Karina Holden named winner of $5,000 Southern Light Award

Northern Pictures head of factual Karina Holden is the inaugural recipient of the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) Southern Light Award, designed to celebrate luminaries of the Australian documentary and factual industry.

The announcement coincided with the unveiling of nominees for the 2024 AIDC Awards, which will be presented Wednesday, March 6 at ACMI.

Holden has overseen more than 20 factual series throughout her career, including Love on the Spectrum, Better Date Than Never, See What You Made Me Do, Employable Me, Strong Female Lead, Meet the Penguins, and Luke Warm Sex.

In 2021, she was given the Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award, and in 2023 her slate of programs at Northern Pictures were awarded the prestigious Human Rights Award for Media and Creative Industries.

She also received the 2022 Producers Guild of America George Sunga Award alongside Love on the Spectrum co-creator Cian O’Clery for advancing the portrayal and employment of disabilities in media.

Holden, who will be invited to speak at the awards presentation, said the $5,000 Southern Light Award felt “like a beacon”.

“I consider the most important work we do as documentary filmmakers is to shine a light
into places where we reveal new truths and illuminate unheard stories,” she said.

“[The award] reminds me that empathy, understanding, and ultimately, change, often begin with a single story seen, a single voice amplified. Thank you, AIDC, for recognising the power of that light in my work, and for encouraging us all to keep shining ever brighter.”

AIDC CEO and creative director Natasha Gadd said the AIDC board was “extremely proud” to present Holden with the $5,000 prize, while noting the jurors had found it particularly challenging to select the nominees across the six categories from a record number of entries.

“Congratulations to all nominees across each of the six categories and enormous gratitude to the awards jurors for helping to select this incredible line-up,” she said.

“Karina is an absolute factual force who has been at the forefront of change; always championing new voices, testing new ground, and shaping a more inclusive documentary sector.”

AIDC will take place in person in Melbourne at ACMI March 3-6, with an online international marketplace to follow March 7-8.