Victoria Sets Its Sights On High-End Factual Series

Strong Women, photo credit: Lee Dawson. 

Today, at the 2023 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), VicScreen unveiled a bold new initiative - Originate Factual - designed to support Victorian factual producers, writers and directors to create high-end documentary series for global audiences. 

Delivered under the mentorship of experienced documentary producers, Originate Factual, will champion the talent and skills escalation of mid-career creatives through a multi-staged program. 

The multifaceted program will include a slate of masterclasses, an 8-week hothouse workshop, project development, and more. 

Originate Factual will arm participants with extensive skills in series production, from how to research dynamic long-form stories, to how to develop and construct a series format and effectively develop a pitch with global appeal. 

As part of the initiative, four mid-career factual practitioners will be given the opportunity to develop their skills through paid, bespoke, hands-on key talent placements. 

Additionally, four projects from the program will be fast-tracked and awarded coveted development funding from VicScreen.

The initiative will grow both Victoria's pool of world-class talent and the state's production pipeline which, in turns, drives industry growth and jobs. 

In a further boost to the factual sector, VicScreen announced another two years of funding for AIDC, the premier event for nonfiction screen content in the Southern Hemisphere. The funding secures the conference to stay in Melbourne for 2024 and 2025. 

Victoria is renowned for producing premium documentaries. Recently, VicScreen supported a slate of critically acclaimed content, such as Ablaze, Clean, Franklin, Off Country, Ithaka and Because We Have Each Other. Both the continued funding of AIDC and the unveiling of Originate Factual solidifies Victoria's position as a world-leading production hub for factual content. 

CEO of VicScreen, Caroline Pitcher said, "Our industry is eager to tell more stories in a factual series production format and this program will support participants to enhance their skills in the nuance of factual series development and production. Originate Factual will build on our sector's talent, equipping our practitioners with the resources an experience they need to produce leading-edge series that excel on the global stage.

"We have a longstanding partnership with AIDC and we are proud to continue to host the dynamic global conference in Melbourne for years to come."

Originate Factual expands on VicScreen's existing Originate Features and Originate Games programs - which are amplifying new voices and new ideas from diverse screen talent. 

Applications for Originate Factual open 17 April 2023. To stay up to date, subscribe to VicScreen's eNews.