The wins, the losses, and how to survive in the format led era of commissioning.

The film industry came together with a united voice and successfully fought back the proposed tax reforms, but there is still work to do with distributors, exhibitors, broadcasters and funders. There seems to be an often quoted misapprehension that there is no audience for feature documentaries, yet time and again, across broadcast, streaming platforms, cinema on demand, festivals and even theatrical release we see enduring audience loyalty. While we all admit few get rich making documentaries, to say there is no audience is just plain wrong. How do we communicate to funders, distributors, exhibitors and broadcasters the growing engagement with documentary as an art form, its valuable role in the social and cultural sector and its specific power in drawing audiences together to not only watch, but act.

Moderator and Session Producer
Mitzi Goldman - Documentary Australia Foundation