The Australian International Documentary Conference has announced the first confirmed guests and theme for its 2026 programme.
The AIDC revealed: “In 2026, AIDC celebrates the solidarity and resilience of the documentary and factual community, inviting us to come together and Hold True in order to safeguard creative practice and the principles of truth, and importantly, to fortify a sustainable future for our filmmakers, our sector and our stories.
“Navigating shifts in the global media landscape, increased censorship, unregulated new technologies and industry contraction our sector is meeting change head-on. Hold True is a rallying cry to remain steadfast in the face of challenges and adversity, and a call to action for legislators, policy makers and funders to support the sector and drive vital change.”
Through a curated programme of industry sessions, spotlight speakers, screenings and initiatives, AIDC 2026 will celebrate the work of those navigating the evolving media landscape, and call for a joining of forces to protect the ongoing viability and sustainability of the screen sector.
Under the theme Hold True, AIDC 2026 will explore the following sub-themes: Truth States (truth to power, story sovereignty and the future of truth), Forward Focus (innovation, experimentation and alternative pathways), Change Agents (field building, sustainability and impact), Field of Vision (storytelling, craft and creative explorations), and State of the Nation (sector advocacy, policy and reform).
AIDC CEO/creative director Natasha Gadd, said: “Storytelling is at the heart of documentary and factual filmmaking driven by the bold, courageous and creative storytellers whose works provide a lens through which to explore the world in all its diversity, complexity, brutality and beauty.
“As we find ourselves in an era in which the very foundations of our storytelling practice are increasingly under threat, through our 2026 theme Hold True, we ask, how can we hold true – to each other, to the principles of truth and to the stories that demand to be told?
“Join us at AIDC 2026 as we come together to uphold our creative practice and protect our stories – stories that champion change, speak truth to power and reveal the wonders, challenges, and potentialities of the world around us.”
The initial list of AIDC 2026 speakers is available below.
Aloke Devichand, head of documentaries, Mindhouse (UK)
Aloke Devichand is head of documentaries at Mindhouse (UK), the BAFTA-winning production company founded in London by filmmaker Louis Theroux.
Rita Baghdadi, filmmaker/co-founder, Lady & Bird Films (USA)
Rita Baghdadi is an Emmy-winning US filmmaker lauded for the intimacy of her bold, character-driven documentaries.
Tom McDonald, executive vice president of content, National Geographic (UK)
Tom McDonald is National Geographic’s EVP of content, overseeing television, streaming, editorial, digital and social across all platforms, including Disney+.
Maya Daisy Hawke, editor (NZ / USA)
Maya Daisy Hawke is the editor of the Oscar and double Sundance Award-winning Navalny and the Oscar-nominated Sugarcane, and co-editor of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
AIDC 2026 takes place from 11-12 March. More information on the initial programme, including the first wave of speakers, is available on the AIDC website.
