National News Items
AIDC 2006 registrations open
Early Bird registrations for the 2006 Australian International Documentary Conference in Melbourne have opened. The early bird rate will end at midnight on Sunday, 18 December.
It's shaping up to be a fantastic program with superb guests, debates, discussions and loads of pitching opportunities, including: Alternative Financing for Docs, Futuredocs, World Domination: Producers of the World Unite, Michael Donovan and Charles Bishop masterclass: The Making of Bowling for Columbine, John Hughes masterclass: A Documentary Archive, National Geographic masterclass: The Making of Killer Flu, Roger Graef masterclass: Icepck in the Brain, Doing Business in Asia: Opportunities and Obstacles, Scenes from a Marriage: Co-Production Horror Stories.
For the 3rd year running, the Arts and Entertainment Department of ABC TV have announced they will finance a pitching competition at the AIDC. Another two Pitch and Punts are soon to be announced and 30 commissioning editors and buyers have already confirmed they will attend and sit at the DOCUmart table! Visit the AIDC website to see who is coming: www.aidc.com.au/program/featuredguests.html.
There are many great pitching opportunities but the deadlines are sprinting towards us so check the website and get your applications in: www.aidc.com.au/marketplace/marketplaceintroduction.html.
Don that tracksuit and get fit for the Doco Games! Log on and secure your place at Australia's premier documentary event: www.aidc.com.au/delegates/registernow.html.
See also the ScreenACT AIDC registration offer above.
Electronic Games Investment Fund launched
Senator Helen Coonan officially launched the Electronic Games Investment Fund on 7 November 2005. The EGIF is an initiative of the finance and games industry registered under the Australian Government Pooled Development Fund scheme. It is aimed at establishing a much-needed pool of capital for early-stage investment in the development of new games titles. A copy of Senator Coonan's launch speech (ﾓPlaying for keeps: commercial investment in the electronic games industryﾔ) can be found at: www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/speeches.