an opportunity to spotlight and celebrate bold and unique projects that have been released in the last year across a range of forms, formats and topics,” Gadd said.

“Recognising that documentary and factual filmmakers are continually required to adapt to an evolving sector landscape, AIDC has refreshed our awards categories and eligibility criteria to better reflect changing release strategies across online platforms, direct to audience models and new funding eligibility as well as to distinguish the different approaches to crafting documentary series and factual series.”

Gadd said the expanded criteria would allow a wider variety of filmmakers and projects to compete.

“We look forward to seeing the breadth and diversity of projects across these seven categories and to celebrating the excellence of our documentary and factual filmmakers at the 2027 AIDC Awards.”

Previous winners include some of Australia’s most acclaimed nonfiction productions, including The Australian Dream, The Australian Wars, Stuff the British Stole, See What You Made Me Do, Left Write Hook and Yurlu | Country.

To qualify for the 2027 Awards, projects must have received a public premiere in Australia or internationally between February 1, 2026, and February 1, 2027.

Submissions close on Sunday, November 22, with late entries accepted until Wednesday, November 25. Winners will be announced on March 11, the closing night of AIDC 2027 in Sydney.

Nominations for the $5,000 Southern Light Award, recognising an outstanding contribution to nonfiction screen, digital or audio media, will open later this year.

Leading Lights Celebrates 10 Years

Alongside the Awards announcement, AIDC has opened applications for its 2027 Leading Lights program, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year.

The philanthropic initiative provides opportunities for emerging and underrepresented Australian nonfiction practitioners to attend AIDC for the first time, connecting them with industry professionals through workshops, networking events and professional development activities.

Since its establishment, Leading Lights has raised more than $214,000 in donations and supported 356 emerging and early-career practitioners.

The program has helped filmmakers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, regional and remote areas, and LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse communities gain access to industry opportunities.

For 2027, funding has already been pledged for 22 participants, with AIDC continuing its donor campaign to increase the number of available places.

Successful applicants receive a complimentary AIDC Sessions Pass and access to a tailored professional development program delivered in partnership with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

Activities include practical workshops, networking opportunities and the Leading Lights Pitch, which gives emerging filmmakers an opportunity to present their projects and connect with industry decision-makers.

2026 recipient Tess Brading said the program had been instrumental in helping her team develop their feature documentary.

“AIDC and Leading Lights was an excellent opportunity for me and my team to connect with the industry,” Brading said.

“As emerging filmmakers, half the battle is just getting in the room with people who can provide the guidance, feedback, support and connections to make it possible to bring your work to life.”

Brading said the experience helped clarify the direction of their project and establish valuable industry relationships.

“Without the support of Leading Lights, we would not have been able to attend.”

AFTRS Director of Partnerships and Development Mathieu Ravier said the program played an important role in addressing inequalities in access to the screen industry.

“At AFTRS, we believe that creativity and talent exist everywhere; opportunity does not,” Ravier said.

“Leading Lights helps address that imbalance by opening doors to mentorship, industry networks and career-shaping opportunities for emerging documentary practitioners.”

Applications for the 2027 Leading Lights program close on Sunday, December 6, 2026.

AIDC 2027 will take place from March 8–11 in Sydney, with events hosted at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of NSW and Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

An online international marketplace will follow on March 23–24, connecting Australian documentary practitioners with international industry representatives.

The conference’s 40th anniversary comes at a pivotal moment for the nonfiction sector, as filmmakers increasingly explore new platforms, distribution models and approaches to reaching audiences.

With expanded awards categories and continued investment in emerging talent, AIDC is positioning its 2027 event as both a celebration of Australian documentary filmmaking’s achievements and a platform for its next generation of storytellers.

Submissions for the 2027 AIDC Awards close November 22, with Leading Lights applications closing December 6.

For more information, visit aidc.com.au.