AIDC has officially pulled the curtain back on its biggest year yet, unveiling a packed 2026 program loaded with global names, bold ideas and plenty of talking points.
With more than 50 sessions, screenings and events locked in, the Melbourne based conference is once again shaping up as a major meeting point for documentary and factual storytelling across screen and streaming.
The Australian International Documentary Conference has announced the full program for AIDC 2026, featuring over 100 speakers and 80 plus industry decision makers, with major broadcast partners ABC and SBS set to feature prominently across the event.
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Inspired by the theme Hold True, the 2026 program brings together award winning filmmakers, emerging voices and senior creatives working at the cutting edge of nonfiction storytelling.
Program highlights include:
- Inverting Surveillance, with Oscar nominated filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir unpacking the making of Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor.
- Deepfaking Sam Altman, as Adam Bhala Lough discusses his provocative hybrid documentary born from an unexpected creative pivot.
- Global Stories, featuring Mindhouse executive Aloke Devichand on commissioning distinctive international nonfiction.
- Rita Baghdadi: Up Close and Personal, exploring character driven documentary across film and streaming.
- AI on the Stand, a robust session examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping documentary practice.
The program also places a strong spotlight on Australian broadcasting, with dedicated sessions involving ABC and SBS examining commissioning pathways, returnable factual series and genre blending across platforms.
Leading the line up in more detail is double Academy Award nominated director Geeta Gandbhir, whose acclaimed Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor sits at the centre of one of the conference’s most anticipated Spotlight Sessions.
She is joined by Adam Bhala Lough, co director of HBO’s Telemarketers, who will unpack the ideas behind his new project Deepfaking Sam Altman, alongside sessions from Rita Baghdadi, Mindhouse’s Aloke Devichand and National Geographic executive Tom McDonald.
Adam Bhala Lough will discuss his provocative hybrid documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman at AIDC 2026 (image – supplied)
Together, the line up spans public broadcasters, global streamers and independent producers working across television, film and digital platforms.
Natasha Gadd, CEO and Creative Director of AIDC, said the 2026 program reflects the urgency of protecting bold nonfiction storytelling in a rapidly shifting media landscape.
“We are thrilled to unveil our 2026 program of speakers and sessions, all of which are designed to challenge thinking, spark dialogue, and inspire action.”
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Beyond the sessions, AIDC 2026 will unlock more than $305,000 in development funding, awards and professional opportunities, alongside an expanded marketplace connecting creators with local and international broadcasters, platforms and distributors.
The conference returns to ACMI in Melbourne from 2 to 5 March, with an online international marketplace to follow, as AIDC invites the sector to hold true to the stories that demand to be told.
More information can be found on the Australian International Documentary Conference website HERE.
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