The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) today announces the opening of the LEADING LIGHTS program for 2022, seeking applications from emerging, Indigenous, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse screen creatives who haven’t attended AIDC before.
Leading Lights is AIDC’s philanthropic funding program, assisting industry newcomers to establish themselves as part of Australia’s documentary and factual screen community. Since launching in 2018, over 140 emerging and diverse screen creatives have been able to attend AIDC for the first time.
All selected Leading Lights recipients receive a Focus Pass allowing them to attend AIDC 2022 and to participate in the Leading Lights professional development program, supported by AFTRS and ECU. The program includes networking between donors and recipients, a pitching workshop, and an exclusive Leading Lights Pitch to a closed room of industry representatives.
This year, AIDC also launches two new supporting initiatives: the LEADING LIGHTS INDUSTRY PROGRAM, connecting Leading Lights to industry opportunities; and the LEADING LIGHTS ALUMNI PROGRAM, providing pathways for previous Leading Lights to participate in the current Conference program and developing a cohort of emerging filmmakers.
Anna Charalambous, 2021 Leading Light and inaugural Leading Lights Pitch participant, said: “Being a 2021 Leading Light was the perfect first look at AIDC, providing me with a supportive network and also a heap of guidance on how to best navigate the conference. I made fantastic connections and my slate of projects is moving in the right direction thanks to AIDC.”
The Leading Lights program will take place during AIDC 2022. Applications for Leading Lights participants close Wednesday 19 January 2022. For more information, please visit: https://www.aidc.com.au/initiatives/leading-lights/
AIDC 2022 will run 6-9 March 2022 in person at ACMI, Melbourne and online, with an online- only international marketplace 10-11 March 2022.
