AIDC have announced 15 projects and teams selected to take part in The FACTory International Pitching Showcase, held at The Edge, Fed Square, during AIDC 2024 (3-6 March, ACMI, Melbourne / Naarm). Proudly presented by VicScreen and now in its ninth year, The FACTory is AIDC’s centrepiece pitching event for new documentary and factual projects. This year, The FACTory will feature project teams representing 12 nations pitching to local and international commissioning editors, broadcasters, streamers, sales agents, distributors, funders, and festivals, participating both in-person and virtually. The FACTory includes three strands: Central Showcase, New Talent Showcase and Rough Cut Showcase, providing opportunities for projects featuring new and established talent, and at a range of stages of development. Selected by an international assessment committee for their authentic stories, unique perspectives, and strong market potential, the shortlisted Central and New Talent teams will present their work to decision makers and an audience of AIDC delegates at Fed Square’s iconic The Edge auditorium on Tuesday 5 March 2024.
“AIDC is so proud to present this stellar lineup of projects for the 2024 FACTory International Pitching Showcase. The selections traverse a diverse mix of bold and unique stories from Australia, India, Brazil, Afghanistan, France, China, the Philippines and New Zealand,” AIDC CEO / Creative Director, Natasha Gadd commented “Following pitch training from our esteemed mentors, these projects will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to a world-class line up of decision makers for the chance to secure market support as well as a number of pitch prizes from our International market partners. On behalf of AIDC and Principal Partner VicScreen, we congratulate all teams and wish them luck in their pitch at AIDC 2024!”
CENTRAL SHOWCASE PROJECTS
- CHASING THE LAST GIANTS
Married couple Steve Pearce and Dr. Jen Sanger photograph striking ‘giant tree portraits’around the world on their quest to save Tasmania’s Grove of Giants from being lost forever.
Writer/Director/Producer: Joseph Nizeti; Writer/Producer: Rob InnesCosmic Breakfast and Mashup Pictures (Australia) - CAMELS OF THE SEA
Facing rampant and often illegal industrialization on India’s western coast, a nomad calledAdam Abderrehman struggles to keep his family, his swimming camels and his sense of self together.
Director: Vikram Singh; Producer: Mandakini Gahlot
Elefant Films (India) - STREETSIDE
Set against the glittering Sydney skyline, young doctor Daniel Nour and his team convertambulances to streetside clinics taking healthcare to those who are falling through the cracks.
Co-Directors: John-Paul McElwee and Pete Ward; Producer: Rebecca Bennett
Shooting FIlms (Australia) - AUNTY UNTITLED FILM
A coming of golden-age story following a group of Chinese women immigrants in the US, finding themselves in later life through dance, with the dream of performing on America’s Got Talent.
Director: Haohao Yan; Producer: Guo Guo
Aunty Untitled Film LLC (USA) - QUEENS OF CHOCOLATE
A character-driven series about women around the world finding environmental and social solutions to the issues that have beset the chocolate industry for centuries and now threaten its survival.
Director: Felicity Morgan-Rhind, Producer: Arani Cuthbert
Diva Productions (New Zealand) - THE HOUSE OF LOVE
The untold story of a musical revolution when Sydney was the dance party capital of the world.
Writer/Director: Mark Murphy; Producer: Michaela Perske
Pursekey Productions (Australia)
NEW TALENT PROJECTS
- SPREADSHEET CHAMPIONS
Students from around the world give it their all in the biggest competition you’ve never heard of, the Excel Spreadsheet World Championships.
Director: Kristina Kraskov; Producer: Anna Charalambous
GoodThing Productions and Peculiar Pictures (Australia) - DOWNHILL KARGIL
In the Himalayan cold-desert of Kargil, Mehroon forms the first women’s ice-hockey team with local coach Imtiyaz. But with the threat of climate change and Mehroon migrating to Delhi, can Imtiyaz keep the team together?
Co-Director/Producer: Nupur Agrawal; Co-Director/Editor: Shivajee Biswanath
Autumn Wolves Media LLP, Camera & Shorts Media Pvt Ltd (India) - COPAN
Copan is a microcosm of everything Brazil stands for: the good, the bad and the ugly. This portrait of the largest residential building in Latin America and its inhabitants shines a light in a country being torn apart by a collapsing democracy.
Director: Carine Wallauer; Producer: Nabil Bellahsene
MVM and Clariô Filmes (Brazil) / Les Valseurs Bordeaux (France) - FRONTLINE RANGERS
Indigenous rangers are combining traditional practices with future technology to provide globally significant solutions to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Director/Co-Producer: David Cook; Co-Producer: Margee Brown; Executive Producer: Anna Kaplan
New Dream Productions with Regen Studios & Margee Brown (Australia) - LIFE IN THE SHADOWS
Years after his classmates were massacred at his school, K.D. records the lives of Machid, who attends the same school, and Khatima, who works in the cemetery where the dead students are buried.
Director: K.D.; Producer: Ilyas Yourish
Kamay Films (Afghanistan, Germany) - REPLICA
With the widespread use of AI chatbots, young urban women in China are trying out a ‘neverending’ love affair with machines.
Director: Chouwa Liang; Producer: Andy Huang
Axel Rise Films (China, Australia), The Why Foundation (Denmark)
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