Watching the following documentaries will provide a more nuanced understanding of the world; this can expand your mind and may result in you becoming — a term used to describe those who’ve become so smart it’s downright sexy. Open at your own risk.
25 JUNE – 24 AUGUST 2025 TICKETS AT
25 JUN – 13 JUL
Doc Edge is the home for storytelling that changes your world and the Asia Pacific centre for all things documentary. Our kaupapa is to celebrate, support and showcase documentary.
Doc Edge is stepping confidently into the future, bringing audiences a festival experience that’s both in-person and online. Whether you are in Auckland, Invercargill, or anywhere in between, you can be part of the festival and enjoy powerful stories from around the world – wherever you are.
We celebrate bold, truth-telling storytelling across film, XR, and industry events. With a packed programme, there is something for everyone, from thought-provoking features to shorts, immersive experiences, and more.
It is a pleasure to support Doc Edge as it celebrates its 20th anniversary –a remarkable milestone for a festival that has become a vital platform for bold, courageous storytelling. I fondly remember the first edition in 2005, when I had the honour of officially opening the festival as Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
As someone who is deeply passionate about documentary films, I believe in its unique ability to illuminate complex issues, elevate unheard voices, and foster empathy across cultures and perspectives. Documentaries help us understand our world more deeply, they challenge, inform, and inspire action.
In a time when truth is often contested and attention spans are short, Doc Edge continues to champion authentic, impactful storytelling. It provides a space where diverse voices are heard, important conversations are started, and real change can begin.
Congratulations to the Doc Edge team, the filmmakers, and everyone involved in bringing this celebration of life unscripted to audiences across Aotearoa and beyond. I’m proud to support a festival that truly makes a difference.
Helen
Kia ora koutou
Welcome to the 20th anniversary edition of Doc Edge – a milestone we are incredibly proud to share with you. What began as a small, passionate gathering has grown into a major cultural event and a leading force for documentary storytelling in the Asia Pacific region.
This year’s festival spans hundreds of events: powerful films, immersive experiences, and industry conversations that dive deep into the world around us. We are excited to welcome both local and international guests, filmmakers, and changemakers who remind us of the impact and urgency of real stories, especially in a time when the world feels increasingly divided.
Independent festivals like Doc Edge matter now more than ever. They provide space for voices that challenge, question, uplift, and connect. They support cinemas, foster dialogue, and remind us that documentary is not only an art form – it is a catalyst for change.
As we celebrate two decades of life unscripted, we invite you to lean in. Join the premieres. Attend the special events. Take action when action is needed. Engage in the stories, the conversations, the kaupapa (purpose) that bring us together.
As Doc Edge steps boldly into its next decade, join us in protecting and growing this vital platform — become a Doc Edge member or patron, share our vision, and help us reach new audiences, ignite powerful storytelling, and amplify voices that shape the future.
This festival is proudly produced with NI – Natural Intelligence. Thank you to our funders, partners, supporters, filmmakers, team, and our incredible audience for helping us celebrate this milestone edition.
See you at the festival.
Ngā mihi nui
Dan Shanan Alex Lee Rachael Penman Executive Director General Manager & Director Festival Producer
A twentieth anniversary is quite something to celebrate and with two decades worth of highly successful Doc Edge festivals under the belt …. our thoughts inevitably turn to the need to nurture a new generation of storytellers, storytellers with a uniquely New Zealand perspective, but also young filmmakers from across the globe.
Doc Edge has always celebrated innovation and as new technologies evolve, there’s a myriad of different ways to connect with an audience. With that in mind, I encourage you to take your family to explore this year’s Doc Edge Immersive Exhibition.
We’re showcasing 12 projects, both national and international, under the theme ‘Imagine & Re-Imagine’. These use VR, AR, performance, photography, and interactive installation to explore identity, history, and urgent global themes. Artist talks and hands-on workshops will also be part of the experience. What’s more, it’s free across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch!
The industry sessions in Auckland from 30 June – 3 July are a wonderful opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to mine the knowledge and expertise of both local and international leaders in the field.
As always, the Doc Edge crew have put together an extraordinarily diverse and provocative offering of films. I hope you’re able to see as many as possible in theatre, because there’s nothing like the shared experience of watching a documentary on the big screen. Of course, if that’s not possible, there’s always the online festival running from 28 July to 24 August.
And personally, I’m delighted to welcome my local, Northcote Point’s Bridgeway Cinema, as a new venue, bringing the festival back to the North Shore for the first time in 14 years.
Happy viewing!
Nga mihi, Judy
I have proudly been an Ambassador for Doc Edge since 2022 and continue to support a brand which is recognised the world over for their tireless work in supporting the development and creation of high-quality documentaries.
As a television news presenter/interviewer, reporter and producer of more than 25 years, I departed media for the corporate world and was fortunate to work for two iconic global brands in senior leadership management roles. Through these global giants, it was further impressed upon me the importance of developing great authentic relationships with people from all walks of life.
Over the past few years, I have been privileged to see some incredible documentaries and meet and discuss projects with some extraordinary filmmakers. Seeing their stories come to life through film only increased my love of documentaries.
Great filmmakers are great storytellers and Doc Edge has provided an opportunity for us to enjoy these journeys of discovery by passionate storytellers.
As a highly respected organisation for the Asia Pacific region, Doc Edge is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with the release of its newest films and with its Oscar-qualifying status secured for another three years, filmmakers have an incredible opportunity for their documentaries to be recognised amongst the best of the best at the Academy Awards.
Nga mihi, Neil
Doc Edge is an Oscar-qualifying festival. Winners of the Best NZ and International feature and short film categories are eligible for Oscar consideration for 2026.
The 2025 Doc Edge Awards will be presented in Auckland on Thursday 3 July. The event will be streamed live online, and a list of all winners will be available on the Doc Edge website.
NEW ZEALAND COMPETITION
Best New Zealand Feature (sponsored by NZ On Air)
Best New Zealand Short (sponsored by NZ On Air)
Best New Zealand Director
Best New Zealand Editing
Best New Zealand Cinematography
Best New Zealand Sound
Best New Zealand Emerging Filmmaker (sponsored by Department of Post)
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Best International Feature (sponsored by Park Road Post)
Best International Short (sponsored by Park Road Post)
Best International Director
Best International Editing
Best International Cinematography
Best International Sound
FESTIVAL CATEGORY
The Edge of Impact
The Art of Storytelling
Being Oneself
In Facing the Edge
Truth We Trust
Tide of Change
NZ STUDENT AWARDS
Best Tertiary Film
Best Secondary School Film (sponsored by UC|Kōawa Studios)
IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION AWARDS
Best New Zealand Impact Project
Best International Impact Project
DOC EDGE INDUSTRY PITCH AWARDS
Best New Zealand Pitch
Best International Pitch
“Ruby Chen exemplifies the spirit of documentary filmmaking — courageous, transformative, and truthful. Her dedication to nurturing new voices perfectly reflects the ethos of Doc Edge.”
– Alex Lee, Co-Founder and Director of Doc Edge
Doc Edge proudly honours Ruby Chen, Co-Founder and CEO of CNEX Foundation, as the 2025 Doc Edge Superhero — recognising her extraordinary contribution to the world of documentary storytelling.
Chen has been a tireless champion for filmmakers across the Asia Pacific, playing a pivotal role in elevating Chinese and Asian documentaries on the global stage. She will receive her award at the Doc Edge Awards on 3 July and deliver a keynote address at the Doc Edge Forum, sharing her passion for storytelling that drives change.
“As we all believe in the importance of documentaries and the power of moving visuals, I am honoured to be part of this circle of professionals who work hard to create impact and inspire people of all walks to lead their lives with positive energy.” – Ruby Chen
Chen is also a Professor at the School of Film Art, China Academy of Art, and has produced and executive produced dozens of award-winning films including Island in Between, 1428, KJ: Music and Life, Chinese Mayor, A Young Patriot, Plastic China, I’m So Sorry, and Four Journeys.
Since co-founding CNEX in 2006, an organisation whose name means both "Chinese Next" and "See Next", Chen has been dedicated to producing and promoting Chinese documentaries that spark dialogue and foster cultural exchange. CNEX’s influence extends through its Chinese Documentary Forum (CCDF), launched in 2010 to support emerging talent and contemporary storytelling.
Chen’s vision and impact continue to inspire a new generation of documentary makers around the world. We are proud to celebrate her as part of our 20th anniversary edition.
All festival event ticketing will be available through our website – making it easier than ever to book your tickets and plan your festival experience.
Ticket Prices
Full
Concession
$25
$21
Available for students, seniors 60+, and community services cardholders. Appropriate card and/or proof of age required.
Doc Edge Members
$17.50
30% off, use your membership number on the film page.
5 Pass
$100
20% off, save $25, valid for up to 5 films with max 2 tickets per film.
10 Pass
$187.50
25% off, save $62.50, valid for up to 10 films with max 2 tickets per film.
Vir tual Cinema Passes
Short Binge Pass
Watch all 28 short films.
$75
All films are automatically added to your cart.
Full Binge Pass
Watch all 78 films.
$399
All films are automatically added to your cart.
Doc Edge Members Binge Pass
Watch all 78 films, use your membership number to buy the pass.
$299
All films are automatically added to your cart.
Various ticket packages are available — check our website for details. Gift Vouchers can be purchased at any value and redeemed for Doc Edge tickets, passes, or memberships.
Doc Edge Members
Members enjoy the guaranteed lowest ticket prices plus exclusive benefits. If you are not yet a member, we encourage you to join today.
Cashless Festival
Doc Edge Festival 2025 is fully cashless. All venue transactions must be made through our ticketing platform. Please ensure you have a credit or debit card ready for purchases.
Allocated & Accessible Seating
All seats are allocated. To secure your preferred seat, we recommend booking early. If you require accessible seating or special arrangements, please contact us — we are happy to assist.
Late Entry Policy
Screenings will start promptly. To ensure a seamless experience for audiences and filmmakers, late entry will only be allowed at appropriate times during the screening. All ticket sales are final - no refunds or exchanges for late arrivals or missed screenings.
Ticketing Support
For enquiries, email us at tickets@docedge.nz or call 0800 DOC EDGE (362 3343). Our team is here to help.
Q&A Sessions
Join us for live Q&A sessions with filmmakers after selected screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
This is your chance to dive deeper into the stories, ask questions, and connect with the creative minds behind the films.
Check our festival website for the latest updates on Q&A sessions and special guest appearances.
Join us for live Q&A sessions with filmmakers after selected screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
This is your chance to dive deeper into the stories, ask questions, and connect with the creative minds behind the films.
Check our festival website for the latest updates on Q&A sessions and special guest appearances.
Scan to Book Now
This category shines a spotlight on powerful stories from the frontlines of change – where identity, environment, politics, and tradition collide. From rising seas in the Pacific to cultural survival in Australia, globalisation in Africa to resistance in West Papua, these films explore the courage, resilience, and truth-telling needed in a world on the brink. The Edge of Impact is a call to awareness and action.
When brilliance collides with unspeakable pain.
In May 2024, news of a murder in the Polynesian nation of Samoa rocked the Pacific. The perpetrator, Sia Figiel, was a trailblazing novelist and poet who won international acclaim for being the first to write about the difficult realities Samoan girls and women face. The victim was her friend, who was also a poet.
This film was a portrait of Sia eight years in the making when the murder happened. Now it offers an in-depth and thoughtprovoking look at her journey leading up to the tragedy, illuminating the complexity of untreated mental illness and the devastating toll it can exact on individuals, families, and entire communities.
The film was pitched at Doc Edge Industry 2021.
Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady | 2025 | 106 min | USA, Norway
New Zealand Premiere
Troubled teenagers run wild with Norwegian huskies.
Exhausted by loneliness, social anxiety, and all the crushing pressures felt by Gen Z, three teenagers make the daring decision to leave the comforts of home to enrol in a traditional “folk high school” in the wilds of northern Norway. Dropped in the Arctic wilderness for one year, Hege, Romain, and Bjørn Tore must rely on themselves and a pack of loyal sled dogs as they take the daunting step from childhood to adulthood. Freed of technology, social media, and the noise of modern life, this brave trio learn to face themselves for the first time, and experience an unexpected, wondrous transformation.
Directed by Doc Edge alumnae Ewing and Grady (Detropia, Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You)
Maia Lekow, Christopher King | 2025 | 103 min | Kenya
New Zealand Premiere
Building a community, one book at a time.
In the heart of Nairobi, two intrepid young women, Shiro and Wachuka, set out to transform a crumbling colonial-era library into a dynamic cultural hub for the city’s youth. What begins as a vision for creative revival soon becomes a powerful act of reclamation, as they navigate political hurdles, secure funding, and confront the lingering shadows of colonial legacy. With vibrant energy and unshakable determination, the duo confronts tough questions: when to compromise, and when to fight for their ideals. Bursting with charm and purpose, this delightful film celebrates youth activism, cultural rebirth, and the real work of decolonisation.
Xinyan Yu, Max Duncan | 2024 | 91 min | USA, Ethiopia, Denmark, UK, Canada
A dusty town becomes ground zero in the globalisation game.
In rural Ethiopia, a massive Chinese industrial park promises 30,000 new jobs, but the collision of two worlds, one driven by profit and progress, the other defined by a vanishing countryside and the cycle of seasons, reveals the harsh complexities of globalisation. Factory director Motto strives to push forward an ambitious expansion, while an Ethiopian farmer and factory worker bet their futures on the promised prosperity. Filmed over four years, the film provides a nuanced, multiperspective look at the real impacts of China’s investment in Africa, going beyond simplistic narratives of victims and villains to explore the true cost of development, tradition, and welfare.
Natalie Zimmerman | 2024 | 75 min | USA
Sink or soar before the waves take it all.
The film begins on a coral atoll facing uninhabitability by 2030 due to rising seas and climate change. Through the story of a mother and her adult son, the film explores resilience, cultural survival, and the lasting impacts of colonisation. Balancing discovery with loss, it urges us to reframe our relationship with climate data by engaging emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It is a reflective call to action, asking what connections are essential to human and ecological survival, and why we must restore them to ensure our future.
*Screening with Qotzuñi: People of the Lake 13 min
Daan Veldhuizen | 2025 | 115 min | Netherlands
When West Papua was betrayed, the world looked away.
A forgotten struggle, a lost future. In the 1960s, West Papua was on the path to independence. But international interests, geopolitical power struggles, and economic motives dictated otherwise. Through uniquely restored and colourised 35mm archival footage, the film brings this untold history back to life, revealing how an entire people is systematically betrayed and oppressed.
With gripping stories of Papuans in exile and their struggle for recognition, director Veldhuizen paints a painful picture of how colonialism gave way to neocolonialism, and how the world remained silent.
Felix Golenko | 2025 | 89 min | Germany
International Premiere
You are never too young to fight for the future.
The film follows three law students from the University of the South Pacific, Romabeth, Vishal, and Solomon, as they lead a historic campaign to bring climate justice to the International Court of Justice. Facing rising seas in Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, their mission is urgent and personal. As they build global alliances and rally UN support, they seek a landmark ruling to define states’ legal obligations on climate change. It is a powerful story of resilience, hope, and youthled action in the face of a climate crisis, asking: can justice come in time to save their sinking homelands?
Yaara Bou Melhem | 2025 | 85 min | Australia
An Elder’s final promise to Country. The film tells the powerful story of Banjima Elder Maitland Parker, who called his ancestral land “Poison Country” from contamination left behind by Wittenoom mines in Western Australia’s Pilbara. As he battles mesothelioma, Maitland’s fight for justice, cultural survival, and environmental restoration deepens. Set against breathtaking yet poisoned landscapes, the film blends personal storytelling and stunning cinematography to reveal the human cost of industrial devastation. A moving testament to the resilience of the Banjima people and their unbreakable bond with Country, it honours Maitland’s legacy and calls
A proud partnership with Grand Millenium Auckland
Welcome to Grand Millennium Auckland, an iconic 4.5-star Qualmark-graded hotel that combines timeless elegance with modern comfort in the heart of Auckland.
Featuring the city’s largest rooms with true king-sized beds, complete with deluxe bathrooms and stunning views of Auckland’s vibrant skyline, the hotel offers an unmatched stay.
Guests can enjoy a wide range of premium amenities, including ample on-site parking spaces, an exclusive adults-only Club Lounge, an indoor pool and outdoor deck, a fully equipped business service centre, electric vehicle charging stations, and unlimited Wi-Fi.
Explore the culinary delights within our Grand Dining Precinct, home to renowned restaurants Katsura, Ember, The Aviary, and Dans Le Noir, led by Executive Chef James Kenny, who brings his passion for seasonal produce to every dish.
The Les Clefs d’Or Concierge Team is at your service to offer personalised recommendations and assist with booking local events and activities, ensuring your stay is seamless and memorable.
Located just 30–45 minutes from Auckland Airport by taxi, with convenient public transport links and an on-site taxi rank, the hotel provides unmatched accessibility.
Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, Grand Millennium Auckland promises an unforgettable experience filled with grand comfort, breathtaking views, and exceptional service.
Storytelling is how we make sense of the world – through music, dance, cinema, performance, and personal expression. This category honours artists who tell bold, beautiful, and often deeply personal stories. From the life of Chaplin to Ai Weiwei’s operatic debut, from the dancefloors of Chinatown to the trenches of Ukraine, The Art of Storytelling reminds us that creativity is a form of resistance, healing, and connection. These films celebrate the storytellers who shape culture, preserve memory, and ignite imagination.
From scripted film to unimaginable reality.
Filmmaker Tom Shoval creates a poignant cinematic letter to David Cunio, his former lead actor and friend, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz to Gaza on 7 October and remains in captivity. Using behind-thescenes footage, raw material, and auditions from their earlier film Youth, a story that eerily mirrored themes of kidnapping, Shoval pieces together a haunting portrait of friendship, loss, and resilience. This affecting visual journey reflects on what was and never will be again, the cruel separation of twin brothers, and the inexplicable connection between life and cinema, memory and reality, offering testimony through what already exists, without showing the horrors of that day.
Maxim
Derevianko | 2024 | 77 min | Italy, USA
Asia Pacific Premiere
From protest to Puccini.
The film follows renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he makes his operatic directorial debut at the Rome Opera House. Reimagining Puccini’s Turandot, Ai fuses its timeless narrative with urgent global issues, war, displacement, and human rights. Through intimate access to rehearsals and design, the film reveals his bold vision and creative process. With commentary from longtime collaborator Chiang Ching, it explores the opera’s deep personal resonance for Ai, reflecting his life’s work and philosophy.
A powerful blend of music, art, and activism, the film captures a historic moment where tradition meets transformation on the global stage.
Carmen Chaplin | 2024 | 90 min | France, Netherlands, Spain, UK
New Zealand Premiere
Where heritage meets cinema’s most iconic walk.
From director Carmen Chaplin comes a powerful debut that uncovers a hidden legacy behind one of cinema’s most iconic figures. With unprecedented access to the Chaplin archives and exclusive family interviews, this film takes you deep into the Romany roots that helped shape Charlie Chaplin’s legendary character, The Tramp. Blending rare home movies, film clips, and striking contributions from leading Roma artists, it is an emotional, visually rich journey through identity, heritage, and creativity. More than a biography, it is a celebration of cultural influence and artistic genius, revealing a side of Chaplin the world has never seen.
Luka Yuanyuan Yang | 2024 | 85 min | China
Sun 29 June | 6.00 PM | The Capitol Sat 12 July | 8.00 PM | Bridgeway
20 July | 4.00 PM | The Roxy Sat 26 July | 11.00 AM | Lumiere
Lacey
Uhlemeyer | 2025 | 90 min | USA
Tue 01 July | 8.30 PM | The Capitol Sun 06 Jul | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway Sat 26 July | 5.30 PM | The Roxy Sat 26 July | 5.30 PM | Lumiere
Australasia Premiere
You don’t age out of fabulous.
At 92, legendary nightclub starlet Coby Yee steps back into the spotlight with the Grant Avenue Follies, a senior Asian American dance troupe reviving the glamour of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Their tour travels across the US, Cuba, and China reclaiming diasporic histories and redefining aging with elegance and pride. In Havana, a dazzling collaboration sparks cultural revival, while Coby’s return to China becomes a heartfelt farewell to her roots.
A moving portrait of resilience, legacy, and identity, this film captures Coby’s final bow, and the enduring power of performance to bridge generations and cultures.
The film won Best International Pitch at Doc Edge Industry 2021.
World Premiere
For Ahmad Joudeh, a stateless refugee from Syria, dance is not a choice, it's a lifeline –etched onto his very skin with the words "Dance or Die." Having defied war and family disapproval to join the Dutch National Ballet, Ahmad found sanctuary in the Netherlands, becoming a UNHCR and LGBTQI+ Ambassador. But haunted by the trauma of his past, he makes a perilous decision: to return to Syria for the first time since the war, risking everything to bring the healing power of dance to a community still ravaged by conflict.
Miriam Guttmann | 2024 | 76 min | Netherlands
From war to dance, a soldier finds new purpose.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, young, exiled dancers form the United Ukrainian Ballet Company in the Netherlands. They welcome a soldier into their midst who lost both his legs in the war. With new prosthetics, he collaborates with his fellow Ukrainians on an original piece of choreography, igniting the dancers to channel their guilt and transform their grief. His presence becomes a powerful symbol of those left behind. The film is a moving story of resilience, unity, and artistic resistance, where culture is preserved through dance, and the stage becomes the place where the front row and the front line converge.
*Screening with Through a Glass, Lightly 9 min
Linus O’Brien | 2025 | 89 min | USA
It’s astounding, let's do the Time Warp again.
From humble origins as a London fringe theatre play to its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection as the biggest cult film of all time, this is the definitive story of the Rocky Horror Show. With intimate access to its creator Richard O’Brien and other major players such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Lou Adler, the film explores what makes the play and film so singular. Its groundbreaking and transgressive themes, iconic performances and epic songs took over popular culture. The cult phenomenon that sprung around it is unparalleled, and created not only the midnight screenings which continue to this day, but also a safe haven for those who ever felt different or marginalised.
Serena
Giovanna Stevenson | 2025 | 74 min | New Zealand
A stunning audiovisual experience of Splore.
Filmed over seven years during a three-day music and art festival, Splore, the film is a cinematic celebration of human connections and our need for play. For decades this festival has created a safe space for playfulness on land that is blessed by the local iwi. Doc Edge
Alumna Stevenson explores deep human emotion with cinematic frames and a multigenre score, sinking into moments of humour, joy, family, celebration, love and adventure, where even the mundane is insightful.
*Screening with Nothing is Impossible: The Primanavia Story 15 min
We’ll take care of you here.
Ōtautahi Christchurch has diverse landscapes, accessible film locations, digital screen capacity and talented crew ready to help tell your stories.
Proud supporter of Doc Edge in its 20th year.
This category celebrates deeply personal stories of identity, resilience, and transformation. From a Deaf love story spanning decades to the journey of a Kiwi wild child, these films explore what it means to live authentically in a world that often expects conformity. Whether breaking barriers, healing from the past, or chasing dreams, Being Oneself honours the courage it takes to simply be you.
Garry Keane | 2025 | 95 min | Ireland
Three love stories. One shared language.
In this intimate film, three Deaf couples share their remarkable love stories through Irish Sign Language: a decades-long forbidden romance across a religious divide, an LGBTQI+ couple navigating parenthood with Deaf and hearing children, and a Deaf boxer and his hearing partner facing a life-altering choice. A cinematic celebration of resilience, connection, and enduring love; featuring an immersive soundscape, it is Ireland’s first feature film in Irish Sign Language, produced by a Deaf and hearing team and directed by award-winning alumnus Keane (In the Shadow of Beirut)
Leila Amini | 2024 | 93 min | Iran, Switzerland, France
AKL
Asia Pacific Premiere
Her singing defies Iran’s silence.
In Iran, where women are forbidden from singing in public, Nasreen, once silenced by marriage and tradition, dares to reclaim her voice. Filmed over seven years by her sister, director Leila Amini, the film chronicles one woman’s quiet rebellion against cultural and domestic constraints. As she transforms from dutiful wife and mother into a determined singer, Nasreen’s journey becomes a powerful act of resistance. Her courage inspires a ripple effect, empowering her children, sisters, and mother. Intimate and deeply personal, the film captures a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the unyielding desire to be heard in a society that demands silence.
Thu 03 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway Sun 06 July | 1.00 PM | The Capitol Sat 19 July | 5.45 PM | Lumiere Thu 24 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
Weronika Mliczewska | 2025 | 93 min | Poland, Vietnam, Sweden, Czech Republic, Qatar
Wed 02 July | 8.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 06 July | 1.15 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 19 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy Sun 20 July | 7.45 PM | Lumiere
Asia Pacific Premiere
Vietnam to America, a son’s search.
Left behind after the Vietnam War, Sang is one of many children born to American soldiers and Vietnamese women. Marked by stigma and absence, he grows up yearning for the father he never knew. Decades later, he discovers his father is alive but dying in the U.S. Determined to meet him, Sang leaves his family in Vietnam to seek connection. In America, he is met with silence and estrangement, an outsider to both country and kin. As the dream of reunion fades, Sang finds something deeper: his own strength to confront the past, reclaim his identity, and shape a future on his terms.
Violet Du Feng | 2025 | 88 min | USA, UK, Norway
Asia Pacific Premiere
Move over Tinder, China’s toughest dating challenge starts now!
In a country where men outnumber women by over 30 million, the film follows Zhou, Li, and Wu, three single men attending a seven-day dating boot camp led by famed coach Hao. Through makeovers and “strategic deception,” Hao promises to transform their chances at love, just as he claims to have done for himself. As the bachelors navigate awkward challenges and curated personas, they grapple with what’s real and what is performance. Both humorous and heartfelt, the film explores the pressures of modern courtship in China, revealing deeper questions about identity, loneliness, and the human desire to connect.
Directed by Doc Edge alumna Du Feng (Hidden Letters).
Michal Cohen | 2024 | 68 min | Israel
Sun 29 June | 1.00 PM | Bridgeway Sun 13 July | 3.30 PM | The Capitol Sun 20 July | 10.00 AM | The Roxy Sun 20 July | 3.45 PM | Lumiere
Asia Pacific Premiere
The closest relationship nobody talks about.
In a Jaffa bra shop's fitting room, women's love-hate affair with their bosom buddies unfolds. As each heroine struggles to find the perfect bra, she bares not just her chest, but her soul, sharing tales of triumph, tribulation, and the occasional wardrobe malfunction. For breasts aren't just fleshy accessories, they are the protagonists of our life's epic. From the awkward moment they first break out, to the sobering reality checks of mammograms, our relationship with our "girls" is a bouncy rollercoaster of ups and downs because life, much like a poorly fitted bra, is full of surprises.
*Screening with Pee Shy 19 min
Marek Šulík | 2024 | 108 min | Slovakia
Leadership redefined by grace and grit.
For five years she was the most trusted president of crisis-plagued Slovakia navigating dirty politics with dignity. For five years, a film crew followed her closely, even in situations where other cameras were not allowed. Political choices, meetings with world leaders over global dilemmas, but also with ordinary citizens over everyday problems.
An extraordinarily intimate portrait of a woman who tried to bring a humanly open approach to the traditionally male competitive world of top politics, at the same time fighting the most demanding battle in life at home.
Lisa Burd | 2025 | 90 min | New Zealand
In this scrum, sisterhood is the strategy.
In New Zealand's heartland, teams of aspiring female rugby players must shatter glass ceilings both on and off the field to achieve their improbable dream of international glory.
Directed by Doc Edge alumna Burd (Changing Gear, Monterey, Let’s Talk About Sex), the film is more than rugby, it is about resilience and authenticity at its best; young women daring to dream big but taken out by curveballs that leave you gasping, belly laughing, and ultimately feeling like anything is possible. It follows a season of women’s grassroots rugby in Taranaki from club players to sporting superheroes Michaela Blyde. You will be cheering from the sideline.
The film was pitched at Doc Edge Industry 2024.
|
Vivien Hillgrove | 2025 | 87 min | USA
AKL WLG CHC
Sat 05 July | 8.30 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 12 July | 1.00 PM | The Capitol
Tue 22 July | 8.30 PM | The Roxy
Tue 22 July | 8.15 PM | Lumiere
Toby Schmutzler | 2024 | 92 min | New Zealand, Germany
AKL
CHC
WLG
Sat 05 July | 5.45 PM | The Capitol
Wed 09 July | 8.15 PM | Bridgeway
Sun 20 July | 1.30 PM | Lumiere
Sun 27 July | 3.00 PM | The Roxy
International Premiere
She lost her sight, not her vision.
The film chronicles the extraordinary life of film editor Vivien Hillgrove, whose sight begins to fail after a prolific 50-year career. As she faces vision loss, memories resurface of a traumatic past, being a pregnant teen forced to surrender her child in 1960s Oakland. Her journey toward healing begins in a lesbian bar in San Francisco, where she finds community, purpose, and a career in film. From editing sound on Amadeus to building a family with her long-lost daughter, Vivien’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the power of chosen connection. A moving exploration of identity, memory, and creative legacy.
International Premiere
ADHD powered. Adventure driven.
The film follows Brando, a young man with ADHD, as he embarks on extraordinary adventures to escape societal norms and find purpose. At 18, he sets out to walk New Zealand's coastline, and over the next decade, he tackles epic feats: skiing across Greenland, kayaking around Vancouver Island, and cycling across the Australian Outback. Each adventure is a test of endurance, selfdiscovery, and resilience. Along the way, Brando reflects on mental health, identity, and purpose, becoming an ambassador for ADHD. The film captures his physical challenges and the personal growth that unfolds in the most remote, untamed corners of the world.
In a world of disinformation and power plays, these gripping stories dig deep to uncover hidden truths. From whistleblowers and warzones to corruption, propaganda, and the dark side of the internet, this category reveals the cost of speaking out and the courage it takes to challenge the status quo. In Truth We Trust is a tribute to those who risk everything in pursuit of justice, transparency, and accountability.
Bats, politics, and a planet out of balance.
Amid rising misinformation and political division, alumnus director Frei (Genesis 2.0), follows three scientists who traced the origins of SARS to bats in a Yunnan cave, only to have their warnings about future pandemics ignored. When COVID-19 strikes, they are thrust into the spotlight, facing attacks and global blame. Through exclusive access, the film explores their fight to uphold science amid conspiracy, media frenzy, and geopolitical tension. Visually stunning and deeply political, it reveals how fact-free narratives paved the way for Trump’s return and the far-right’s surge across Europe, while nature quietly prepares its next move, unnoticed in the noise of outrage and denial.
Audun
Amundsen | 2025 | 103 min | Norway
Selling success comes at a price.
A filmmaker seeking financial freedom dives into the world of online marketing under the mentorship of Akbar Sheikh, a former homeless man turned digital millionaire. But as the cash rolls in and the stakes rise, cracks begin to show. Is this a dream come true or a dangerous illusion? Featuring explosive revelations, exclusive access to online empire builders, and interviews with digital powerhouses seen by hundreds of millions, this high-stakes film pulls back the curtain on an industry built on hype, hustle, and heartbreak. It is a revealing look at ambition, identity, and the true price of chasing success in the digital age.
Edward Sampson | 2025 | 85 min | New Zealand
The unspoken bond between soldier and horse.
Set against the brutal backdrop of the Sinai-Palestine campaigns in WWI, this powerful story reveals the unbreakable bond between soldiers and their horses, trusted companions that offered comfort, courage, and connection in the face of unrelenting war. Through stunning visuals, raw interviews, and immersive reenactments, the film brings to life the emotional journey of men who found strength in their steeds. But when peace arrived, a cruel twist — strict quarantine laws — forced many to leave their loyal partners behind. Heart-wrenching and deeply human, this is a timely reflection on the scars of war and the battles soldiers continue to fight long after returning home.
Tommy Gulliksen | 2025 | 104 min | Norway
Australasia Premiere
Inside NATO’s “war room”.
Go inside NATO’s inner sanctum at a moment when the world stands on a knife’s edge. With rare, behind-the-scenes access, this political thriller captures the high-stakes diplomacy unfolding as Jens Stoltenberg is convinced to remain Secretary General for one final year. As war rages in Ukraine, global leaders— Biden, Zelensky, Erdoğan, Orbán—clash over strategy, unity, and survival. Promises are made, alliances tested, and peace hangs by a thread. Can Stoltenberg keep NATO together and deliver on his vow to stand by Ukraine? This is raw, real-time power politics at its most intense, where every decision could shape the future of Europe.
Håvard Bustnes | 2025 | 95 min | Norway, Germany, UK
Australasia Premiere
Can you trust the truth when the storyteller is a spy?
Rob Moore, a former TV producer, lived a double life, posing as a journalist to infiltrate anti-asbestos circles while secretly working for the asbestos lobby. When his true identity is exposed, activists feel betrayed, but Rob claims he was a double agent, gathering evidence against his corrupt employers. With his reputation shattered, he convinces two veteran journalists to tell his side of the story. But as they dig deeper, questions mount: is Rob a whistleblower or master manipulator? Caught in a maze of deception, the journalists begin to fear the story may be bigger—and more dangerous—than they ever imagined.
Directed by Doc Edge alumnus Bustnes (Golden Dawn Girls)
Don Millar | 2025 | 87 min | Canada
Sat 28 June | 3.15 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 12 July | 5.00 PM | The Capitol Sat 26 July | 1.15 PM | The Roxy Sat 26 July | 1.15 PM | Lumiere
Australasia Premiere
A nation’s past, stolen and reclaimed.
From remote Cambodian villages to elite art institutions in New York, this is a daring look into the underbelly of the multi-billion-dollar art market and the deadly reality behind "blood antiquities" filling Western museums today. Orchestrating a lucrative criminal network during the Cambodian Civil War, British "adventurer-scholar" Douglas Latchford led a team in the looting of thousand-year-old temples buried in landmine-riddled jungles. The film features unprecedented access, including to "Blue Tiger," a child-soldierturned-looter now working to bring artifacts home, and to the international investigators who led to Latchford's indictment. It also takes viewers behind-the-scenes as stolen pieces are returned to Cambodia, some arriving from New York's Met Museum in July 2024.
David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin | 2025 | 90 min | Denmark, Czech Republic
Sat 28 June | 11.00 AM | The Capitol Thu 03 July | 8.00 PM | Bridgeway Thu 24 July | 8.30 PM | The Roxy Thu 24 July | 8.15 PM | Lumiere
New Zealand Premiere
Pasha Talankin is an unlikely hero, a beloved Russian primary school teacher, known as a mentor and prankster who offers students a safe haven in his office. But when Russia invades Ukraine, his role shifts dramatically. Forced to spread Kremlin propaganda, Pasha secretly begins filming the regime’s grip on everyday life, militarised youth groups, rising nationalism, and the recruitment of students for war. As his conscience deepens and the risk grows, he becomes an international whistleblower, planning a daring escape. Codirected with David Borenstein, this gripping and emotional film reveals the human cost of Putin’s regime, and the courage it takes to resist it.
David Anthony Ngo, Stephen McCallum | 2025 | 105 min | US, Australia, Philippines
AKL
Sun 29 June | 8.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 06 July | 8.15 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 19 July | 7.45 PM | Lumiere Fri 25 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
International Premiere
The fine line between good and bad. Barry Cooper is an expert at hiding drugs, evading police, and raising hell. But once upon a time he was a highly decorated Texas Narcotics Officer.
After a raid goes wrong, destroying a family not unlike his own, Barry's conscious gets the better of him and he quits the force. Using stolen police tapes, he creates a DVD series teaching drug users how to hide their stash and becomes an instant media sensation.
This is the story of one man’s fight to turn the tide on the War on Drugs, if he doesn’t get busted in the process.
These are stories from the brink where individuals and communities confront trauma, conflict, loss, and transformation. Whether rebuilding after war, standing up for democracy, surviving personal tragedy, or challenging deep-rooted injustice, the films in Facing the Edge are raw, urgent, and deeply human. They remind us that even in the darkest moments, resilience, hope, and change are possible.
Paradise and pollution, side by side.
In one of the most polluted regions of France, a small industrial town by the Mediterranean Sea lives in striking contrast, where smokestacks loom and super tankers drift by, yet people swim, dance, and savour life.
Amid the haze of factories and the hum of semi-trailers, a resilient community clings to joy and routine. At the edge of the freeway, Natalie’s food truck has stood for thirty years, serving as a symbol of perseverance and humanity. This visually rich, emotionally resonant film captures the paradox of living between industrial ruin and natural beauty, where survival means choosing not to look right at the smoke, but left, towards the sea.
Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen | 2024 | 108 min | USA
From PTSD to possibility with psychedelics.
After years of combat, highly decorated Navy SEAL Marcus Capone returns home broken, battling treatment-resistant PTSD, brain trauma, and depression. With traditional therapies failing, his wife Amber turns to a last hope: an unapproved psychedelic treatment showing extraordinary promise. Marcus’ recovery is nothing short of miraculous, sparking a new mission for the couple, saving fellow veterans from the same fate. Blending intimate storytelling, stunning animation, and cutting-edge science from Stanford’s Brain Stimulation Lab, this powerful film follows three American heroes on a deeply emotional journey to heal the invisible wounds of war, and reclaim life, love, and purpose.
Directed by Doc Edge alumni Shenk and Cohen (The Island President)
Dedicated to Executive Producer Diane Weyermann, Doc Edge Superhero (1955 –2021).
Zaradasht Ahmed | 2025 | 91 min | Norway
Asia Pacific Premiere
You can’t bomb away a city’s soul.
In the heart of Mosul, a city scarred by war, three men fight to revive its spirit: Bashar rebuilds his family’s shattered home, Fakhri salvages historical artifacts to preserve a fading past, Fadel, once silenced by ISIS, now uses music to awaken hope in a new generation. As women reclaim public spaces and art returns to the streets, a powerful cultural revival takes root. Against the backdrop of destruction, this moving story captures the resilience of a city and its people, determined not just to survive, but to restore an identity shaped by 8,000 years of history and human spirit.
Shashwati Talukdar, Cheryl Hess | 2025 | 80 min | India, USA
Australasia Premiere
Law, order... and a little love advice.
In a bustling police station in Dehradun, two remarkable officers, tough, tactical Sandhya and empathetic, firm Krishna, are not chasing criminals; they are rescuing marriages. Inside the Women’s Helpline, desperate couples arrive with broken hearts, clashing values, and relationships on the brink. From infidelity and abandonment to generational tensions, no issue is too messy for these frontline peacekeepers. With limited resources, emotional chaos, and mounting pressure, this unlikely team mediates love’s most painful battles, all within the cramped walls of a police station. Equal parts heartfelt and humorous, the film reveals that sometimes, saving a relationship takes as much grit as solving a crime.
*Screening with A Good Question 20 min
Nanfu Wang | 2024 | 94 min | USA
Sat 28 June | 5.15 PM | Bridgeway Thu 03 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol Sun 20 July | 7.30 PM | Lumiere Mon 21 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
Australasia Premiere
Even in the darkest night, hope remains.
Over seven years, Doc Edge alumna Wang (I Am Another You) follows Cuban activist Rosa María Payá as she challenges an oppressive regime and fights for democratic reform in Cuba. Woven into Rosa’s courageous journey are Wang’s own reflections on growing up in authoritarian China and her unease with democratic backsliding in the US. The result is a powerful, deeply personal exploration of the universal longing for freedom, the cost of dissent, and the urgent need to defend democracy wherever it is threatened. Intimate and thought-provoking, the film is a bold reminder that the fight for liberty knows no borders and requires constant vigilance.
Paige Bethmann | 2025 | 88 min | USA
Errol Morris | 2024 | 93 min | USA, Mexico
AKL WLG
Fri 04 July | 8.15 PM | The Capitol Sat 12 July | 1.15 PM | Bridgeway Fri 25 July | 8.30 PM | The Roxy Fri 25 July | 8.30 PM | Lumiere
New Zealand Premiere
You can’t outrun history, but you can run with it.
On the Yerington Paiute Reservation in Nevada, high school track star Ku dreams of being recruited by the University of Oregon. With his father, Delmar, as coach, and his mother, Misty, by his side, Ku is determined to make it. As he trains for his final qualifying race, buried emotions of anger and grief linked to his family’s past surface. Ku’s rites of passage intertwine with the story of his greatgrandfather, who escaped an Indian boarding school by running 50 miles. In a powerful act of remembrance, Ku leads his community in a 50-mile race, confronting history while racing toward his future.
New Zealand Premiere
The American dream no more.
Oscar®-winning filmmaker Errol Morris confronts one of the darkest chapters in recent American history: family separations.
Based on NBC News Political and National Correspondent Jacob Soboroff’s book, Separated: Inside an American Tragedy, Morris merges bombshell interviews with government officials and artful narrative vignettes tracing one migrant family’s plight. Together they show that the cruelty at the heart of this policy was its very purpose.
Against this backdrop, with hundreds of families still separated years later, audiences can begin to absorb the US government’s role in this unthinkable horror and be warned that we are on the verge of allowing it to happen again.
Dedicated to Executive Producer Diane Weyermann, Doc Edge Superhero (1955 –2021).
Gabriel Garton | 2025 | 80 min | New Zealand, Norway
World Premiere
From grief to the skies, this wahine rises.
Shayni Couch is a free-spirited New Zealand native and skydiver whose life is suddenly torn apart when her husband, Micah, a charismatic American-born professional BASE jumper, tragically dies while jumping in Norway.
Pregnant with their first child, Micah’s death leaves Shayni devastated. As part of her healing process, she returns to Norway and retraces the steps of the jump that took her husband's life.
Filmed with intimate vérité and cinematic visuals, this powerful film is a moving tribute to a woman’s strength, a mother’s heart, and the unbreakable spirit that connects us.
Congratulations Doc Edge on 20 years of impactful storytelling.
NEVER LOOK AWAY
JUN
6.15pm Ai Weiwei's Turandot 8.00pm No Tears on the Field
Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp 8.15pm The Gardener, the Buddhist & the Spy
The Lions by the River Tigris
Made in Ethiopia
Mr Nobody Against Putin 1.00pm Shorts 3 3.15pm Before the Moon Falls 5.45pm Devils on Horses 8.15pm Three Days in February
Shorts 6 1.15pm Marriage Cops
Facing War
Chinatown Cha-Cha 8.15pm Never Get Busted!
6.15pm Mighty Indeed 8.30pm Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea
1 JUL 6.15pm Numakage Public Pool 8.30pm The Dancer WED 2 JUL 6.15pm OCEANIA: Journey to the Center 8.15pm Child of Dust
3 JUL 6.15pm Night is Not Eternal 8.15pm Blame
6.15pm In Waves and War 8.15pm Separated
A Sisters' Tale 3.00pm A Letter to David 5.00pm The Promise 7.30pm Carrousel
Shayni in the Sky
Blame
Wildboy
OCEANIA: Journey to the Center 8.15pm Before the Moon Falls
Mana Moana Mana Tangata
Click the Link Below
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
Devils on Horses 6.00pm Ai Weiwei's Turnadot 7.45pm Child of Dust
Chinatown Cha-Cha
LOOT: A Story of Crime and Redemption
How to Build a Library
Ms President
Shorts 5 8.15pm Vivien's Wild Ride
No Tears on the Field 8.30pm Front Row
6.15pm The Lions by the River Tigris 8.15pm Mr Nobody Against Putin
6.15pm Marriage Cops 8.30pm Separated
The Dancer
In Waves and War
Os Barcos 7.30pm Fatal Watch
Remaining Native
The Story of Rocky Horror
6.15pm Yurlu | Country 8.15pm Front Row
4.30pm A Sister's Tale 6.15pm The Lions by the River Tigris 8.30pm Mr Nobody Against Putin
When you’re so smart it’s downright sexy. ie.
“I heard you used Saatchi & Saatchi to create the Doc Edge Festival advertising. That’s so of you.”
Step into a space where boundaries are pushed, perspectives are challenged, and bold ideas take flight. Transformative Conversations at The Edge is where the future of documentary, storytelling, and the media landscape is shaped. This is not just another industry forum—this is a platform for courageous dialogue tackling the issues that matter most today, sparking change and inspiring innovation.
At the heart of these conversations is engagement. We invited thought leaders, filmmakers, journalists, and creative professionals to share their insights and visions, but more importantly, we encourage you to be part of the dialogue. This is a place where audiences and speakers connect in meaningful, interactive discussions, exploring the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the industry. Together, we’ll explore the impact of new technologies, evolving narratives, and the shifting media environment—all with the goal of moving the conversation forward.
Transformative Conversations at The Edge will push you to question assumptions, challenge norms, and leave with a new perspective in a rapidly changing world. If you're ready to engage in conversations that drive real change and offer new possibilities, this is the forum for you.
As an Oscar® qualifying international documentary festival, Doc Edge is acclaimed for its groundbreaking and bold curation of documentary films. In 2024, Doc Edge launched itself as the Asia-Pacific centre for all things documentary. This is an exciting and strategic move providing the world with a gateway to the home of Asia-Pacific documentary filmmakers and content.
Join us at the Doc Edge Industry 2025 held on 30 June to 3 July 2025 at the Grand Millenium in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and be part of the conversation.
Doc Edge Pitch (30 June – 1 July): The Pitch offers filmmakers a premier opportunity to connect with local and international decision-makers. Along with traditional pitching, wayfinding introduces roundtable sessions where decision-makers, filmmakers, and audiences collaborate to provide targeted, actionable feedback. This mentorshipdriven format helps filmmakers refine their projects with advice tied to strategic outcomes and industry constraints. A Docs-in-Progress session will also be included, offering rough cuts feedback and access to global markets and festivals.
Forum (2 – 3 July): We’ve reimagined the traditional format to create an interactive, immersive Forum featuring keynote talks, in-conversation sessions, and hands-on workshops tackling the industry's biggest challenges and opportunities. Topics include journalism, festival strategies, social media, impact producing, and the rise of the Asian documentary sector. This is a platform for emerging and established storytellers to gather, exchange ideas, and advance their careers. Our mission is to inspire filmmakers and screen practitioners to push boundaries and take risks to go where no one else has before. NZ On Air, NZ Film Commission, and Te Māngai Pāho will join international thought leaders and industry experts.
Scan to Book Now
Market: The Market is a virtual film platform connecting filmmakers in particular Asia-Pacific filmmakers and their projects with potential buyers providing valuable distribution and acquisition opportunities. Registered attendees can access the Market during the Forum
If you are a broadcaster, sales agent, distributor or seeking to acquire content, you can explore our library beyond Doc Edge Industry through the year by signing up for access.
A Completed Life
– Kylie Cushman, Dan Hartley
Alien Nation – A Buried History
– Lynda Chanwai Earle, Toby Mills, Peter Lee, Lily Lee
The Fashionable Farmer
– Sue Marshall, Rebecca Tansley
Handsome Savage
– Hiona Henare
KAKAIA– The Children of Tiki
– Kahu Kaiha, Carrisse Uta’i
Our Forgotten Home
– Peter Lee, Karen Chang Workman, Megan Blackwell
Ratso Against the Tide
– Kent Belcher
Taupo Amateurs
– Ben Howard, Dan Graham
The White Thing to Do
– Aidee Walker, Gabrielle Blackwood, Cass Avery, Laura Trevalyn
Docs-In-Progress
Shroud
– Cherie Lacey, Peter Simpson, Hee-seung Irene Lee
Sweet as Cuz
– Peter Day
Selected International Projects
24 Strong
– Kristian Van der Heyden, Rieneke Van Santen
A Journey Never Told
– Sharmin Doza, Masrur Rahman Masud
Atomic Paradise
– Aline Jacques, John Harvey, Sally Aitken
The Chimney Sweeper
– Shingo Ota, Kyoko Takenaka
Gotipua : Beyond Borders
– Chintan Parekh
The Heartbreaker
– Nicola Fan, Richard Fowler, Jonathan Duncan, Peter Yam
JJI Exile Brothers
– Kusuma Santapoori, Devansh Mathur
Me, My Mother's Favorite Monkey
– Ivonne Kani
The Moonwalkers
- Haig Balian
The Myth of Monsters
– Beatrice Leong, Panuksmi Hardjowirogo, Ineza Rousille, Sean McAllister
Nomads of the North
– Piplu Khan, Ssam Seonkyu Park, Junjuni Chakma
Saltwater Detectives
– Margee Brown, David Cook
Water connects and divides us – it sustains life, shapes cultures, and sparks conflict. This category dives into stories where oceans, rivers, and pools are more than just backdrops – they are central to identity, struggle, and transformation. From Antarctica to Aotearoa, from community pools to contested seas, Tides of Change explores our complex relationship with water and the powerful stories that flow from it.
Dead men tell the ocean’s secrets.
Four marine observers vanish at sea under suspicious circumstances, this gripping investigation uncovers why. Travelling from Fiji to Ghana, Spain to the US, this powerful film reveals the dark underbelly of the global tuna trade, where profit outweighs human life and environmental destruction is buried beneath the waves. Through exclusive footage and unprecedented access, a team of international investigators exposes the rampant criminality, cover-ups, and violence tied to industrial overfishing. As the ocean’s silent guardians’ risk everything to document the truth, their stories demand action. This is a high-stakes exposé on the hidden cost of the seafood on our plates.
Baby Ruth Villarama | 2025 | 85 min | Philippines
Cody Sheehy | 2025 | 88 min | USA
Premiere
A banned film that must be seen.
Amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Filipino fishermen, Coast Guard, and Navy personnel risk everything to defend their waters and way of life. Through the harrowing journey of fisherman Arnel Satam, pursued by the China Coast Guard near Scarborough Shoal the film unveils the daily dangers faced at sea. With rare access to frontline officers, it captures their quiet heroism, personal sacrifice, and unwavering duty. At its heart is a remarkable alliance: fishermen and Coast Guard risking their lives together to deliver food and aid. Visually stunning and deeply moving, this is a story of resilience, unity, and the fight for freedom.
Directed by Doc Edge alumna Villarama (Sunday Beauty Queen)
Premiere
How far would you go for a friend?
Terry is a legendary figure, American veteran and the first man to ride a giant manta ray. For two decades, he shared an extraordinary bond with Willy, a two-ton manta who welcomed him into the deep. Now, after a brutal manta massacre, Terry embarks on one final mission to a remote island, hoping to reunite with his lost companion. In the spirit of Grizzly Man, My Octopus Teacher, and The Cove, this film is a gripping, emotional journey into the mysteries of interspecies connection, revealing a majestic creature that may be communicating in ways science has yet to fully understand.
Directed by Doc Edge alumnus Sheehy (Make People Better).
Julian Arahanga, Toby Mills | 2025 | 90 min | New Zealand
16 July | 8.15 PM | The Roxy
18 July | 8.15 PM | Lumiere
Vanessa Wells | 2025 | 87 min | New Zealand
From the bounty of the sea, we sustain our future generations.
A gripping film chronicling Māori in a defiant struggle against systemic racism and colonial injustice to reclaim their fishing rights. Through resilience and legal strategy, they secured their place in the industry, marking a landmark victory for Indigenous sovereignty. Thirty years later, the fight for equity and environmental stewardship continues.
A universal story of justice and perseverance, the film captures both triumph and ongoing struggle, revealing how Indigenous communities worldwide navigate power, reclaim their culture, and resist colonisation.
Directed by Arahanga and Doc Edge Alumnus Mills (Black Grace – From Cannon’s Creek to Jacob’s Pillow)
Premiere World Premiere
Three women. Four decades. One melting continent.
In one of the harshest places on Earth, three women from different generations chase a hidden and ephemeral world beneath the Antarctic sea ice. Dr Natalie Robinson leads a world-first expedition to McMurdo Sound, joined by microbiologist Jacqui Stuart on her first trip south. Mentoring them from afar is veteran sea ice physicist Professor Pat Langhorne. Battling brutal weather and isolation, the team discovers extraordinary tiny creatures within the delicate structures of the ice. Weaving personal stories with rich archival footage and groundbreaking science, this is an intimate and deeply human portrait set against the immense scale of Antarctica, shared with grit, wit, and surprising warmth.
Shingo Ota | 2025 | 84 min | Japan
Tue 01 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Sat 12 July | 3.15 PM | Bridgeway
Tue 22 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
Sat 19 July | 1.30 PM | Lumiere
Vincent Boujon | 2025 | 86 min | France
Wed 02 July | 8.30 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 12 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Sun 27 July | 5.30 PM | The Roxy
Sun 27 July | 5.30 PM | Lumiere
International Premiere
A pool’s demolition plunges a community into shared grief.
For over five decades, a beloved Tokyo suburban pool affectionately called “the ocean” offered health, joy, and belonging to elderly swimmers, families, and the local gay community. But when urban development forces its demolition, a wave of grief sweeps through those who called it home. Through powerful, intimate moments, this deeply human story explores loss not tied to death, but to place, memory, and identity. Guided by the five stages of grief, director Ota invites us to reflect on what it means to say goodbye not just to a building, but to a vital space of connection, healing, and shared life.
World Premiere
Where tourists dine, residents grind.
In a Brazilian favela, perched above Salvador Bay, Mônica’s open-air restaurant has become a viral hotspot. Young people from the community bring influencers and tourists to its terrace, hoping to share in the buzz.
On the flip side of this postcard, residents are trying to take advantage of this tourist bonanza to survive. People break their backs carrying crates down steep stairs, fish under the blazing sun, and cook for guests while wealthy neighbours in nearby upscale homes lounge on deckchairs, casting disapproving glances at Gamboa’s growing presence. As the community prepares for a historic Iemanjá festival, Gamboa’s fight for dignity, pride, and survival takes centre stage.
*Screening with The Sardine Roaster 15 min
Supported by
Ian Darling | 2024 | 95 min | Australia
Wed 02 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Sun 13 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Sat 19 July | 11.00 AM | The Roxy
Sat 19 July | 11.00 AM | Lumiere
International Premiere
Dive in. Everyone’s equal in the water.
Bondi Icebergs is the most photographed pool in the world. This is where generations of children have learnt to swim, where the diehard have braved the frigid waters of one hundred winters, where the young and beautiful have come to bond and bake in the hot sun.
The film is a stunning cinematic experience with a soundtrack that harks back to the 1960s and a cast of characters who each have a story to tell. It speaks to the enduring power of community and our collective longing to find it.
No matter your background or where you are at – everyone is equal in their swimsuits.
For more than 10 years, we have been privileged to support New Zealand’s talented documentary filmmakers.
As Doc Edge celebrates two decades of telling groundbreaking stories, we stand beside them in honouring incredible work that continues to inspire and inform.
Homegrown voices, big impact.
A showcase of bold, brilliant storytelling from Aotearoa’s finest short film talent.
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol Mon 07 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
AKL
CHC
WLG Sun 29 June | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Tue 08 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 19 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
JRG Lacey | 2025 | 20 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
Fleeing persecution and death threats, musician Mushtaq Hussain is thrust into the perilous world of human smuggling. Through a raw and personal interview, he recounts his journey with unflinching honesty, inviting audiences to feel every moment of fear, resilience and survival.
*Screening with Shorts 1: Alofa 27 min
MĀHŪ: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter 30 min
Emma Duncan, Ashlee Stevens | 2025 | 24 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
Priced out of Wellington’s rental market, Teiti, a Mana Wahine, reclaims her autonomy by living on public land. Embracing Mana Motuhake and art activism, she finds connection to her Tupuna and a deeper sense of home under the stars.
*Screening with Shorts 6: Onwards 25 min
Hou Rongo: Reviving Moriori Culture 20 min
Ko Tātou Te Wai: We are the Water 18 min
AKL
Sun 29 June | 11.00 AM | The Capitol Tue 08 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 19 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
AKL
Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway Mon 07 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Brady Clarke, | 2025 | 20 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
Long buried under myth and misinformation, the story of the Moriori people of Aotearoa New Zealand is finally set straight. With rare access to Rēkohu, this powerful short captures a resilient community reclaiming identity and reviving a culture nearly lost to history.
*Screening with Shorts 6: Onwards 25 min Home 24 min
Ko Tātou Te Wai: We are the Water 18 min
Oliver Dawe | 2025 | 18 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
Inside his studio, painter Philip Trusttum creates a bold, large-scale work using house paint. As he works with speed and precision, he shares stories, reflects on his artistic journey, and reveals what fuels his lifelong passion for making art.
*Screening with Shorts 2: Correct Me if I’m Wrong 23 min Two Travelling Aunties 22 min Little Potato 25 min
Stephanie Guest | 2025 | 18 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
This is not the story of one, but of many. In Aotearoa’s North Island, the Māori community of Tautoro turns to sacred springs for healing—waters now under threat from climate change. As the land shifts, so too does their future, urging us all to act.
Directed by Doc Edge alumna Guest (Looking Up).
AKL
Sun 29 June | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Tue 08 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 19 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
*Screening with Shorts 6: Onwards 25 min Home 24 min
Hou Rongo: Reviving Moirori Culture 20 min
AKL
Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway
Mon 07 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
AKL
WLG
CHC
Wed 25 June | 8.15 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 28 June | 8.15 PM | The Capitol
Sat 19 July | 8.30 PM | The Roxy Mon 21 July | 8.00 PM | Lumiere
Chen Chen | 2025 | 25 min | New Zealand, China
International Premiere
An intimate portrait of Shou Ai Xia, a former Communist Party cadre now living with dementia. Filmed by her granddaughter, the film explores fading memory, revolutionary legacy, and the delicate line between personal history, cultural identity, and emotional truth.
*Screening with Shorts 2: I Know I’m Going to Paint 18 min
Correct Me if I’m Wrong 23 min
Two Travelling Aunties 22 min
Caleb Young | 2025 | 15 min | New Zealand, Fiji
World Premiere
With just six weeks to prepare, Fijian choir Primanavia faces immense odds at the World Choir Games. Through intense training and personal sacrifice, they pursue a dream—unfolding a moving story of resilience, unity, and the transformative power of music.
*Screening with Three Days in February 74 min
Ian Miller | 2025 | 16 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
A group of retired volunteers gathers at Auckland’s Shakespear Park to hand-build a bridge—one plank at a time. Set against the backdrop of a stunning pest-free sanctuary, this uplifting short film celebrates community spirit, craftsmanship, and the quiet joy of purposeful work in later life.
AKL
CHC
WLG
Sat 05 July | 3.30 PM | Bridgeway
Thu 10 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 20 July | 5.45 PM | Lumiere
Fri 25 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
*Screening with Shorts 4: They Call Me the Tattoo Witch 14 min Pōneke Classical Sessions 18 min
What Does the Mud Whisper 18 min
Mother of Chooks 19 min
AKL
CHC
WLG
Sun 29 June | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Tue 08 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Sat 19 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
AKL
CHC
WLG
Sat 05 July | 3.30 PM | Bridgeway
Thu 10 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 20 July | 5.45 PM | Lumiere
Fri 25 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
Ben Wallbank | 2025 | 25 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
Weeks after finishing 5th in a 100-mile ultramarathon, Helene is diagnosed with aggressive tongue cancer. This raw, intimate film follows her fight to reclaim voice and identity, revealing extraordinary strength, vulnerability, and resilience in a new, life-altering endurance challenge.
*Screening with Shorts 6: Home 24 min
Hou Rongo: Reviving Moirori Culture 20 min Ko Tātou Te Wai: We Are the Water 18 min
Sebastian Kerebs | 2025 | 18 min | New Zealand
World Premiere
In Pōneke Wellington, musicians challenge classical music’s colonial roots and elitist traditions, creating space for innovation, diversity, and self-expression. Blending electrifying live performances with candid interviews, this film redefines what it means to belong in the classical music world.
*Screening with Shorts 4: They Call Me the Tattoo Witch 14 min What Does the Mud Whisper 18 min Mother of Chooks 19 min Old Men Build a Bridge 16 min
Derrick Sims | 2024 | 9 min | New Zealand
Brian Scadden, once one of only eight wet-plate photographers worldwide, helped revive a nearly lost art. 175 years after its invention, he continues the craft—sharing his passion, process, and belief in permanence in an increasingly fleeting world.
*Screening with Front Row 76 min
Mon 30 June | 8.15 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 05 July | 8.15 PM | The Capitol
Wed 23 July | 8.15 PM | The Roxy
Wed 23 July | 8.30 PM | Lumiere
Global stories in small packages.
Powerful, diverse snapshots of life from around the world – short, sharp, unforgettable.
Sara Saini | 2025 | 20 min | UK
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sun 29 June | 1.15 PM | The Capitol Thu 10 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 19 July | 6.00 PM | The Roxy Fri 25 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
AKL
WLG
Mon 07 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
CHC Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Across Punjab’s rooftops, sculpted water tanks— planes, tractors, animals—stand as bold symbols of migration and diasporic dreams. Through sculptor Davinder’s hands and hopes of emigration, this film explores the deep emotional, social, and political imprint migration has left on the region.
*Screening with Marriage Cops 80 min
Rachel Lane | 2025 | 27 min | Australia
World Premiere World Premiere
The film follows former pastor Andre Afamasaga as he courageously navigates the intersection of faith, culture, and sexuality, confronting the personal and societal challenges of reconciling his identity within deeply traditional Samoan beliefs.
*Screening with Shorts 1: Feel it from My Words 20 min
MĀHŪ: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter 30 min
Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway Mon 07 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Sat 28 June | 1.00 PM | The Capitol Sat 05 July | 1.15 PM | Bridgeway Fri 18 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy Sun 20 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere
Hao Zhou | 2025 | 23 min | Germany, USA
AKL
CHC Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol Mon 07 July | 6.00 PM | Bridgeway Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
In a struggle of love, legacy, and belief, a southwest Chinese family tries to purge an unwanted entity from their queer heir.
*Screening with Shorts 2: I Know I’m Going to Paint 18 min Two Travelling Aunties 22 min Little Potato 25 min
Jordan Bryon | 2025 | 30 min | Afghanistan
Through the eyes of 11-year-old Raheem, the film reveals a rarely seen Afghanistan - Taliban-controlled, yet peppered with beauty, resilience, and poetry. As he journeys across his homeland, meeting people, he discovers that hope itself can be a quiet act of resistance.
*Screening with Shorts 3: Who Loves the Sun 20 min Voices From the Abyss 23 min Shepherd Boy 18 min
Lisette Marie Flanary | 2025 | 30 min | USA
Native Hawaiian transgender artists as they prepare a stage performance in Honolulu, exploring the cultural legacy, identity, and resilience behind the revered and complex term māhū.
Directed by Doc Edge alumna Flanary (Tokyo Hula).
*Screening with Shorts 1: Feel it from My Words 20 min Alofa 27 min
AKL
CHC
WLG
Sat 05 July | 3.30 PM | Bridgeway
Thu 10 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 20 July | 5.45 PM | Lumiere
Fri 25 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sun 06 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway
Tue 08 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Thu 17 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Jesse Samos Leaman, Maite Martin Samos | 2025 | 19 min | Australia
New Zealand Premiere
After losing her sister, Elaine discovers a surprising new companion in a chicken named Flapper. Now, with a flock of chooks and a mission to change how people see them, she’s become a local legend, The Mother of Chooks.
*Screening with Shorts 4: They Call Me the Tattoo Witch 14 min Pōneke Classical Sessions 18 min What Does the Mud Whisper 18 min
Old Men Build a Bridge 16 min
Naja Phạm Lockwood | 2025 | 33 min | USA, Vietnam
Asia Pacific Premiere
Told through an iconic Vietnam War photo, this powerful film shares first-ever interviews with those directly connected to its subjects. Exploring inherited trauma, family secrets, and reconciliation, it offers a rare, empathetic look at healing across generations and borders.
*Screening with Shorts 5: Where is Home? 39 min Sandcastles 17 min
Steven Brokaw Jackson | 2025 | 19 min | USA
World Premiere
After a lifetime of struggling with a shy bladder, Steven sets out to understand and overcome his phobia while documenting the journey. From awkward talks to expert advice and a hidden global community, he discovers unexpected insight, connection, and… relief.
*Screening with Full Support 68 min
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sun 29 June | 1.00 PM | Bridgeway
Sun 13 July | 3.30 PM | The Capitol
Sun 20 July | 11.15 AM | The Roxy
Sun 20 July | 3.45 PM | Lumiere
AKL CHC WLG
Wed 02 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 13 July | 4.45 PM | Bridgeway
Thu 17 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Thu 17 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sun 06 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway
Tue 08 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Thu 17 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Gastón Zilberman, Michael Salama | 2024 | 13 min | Argentina, Bolivia
Asia Pacific Premiere
The Uru communities of Lake Poopó, Bolivia, have identified as Qotzuñis for centuries. Now, they struggle with what it means to continue being “people of the lake” after the lake ceases to exist due to climate change and industrial mining.
*Screening with OCEANIA: Journey to the Center 75 min
Carin Jin-Yi Leong | 2024 | 17 min | USA, Singapore
Australasia Premiere
Two Singapores, one buried under sand in Michigan, the other built from it in Southeast Asia. They mirror each other in this striking meditation on land, memory, and impermanence. Through voices of locals, developers, and activists, the film explores humanity’s shifting relationship with sand.
*Screening with Shorts 5: On Healing Land, Birds Perch 33 min Where is Home? 39 min
Adrián Ordóñez | 2024 | 15 min | Spain
Australasia Premiere
Manuel Galindo, shaped by sand, sea, fire, and air, is one of the last traditional sardine roasters. Born on the beaches and led to his craft by tragedy, his flames carry stories of memory, identity, and coastal community.
*Screening with Os Barcos 86 min
AKL WLG CHC
Wed 02 July | 8.30 PM | Bridgeway
Sat 12 July | 11.00 AM | The Capitol
Sun 27 July | 5.30 PM | The Roxy
Sun 27 July | 5.30 PM | Lumiere
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sat 28 June | 1.00 PM | The Capitol
Sat 05 July | 1.15 PM | Bridgeway
Fri 18 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy Sun 20 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere
AKL
CHC
WLG
Sat 05 July | 3.30 PM | Bridgeway
Thu 10 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Sun 20 July | 5.45 PM | Lumiere Fri 25 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy
Joao Queiroga | 2025 | 18 min | Portugal, Qatar
World Premiere
Alone on the edge of Doha, an abandoned dog navigates the harsh desert, his journey echoing the lives of those cast aside by progress. Through stunning visuals and lyrical storytelling, this haunting tale honours resilience, kinship, and survival in a shifting world.
*Screening with Shorts 3: Who Loves the Sun 20 min
Voices From the Abyss 23 min
The Honest Poet 30 min
Lindsay Nyman | 2024 | 14 min | USA, Vietnam
Australasia Premiere
In Hanoi, Vietnam, tattoo artist Tran Ngoc transforms scars into art, challenging taboos in a society where tattoos are often stigmatized. Through deeply personal stories, this powerful film explores how ink becomes a tool for healing, reclamation, and self-love.
*Screening with Shorts 4: Pōneke Classical Sessions 18 min
What Does the Mud Whisper 18 min
Mother of Chooks 19 min
Old Men Build a Bridge 16 min
Christine Seow | 2025 | 22 min | UK, Singapore
International Premiere
Norah and Susie document their adventurous road trips across continents. Beneath the laughter and wanderlust lies a story of quiet resilience—two women who defied judgement, embraced love, and chose freedom on their own terms.
*Screening with Shorts 2: I Know I’m Going to Paint 18 min
AKL
WLG
CHC
Sat 05 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway
Mon 07 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | The Roxy Mon 21 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Correct Me if I’m Wrong 23 min
Little Potato 25 min
AKL
Sat 28 June | 1.00 PM | The Capitol Sat 05 July | 1.15 PM | Bridgeway Fri 18 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy Sun 20 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere
Irving Serrano, Victor Rejón | 2025 | 23 min | Mexico
Australasia Premiere
In Acapulco’s La Quebrada, a diverse group of cliff divers—young and old, Afro-Mexican and native— risk their lives daily, plunging 100 feet into the sea. Through slow-motion dives, personal stories, and poetic reflection, their voices rise from the abyss.
*Screening with Shorts 3: Who Loves the Sun 20 min
The Honest Poet 30 min
Shepherd Boy 18 min
Dea Tcholokava | 2025 | 18 min | Georgia
International Premiere
In the heart of Georgia, little Tako sets out to uncover the secret of the region’s legendary healing mud. Blending myth, memory, and imagination, this poetic journey reveals how everyday people create living legends that blur the line between cure and belief.
*Screening with Shorts 4: They Call Me the Tattoo Witch 14 min Pōneke Classical Sessions 18 min Mother of Chooks 19 min
06 July | 11.00 AM | Bridgeway
08 July | 6.15 PM | The Capitol
17 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy Tue 22 July | 6.15 PM | Lumiere
Lamtiar Simorangkir | 2025 | 39 min | Indonesia
World Premiere
A boy who was born and raised behind prison bars, now steps into the free world only to be abandoned by his family and finds that the harsh realities of life on the outside is just another kind of cage that he must navigate alone in uncertainty.
The film was pitched at Doc Edge Industry 2022.
*Screening with Shorts 5: On Healing Land, Birds Perch 33 min Sandcastles 17 min
AKL WLG CHC
Sat 28 June | 1.00 PM | The Capitol
Sat 05 July | 1.15 PM | Bridgeway
Fri 18 July | 4.30 PM | The Roxy
Arshia Shakiba | 2024 | 20 min | Canada
Australasia Premiere
In war-torn northern Syria, the film delves into the world of makeshift oil refineries and the stark realities of life within this post-apocalyptic landscape. Mahmood is a prominent figure in these operations, navigating harsh working conditions and complex local dynamics.
*Screening with Shorts 3: Voices From the Abyss 23 min The Honest Poet 30 min Shepherd Boy 18 min
Sun 20 July | 11.15 AM | Lumiere Until 24 August Free entry
The Doc Edge Immersive Exhibition is the Asia-Pacific home for digital storytelling and immersive non-fiction. Part of the Doc Edge Festival, it features 12 premieres that push the boundaries of storytelling inspiring reflection, connection, and change.
Using cutting-edge formats including VR, AR, photography, performance, and interactive installations, the Exhibition challenges perceptions, reconstructs lost narratives, and reimagines our connections to history, identity, and the issues that shape our world.
Presented free to the public in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, the Immersive Exhibition is a dynamic space for discovery and dialogue. It includes artist talks and workshops featuring leaders in XR and immersive media.
The 2025 exhibition is curated into two key categories:
Narratives come alive through VR, AR, MR, animation, and multimedia, offering striking, sensory-driven experiences that reframe real-world issues.
Glossary
XR = Extended Reality
MR = Mixed Reality
VR = Virtual Reality
AR = Augmented Reality
Step inside the story. Through live performance and interactive installations, audiences move beyond observation to form personal, emotional connections with truth-based storytelling.
Any child under age 10 must have a parental guardian.
FF = Family Friendly
PG = Parental Guidance
M = Mature
Rio
Hemopo – Hunuki | 2025 | AR | New Zealand | FF
Daniel Belton | 2025 | MR | New Zealand | FF
A powerful augmented reality experience co-created with hapū and iwi talent to spotlight the untold legacy behind the Ka Mate haka. Developed by Koi Digital, Rio Hemopo-Hunuki and Jix, the project blends story, art, and music into a bespoke digital resource. It is both a tribute and a tool honouring Te Wharerangi and carving new pathways for Māori and Pasifika creatives in interactive media.
A projection-based installation and short film fusing taonga pūoro, contemporary dance, and digital art. Featuring Nancy Wijohn as a solo traveller embodying Hineraukatauri, the work draws on the cocoon-like form of the pūtōrino and the case moth as metaphors for transformation. Silk, breath, and mycelial webs shape a sensory journey through ancestral memory and future vision. The project is a ritual of sound, motion, and spirit, rooted in Te Ao Māori and resonating across time. Featuring taonga pūoro musicians Mahina Kingi-Kaui, Ariana Tikao, Dr Ruby Solly, Alistair Fraser.
Allana Goldsmith, Shivani Karan | 2025 | VR | New Zealand | FF
Creators Karan and Goldsmith combine their skills in virtual reality and sonic-scape storytelling to reconnect past and present generations. The artwork focuses on Muriwai (ancestress), viewed from the first-person perspective of her descendant, 16-year-old Muriwai Mikaere, daughter of Goldsmith. Muriwai was a powerful wahine of great mana and a renowned voyager across Aotearoa and Te Moananui a Kiwa (Pacific Ocean). Her name and stories are well-known and reach many hapu and iwi through-out Aotearoa.
Briege Whitehead | 2024 | VR | Australia | FF
International Premiere
Narrated by Luke Hemsworth, this virtual reality project transports you to one of the most spectacular and pristine landscapes in the world. Guided by the Traditional Owners and science, journey across magical coastlines, and venture into the heart of this ancient landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth. Fly over the edge of the thundering King George Falls, explore the vibrantly striped domes and majestic gorges of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and travel back over 350 million years to the great Devonian Reef to explore ancient geology, that has been pivotal to life as we know it.
Michaela Ternasky-Holland, Aaron Santiago | 2025 | MR | USA | FF
De-Chuen Wu | 2024 | VR | Taiwan | PG
International Premiere
Kapwa (kindred in Tagalog), is an interactive video installation that acts as an interrogation of cultural erasure within our diaspora and traces an outline around what is missing from the history of the global Philippine people. Created by Philippine-American artists and collaborators, Santiago and TernaskyHolland, it foregrounds a sense of loss and disconnect from ancestry by using found media of contemporary Filipinos, all asking in unison: “Who are we?”
Creator Ternasky-Holland is Doc Edge alumna (Reimagined Volume II: Mahal)
Australasia Premiere
This immersive art installation bridges past and present through Antarctic exploration history. At its centre is a frozen duplicating machine: a vintage 3M 209 Automatic Copier quietly churning out echoes of the past. Inspired by the story of Karl Marshall, a humble technician who answered a service call to the South Pole in 1967, this work unexpectedly connects his journey with the final letter of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Across three locations audiences are invited to explore the fragility of legacy. Blending sound, historic photography, and interactive storytelling, it invites you not only to witness history— but to enter it. To reflect on what we leave behind. To shift your own compass. And to leave your mark.
Shane Hollands, Rachael Naomi | 2025 | MR | New Zealand | PG
World Premiere
Step into an immersive installation where words, music, and interactive art converge to create a powerful storytelling experience. This multidisciplinary work blurs the lines between poetry, sound, and visual design, inviting audiences to engage with narratives that challenge perception, evoke emotion, and bring hidden stories to light. Designed as a living, breathing installation, it shifts with each visitor’s engagement, ensuring no two encounters are the same.
A photographic study of latent space and nonvisible light, reimagining Wellington's cityscape through machine learning (Artificial Intelligence). The ephemeral moving imagery draws on the artist's original dataset of 2,500 infrared and colour infrared photographs of Wellington. Beyond its architectural aesthetics, it explores the ethics of data ownership and the evolving role of AI in the creative process. The sound design, created by Michael Hodgson, examines the RGB values in the video imagery to shape the composition of each soundscape.
World Premiere
This immersive art installation bridges past and present through Antarctic exploration history. At its centre is a frozen duplicating machine: a vintage 3M 209 Automatic Copier quietly churning out echoes of the past. Inspired by the story of Karl Marshall, a humble technician who answered a service call to the South Pole in 1967, this work unexpectedly connects his journey with the final letter of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Across three locations audiences are invited to explore the fragility of legacy. Blending sound, historic photography, and interactive storytelling, it invites you not only to witness history— but to enter it. To reflect on what we leave behind. To shift your own compass. And to leave your mark.
Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla | 2024 | MR | UK, France | M
Asia Pacific Premiere
Narrated by Oscar® winner Tilda Swinton, this is a ground-breaking mixed reality experience that transforms your surroundings. Witness the chaos, creativity, and intensity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it brings together sharp-witted gameplay and dramatic first-hand accounts of people whose intense emotions lead them to a life at the edge. Their stories are brought home through mixed reality. Attempting to follow a train of thought, the stuff in your room sets off a chain reaction leading to all sorts of mayhem. Shadows on your walls become portals into labyrinthine worlds. Words spiral out into alternative meanings and possibilities.
Camille C Baker, Tara Baoth Mooney, Maf'j Alvarez | 2023 | VR | UK, Ireland | M
International Premiere
This is an intimate immersive story exploring disease within the body and its relationship to the broader context of the land through the breast cancer treatment journey. These pressing themes and social realities are explored through the prism of artist Baoth Mooney’s experience of breast cancer, interwoven with other patients' and survivors' stories of their cancer treatment, recovery and trauma. The experience is performative and unique set in a doctor's surgery.
Ben Joseph Andrews, Emma Roberts | 2024 | MR | Australia | M
New Zealand Premiere
Close your eyes and think about the space around you. Does it all feel stable, and solid, and still?
Artist Andrews lives with a chronic condition called vestibular migraine that affects his perception of motion and balance. The first warning of an attack is a sense of derealisation, a strange lapse in reality. In this mixed reality work, you see your body as an avatar, one that moves when you do, yet feels mysteriously disconnected. Seated at a desk, you are guided to complete a series of everyday tasks that would normally be performed unconsciously. The more time passes, the more your perception becomes elastic and unreliable. And while you know that that beyond the screen is a world that is stable and solid... you must first confront the unsettling reality that the familiar can easily become something different.
Executive Director: Dan Shanan
Director: Alex Lee
General Manager & Festival Producer: Rachael Penman
Operations & Projects Executive: Christian Jensen
Web and Digital Marketing Manager: John Lau
Design & Digital Media Coordinator: Jarrod Dobell
Marketing Coordinator: Imogen Mingos
Event Intern: Jan-Willem Van de Berg
AV Editor Interns: Ryan Wood, Ashok James
Outreach Coordinator: Blandine Massiet du Biest
International Advisors: Corey Tong, Alexandra Johnes, Chris Gerbhardt, Yulan Chang
Customer Service and Ticketing Coordinator: Jing Jing Ke
Wellington Coordinator: Colleen Restieaux
Wellington Customer Service & Ticketing: Emma Fryer
Industry Programme Advisor & Moderator: Shannon Service
Industry Producer & Christchurch Coordinator: Kim Georgine
Industry Interns: Cole Gerbhardt, Felix Rabenda
Media & PR (Elephant Publicity): Michelle Lafferty, Ali Nicoll van Leeuwen, Stephanie Butler
Web Design: Lilla Nikoletti
Photography: Deane Cohen
Screening Support: Andreas Heineman, Benedict Reid, Blandine Massiet du Biest, Bruce Foster, Cathy Woods, Jasmine Herlt, Rowan Wernham, Sacha Handsaker, Simon Mark-Brown, Trecia Smith
A big thank you to all the other supporters throughout the year.
Doc Edge Charity #CC54892
Private Bag 92066 | Victoria Street West | Auckland 1142
09 360 0329
Board of Trustees: Matthew Metcalfe (Chair), Cameron McGregor, Nathan Hoturoa Gray, Alex Lee, Dan Shanan, Sharon Ferguson, Sarah Stuart
Patron: Helen Clark
Ambassadors: Judy Bailey, Neil Waka
Legal Advisor: David Bigio Q.C.
Built in 1922, Balmoral’s heritage-listed Capitol is Auckland’s second oldest cinema. Renovated most recently in 2009, the cosy 132-seat cinema is plush with large comfortable seating and original decor. The Capitol screens the best in new release arthouse films together with upmarket commercial releases, regular special film events and festivals. The cinema is licensed and supports local wines, craft beers, a selection of imported brands, six different types of gin and a range of sodas and tonic water. The candy bar also offers hand-rolled, organic Little Island ice creams.
Tickets can be booked via the Doc Edge website.
The Doc Edge box office will be located downstairs during festival time.
You can enjoy a pre-show drink in the Cinema bar.
610 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Auckland
Access for patrons with disabilities - Currently it is not possible to install wheelchair access into our cinema. We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience.
Screenings will start as scheduled. Latecomers will not be permitted entry once a screening has commenced. Please turn off all electronic devices prior to the start. Any recordings and photography are strictly prohibited.
There is free street parking available near the cinema on Rocklands Ave and on Wiremu Street. Alternatively, there is a paid Secure Parking lot behind the cinema (in the old Warehouse car park). If you’re bussing to the Capitol, the 25B and 25L stops right outside and the OuterLink and 650 stop nearby on Balmoral Road.
For other parking options please visit: at.govt.nz
Visit Auckland Transport or download the AT app to see what public transport options are available.
Just outside of Auckland Central is the North Shore’s very own Bridgeway Cinema. Opened in 1927 as the Onewa Picture Drome, this 4-screen multiplex is just a tenminute drive from Auckland Central. Known for screening independent and arthouse films, as well as events – there’s something for everyone at Bridgeway Cinema.
Tickets can be booked via the Doc Edge website.
The Doc Edge box office will be located at the cinema during festival time.
You can enjoy a pre-show drink and snacks from the Cinema bar.
Clarence Rd Eatery is proud to be a local favourite in Northcote Point. Next to the iconic Bridgeway Theatre, and with ample parking, they are world-famous in the neighbourhood and offer premium Allpress coffee, hand-made breakfast, brunch and lunch menus 7 days a week, and bistro style dining Wednesday to Sunday evenings until 8pm.
On the ground floor a wheelchair/disabled lift is available for your use. All of our cinemas have easy wheelchair access, and are wheelchair friendly.
If you’re driving, Bridgeway Cinema is a 10-15 minute drive from the city centre, located just off the Harbour Bridge on the North Shore. You’ll find plenty of street parking in the area.
By the waterfront, there are regular bus services (931, 933, 939) from Viaduct Harbour and Victoria Park to the Stafford Road/Stafford Road Shops stop which is only a 5-minute walk from Bridgeway Cinema. For more information, check the Auckland Transport website’s Journey Planner tool.
122 Queen Street, Northcote Point, Auckland 0627
The Immersive Exhibition at Silo 6 is free and open to the public. During the activation time of the Exhibition Doc Edge will be running hosted sessions.
From 25 June – 13 July there will be some experiences where we offer the ability to book and secure a free ticket, as capacity of these sessions will be limited and to reduce wait time and queuing. These sessions along with tickets can be booked on the Doc Edge website.
For all up-to-date schedule and ticketing information go to https://docedge.nz/immersive-exhibition/
Thursday – Sunday from 10am to 2pm
The path to the main entrance is level and accessible, automatic doors, accessible toilet.
There is currently a lot of renovation and construction occurring at Wynyard Quarter, we therefore recommend taking use of other available transport as there will be limited parking and street access.
If you are entering from Fanshawe Street take either Halsey or Beaumont Street onto Jellicoe Street.
If you’re coming from Downtown Auckland, Viaduct Harbour or Te Wero Island, the Downtown car park is the most convenient31 Customs Street West.
For more information please visit the Silo Park website: www.silopark.co.nz/location
Beaumont Street &, Jellicoe Street, Auckland Central, Auckland
Screenings at Lumière Cinemas are in the Bardot and the Bernhardt cinemas. Screenings will start as scheduled. Latecomers will not be permitted entry once a screening has commenced. Please turn off all electronic devices prior to the start. Any recordings and photography are strictly prohibited.
Right across the road from the majestic Christchurch Botanic Gardens in Rolleston Avenue and housed within the West Lecture Block of the historic Christchurch Arts Centre, our bespoke art deco cinema complex is a Christchurch mecca for all movie lovers. We offer the Bardot screen (downstairs) which seats 42 (including a wheelchair space) and the Bernhardt screen (upstairs) which seats 73 (including a wheelchair space); along with state-of-the-art sound design and projection technology; great hospitality; and artisanal beverages and eats.
Tickets can be booked via the Doc Edge website.
The Doc Edge box office will be located upstairs in the Ticket Office of Lumière Cinemas during festival time.
Select from our extensive range of local and regional wines, craft beers, non-alcoholic beverages, and delicious cheeseboards and gourmet treats. Enjoy your fare in the cinema, or head on up to the bespoke art deco Bijou Bar (floor 2) before or after your film.
26 Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City
You can book wheelchair access on the Doc Edge website when purchasing a ticket, or please contact Doc Edge on 09 360 0329.
Please be sure to specifically request wheelchair seats. Companion seats are available for those booking wheelchair spaces. A hearing loop is available; please notify staff on arrival. A photo ID is required for the use of hearing aid equipment.
There is an accessible door on the ground floor (within our courtyard on Rolleston Ave) and an elevator for your convenience.
The Art Centre car park offers 16 free (for a maximum of 180 minutes) P60 car parks (check availability on your arrival). Park your car in the designated P60 car park and come to our ticket office to collect your complimentary parking pass to display on your car dashboard. There are also 2 accessible car parking spaces in the Art Centre car park, and 3 more accessible car parking spaces near our cinema in Rolleston Ave.
The Immersive Exhibition at Tūranga is free and open to the public. During the activation time of the Exhibition Doc Edge will be running hosted sessions.
From 16 – 27 July there will be some experiences where we offer the ability to book and secure a free ticket, as capacity of these sessions will be limited and to reduce wait time and queuing. These sessions along with tickets can be booked on the Doc Edge website.
For all up to date schedule and ticketing information go to https://docedge.nz/immersive-exhibition/
Monday – Friday from 9am to 8pm
Saturday – Sunday from 10am to 5pm
60 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City
16 - 27 July
The path to the main entrance is level and accessible, automatic doors, accessible toilet.
The closest off-street car parks to Tūranga are 158 Hereford Street and 105 Worcester Street.
There are three P120 mobility parking spaces immediately outside Tūranga, two on Gloucester Street and one on Colombo Street.
The Bus Interchange is located approximately 500 metres from Tūranga, a short walk of about 7 minutes. The Manchester Street Bus Stop is approximately 250 metres from Tūranga, a short walk of about 4 minutes.
There are bike racks on all three sidesGloucester, Columbo and Cathedral Square.
Additional cycle parking will be located in Cathedral Square. This area will be able to store cycles, scooters and mobility devices, however please take care and bring your own lock as we can’t take responsibility for lost or damaged items.
Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s movie-making capital, Miramar, Wellington, this gorgeous art deco cinema theatre, multi-arts venue and restaurant, is one of the city’s leading attractions.
This versatile multi-arts venue now boasts state of the art sound design and projection technology, two luxurious theatres (capacity 164 & 55), generous Italian leather seats and the ability to enjoy wine and snacks while you watch, making this a very special film experience.
Tickets can be booked via the Doc Edge website.
The Doc Edge box office will be located upstairs in the Grand Foyer of The Roxy during festival time.
You can enjoy a pre-show drink in the theatre bar, or for something a bit more substantial, Coco at The Roxy is Miramar’s leading dining destination serving award-winning dishes and cocktails. The restaurant is open from Thursday –Sunday from 5pm. Bookings are recommended and can be made through our website, www.cocoattheroxy.co.nz.
5 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington 6022
There is unrestricted car parking space on nearby Tahi Street, and further north on Park Road. There are 30-minute parking spaces directly outside the building. Buses 2, 30x and 31x all depart from Courtney Place (CBD) and go directly to The Roxy. The trip takes roughly 25 minutes but allow time for traffic and delays. For more information & bus timetables head to metlink.org.nz.
Screenings at The Roxy are in Cinema One upstairs, and Cinema Two on the ground level. Screenings will start as scheduled. Latecomers will not be permitted entry once a screening has commenced. Please turn off all electronic devices prior to the start. Any recordings and photography are strictly prohibited.
You can book wheelchair access on the Doc Edge website when purchasing a ticket, or please contact Doc Edge on 09 360 0329.
Be sure to specifically request wheelchair seats. Companion seats are available for those booking wheelchair spaces. Infrared hearing assist headphones are available; please notify staff on arrival. A photo ID is required for the use of hearing aid equipment. There are two mobility car parks at the front of the building.
When it comes to producing items to help people communicate we reckon we have a pretty good formula. A strong track-record, a dedicated team, a constant focus on the latest technology, a range of solutions, we give back, and to top it all off we’re powered by solar. For more information contact Blake Douglas, email: blake@benefitz.co.nz or visit www.benefitz.co.nz
Proud to be a supply partner to Doc Edge Festival.
