PRESENTED BY AIDC AND SCREEN QUEENSLAND, WITH THE SUPPORT OF SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SUNSHINE COAST SCREEN COLLECTIVE.
The documentary and factual screen sector is navigating one of the most transformative periods in modern broadcasting history. As traditional financing shifts and global audiences demand deeper, more immersive storytelling, creators are forced to think bigger and act more resourcefully than ever before.
Enter Regionality Sunshine Coast.
This premier one-day industry event is returning to the Maroochy RSL in Maroochydore on Friday, 7 August 2026. Presented by the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) and Screen Queensland, the full program reveal promises a vital injection of global insight, alternative financing blueprints, and direct market access tailored specifically for Queensland’s soaring documentary and factual practitioners.
Following a recent conversation with Alice McShane, Conference Programming Manager for AIDC, the true heartbeat and intent of this year’s event becomes clear. McShane highlighted that the conference explicitly aims to bridge the gap between regional creators and major global markets. The core benefit for attendees lies in breaking down the geographical barriers that often isolate regional practitioners, putting them in the same room as top-tier decision-makers to demystify funding models and spark new collaborations.
“Sometimes, even though the industry is so big and everyone’s so supportive, you can get to feeling like you’re in a bit of a silo—that you’re in a bit of a bubble,” McShane noted. “Events like this are just so crucial for those connections that are happening on the ground… showcased in a sector that is sometimes a bit difficult to work in. Just feeling like you’re not alone and that there are pathways for you can be so meaningful and profound.”
McShane also gave massive credit to the host state’s booming creative landscape, noting that Queensland is currently soaring and punching well above its weight on the international festival circuit, drawing dedicated delegates from as far as Rockhampton who don’t bat an eye at driving six hours to collaborate. Full interview go to UTUBE
The Push for Limitless Filmmaking
Headlining this year’s Game-Changing lineup is Academy Award®-winning co-director Chai Vasarhelyi, known for pushing the absolute boundaries of nonfiction film alongside her creative partner Jimmy Chin.
Chai Vasarhelyi, whose prolific portfolio spans the vertigo-inducing Free Solo, the heart-stopping cave chronicle The Rescue, and the sweeping conservation love story Wild Life, will join the event remotely from New York for an exclusive masterclass: Limitless Filmmaking with Chai Vasarhelyi.
Securing Vasarhelyi is a monumental coup for the regional conference. McShane revealed that she had been trying to lock in the director for the main AIDC event in Melbourne for some time, but the unique pull of the Sunshine Coast community ultimately sealed the deal. Attendees will gain a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the creative precision, ethical complexities, and pure logistical perils of filming in the world’s most unforgiving environments.
Rewriting the Factual Financing Playbook
With traditional network commissions tightening globally, the session Financing Nonfiction Futures: Impact, Philanthropy and Funding stands out as an essential blueprint for modern producers.
The panel brings together a distinct mix of traditional funding heads and new-media pioneers, featuring Sally Chesher (Screen Australia), digital audience strategist Farhad Meher-Homji (Changer Studios), and impact specialist Anna Kaplan (Regen Studios). Moderated by Documentary Australia’s Stephanie King, the discussion aims to demystify how independent filmmakers can look beyond the standard broadcast license to build sustainable, multi-platform revenue models.
Elevating the Queensland Voice
Local narrative craft takes center stage in Bearing Witness: Queensland Documentaries in the Spotlight. Highlighting the work of filmmakers like Andy Huang (Replica), Yale MacGillivray (Moblands), Ivan O’Mahoney (Sentient), and Allan Clarke (Hey Brother), this session explores the unique art of turning everyday local realities into cinematic, internationally resonant human stories.
For those focusing on the small screen, Play the Next Episode: The Art of Documentary and Factual Series will feature heavyweight commissioners Stephen Oliver (ABC) and Bethan Arwel-Lewis (SBS) alongside veteran producer Bettina Dalton (WildBear Entertainment). Together, they will pull back the curtain on what networks are looking for to capture fleeting audience attention in a crowded streaming landscape.
Unrivaled Marketplace Access
Beyond the panels, the true engine of Regionality remains its marketplace connectivity. The Regionality Roundtable: Meet the Decision Makers session and the returning Doc Chat 1:1 Meetings offer regional creators invaluable, direct face-time with top-tier broadcasters, distributors, and funding bodies to pitch projects and align with current acquisition priorities.
As Screen Queensland Executive Director of Content Julie Eckersley notes, the event provides a critical bridge:
“The program gives creators direct access to industry insight, practical knowledge and meaningful connections.”
The day wraps up with networking drinks at the Maroochy RSL, allowing the South East Queensland screen community to raise a glass, cement connections, and forge unexpected new creative partnerships that could spark the next great Australian factual export.
Event Details
Date: Friday, 7 August 2026
Location: Maroochy RSL, Maroochydore, QLD
Tickets: Available exclusively via the official AIDC website ($110 AUD standard / discounts available for industry members, Screenworks/Screen Collective members, and students)
credit: National Geographic/Bethany Mollenkof
