AIDC 2027 Awards open with new digital-first category and Leading Lights applications – Entries have opened for the 2027 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) Awards. Applications have also opened for the tenth anniversary of its Leading Lights development program. AIDC has refreshed its seven award categories to reflect where Australian documentaries are being made and released.
For nonfiction creators, the biggest change is the new Best Digital First Documentary category. It recognises work made for YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, as well as interactive and immersive formats. AIDC has also split documentary series and factual series into separate prizes. The changes may widen the field for makers whose work does not fit conventional television or cinema release paths.
Seven categories and eligibility window
Now in their eighth year, the AIDC Awards recognise documentary and factual productions across seven categories. They are Best Feature Documentary, Best Documentary Series, Best Factual Series and Best Documentary/Factual Single. The other prizes are Best Short Documentary, Best Audio Documentary and Best Digital First Documentary.
The digital-first award expands the former Best Interactive/Immersive Documentary category. The separate series categories are a first for the awards. To be eligible, a project needs a public premiere in Australia or overseas. The eligibility window runs from 1 February 2026 to 1 February 2027. Entrants should check the full eligibility guidelines for their category.
Submissions close Sunday 22 November 2026, with late entries accepted until Wednesday 25 November. Winners will be announced at AIDC’s closing night in Sydney on Thursday 11 March 2027. Meanwhile, nominations for the $5,000 Southern Light Award will open later in 2026. The prize recognises an outstanding contribution to nonfiction screen, digital or audio media.
Past AIDC Award winners include The Australian Dream, The Australian Wars, Stuff the British Stole, See What You Made Me Do, Left Write Hook and Yurlu | Country. The conference itself marks its 40th anniversary in 2027.
AIDC CEO and creative director Natasha Gadd said the awards would recognise projects across changing formats and release strategies.
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.
Natasha Gadd, AIDC CEO and Creative Director
Leading Lights marks ten years
Applications are also open for the 2027 Leading Lights program. The philanthropic initiative helps emerging and diverse Australian nonfiction practitioners attend AIDC for the first time. Participants receive a complimentary AIDC Sessions Pass. They also access professional development co-presented with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Activities include workshops, networking and the Leading Lights Pitch.
Since launching, Leading Lights has raised more than $214,000 in donations and enabled 356 early-career practitioners to attend AIDC. Recipients have included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse creatives. Regional and remote practitioners and culturally and linguistically diverse creatives have also taken part. Funding for 22 participants has already been pledged for 2027; a donor drive is continuing to expand the number of places.
2026 recipient Tess Brading described what the support meant for her feature project.
Our time at AIDC helped us clarify important directions for our feature film and gave us valuable connections. Without the support of Leading Lights, we would not have been able to attend.
Tess Brading, 2026 Leading Light recipient
Applications for Leading Lights close Sunday 6 December 2026. AIDC 2027 runs from 8 to 11 March in Sydney. Venues include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, State Library of New South Wales and Botanic Gardens of Sydney. An online international marketplace follows on 23 and 24 March.
For more TV Central coverage of AIDC, read our report on the 2027 Sydney conference. For award categories, eligibility and submissions, visit the official AIDC Awards page.