AIDC opens applications for 2027 FACTory International Pitching Forum – Applications are now open for the 12th edition of AIDC’s FACTory International Pitching Forum. The event will be held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of the conference’s move to Sydney in 2027.
Presented by Screen NSW, the FACTory is AIDC’s centrepiece pitching event for documentary and factual projects. The 2027 program is seeking feature documentaries, single projects, limited series and returnable series from Australia and around the world.
Up to 15 teams will be selected for the Central Showcase, New Talent Showcase and Rough Cut Showcase. They will pitch to Australian and international commissioners, sales agents, funders and distributors. Teams will also receive mentoring, pitch training and opportunities for one-on-one meetings with decision makers.
The Sydney move is significant for AIDC’s 40th anniversary. The Art Gallery of NSW gives the conference’s most visible project-market event a new home. It also keeps the focus on presenting Australian factual work in an international marketplace.
Projects and assessors
Entries will be assessed on originality, marketplace viability and international appeal. The announced assessors include Zoe Stinson of TVF International and TIFF international programmer Jason Ryle. EBS commissioning editor and EIDF artistic director Gunny Hyoung will also assess projects, alongside Movies That Matter director Margje de Koning.
Since the forum began in 2016, 146 projects have pitched through the FACTory. Alumni include Delikado, Blue Island and Mozart’s Sister. Recent festival titles include Iron Winter, Replica, Death of a Shaman, Aftermath, Yurlu | Country and Spreadsheet Champions.
AIDC CEO and creative director Natasha Gadd said the forum creates a pathway for projects in development. Mentoring and feedback are designed to help teams take their work to the next level.
Dates and applications
The regular deadline is Sunday, 1 November. Projects entered by the late deadline of Sunday, 8 November will incur an additional fee. Successful FACTory applicants receive a 10 per cent discount on AIDC 2027 All Access Passes. An All Access Pass is required for participation.
AIDC 2027 runs from 8 to 11 March in Sydney. An online international marketplace follows on 23 and 24 March. For more TV Central documentary news, head here. Visit AIDC for submission guidelines and official information.
