Kaupapa/Purpose
To celebrate, support and showcase documentary.
Doc Edge is a not-for-profit charitable trust serving as New Zealand’s national organisation for documentaries since 2005. It is also a premiere Asia Pacific hub for all things documentary.
Kia ora koutou
The 2024 edition of Doc Edge Festival marked a significant milestone as we celebrated our 19th year with unprecedented achievements and growth. This year, the festival reaffirmed its position as a leading platform for documentary storytelling in the Asia-Pacific region, showcasing a diverse array of films that resonated with audiences both in New Zealand and around the globe.
A standout feature of Doc Edge 2024 was the recordbreaking number of World Premieres 30 in total. This surge in premieres underscores our festival’s growing reputation as a premier launchpad for filmmakers eager to share their stories with an international audience. Among the 66 selected films were “I Am The River, The River Is Me”, “Sugarcane”, and “I Shall Not Hate” which exemplified our ongoing commitment to presenting powerful, socially relevant narratives that spark conversation and inspire change.
We were also thrilled to introduce Christchurch as our new festival city partner, further expanding our reach within New Zealand. The festival’s hybrid format was successfully executed across three major cities Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland and extended nationwide through our online Virtual Cinema, allowing us to reach a broader audience than ever before.
We were also honoured to host over 40 international guests, including filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals, who added immense value to our discussions and events. Their presence enriched the festival experience, fostering
cross-cultural exchanges and broadening the perspectives shared at Doc Edge.
Doc Edge continues to be the country’s Academy Awardqualifying festival for four key categories: Best New Zealand Feature, Best New Zealand Short, Best International Feature, and Best International Short. Maintaining this status is crucial to our mission of elevating the profiles of filmmakers and their work on the global stage.
The 2024 festival was a triumph not only in terms of programming but also in fostering industry connections. The addition of Matthew Metcalfe, one of New Zealand’s leading producers, to our board has significantly bolstered our industry ties, paving the way for future collaborations and opportunities. We are equally thrilled to welcome Sharon Fergusson as a board member. Sharon brings over 30 years of television news experience, having reported on stories from Antarctica to Asia and across the Pacific. Her wealth of expertise in journalism and storytelling strengthens our mission to connect audiences with impactful documentaries and further enhances Doc Edge’s role as a leader in the Asia Pacific documentary landscape. Together, Matthew and Sharon bring unparalleled experience and insight, positioning Doc Edge for an even brighter future.
Our Doc Edge Schools Programme was another highlight, engaging thousands of students across the country with a selection of documentaries that educate and inspire. This programme continues to grow in popularity, playing a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and informed citizens.
Our ongoing commitment to innovation was reflected in the expansion of our Immersive Exhibition, which continues to push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking through cutting-edge VR, AR, and interactive storytelling formats. This year’s exhibition was met with enthusiastic responses from both audiences and creators, further solidifying Doc Edge’s role as a pioneer in the documentary space.
As we look ahead to our 20th anniversary in 2025, the successes of 2024 serve as a strong foundation. We are excited to build on this momentum, continuing to champion documentary filmmaking and bring diverse, impactful stories to the world.
Thank you to our partners, filmmakers, and audiences for making Doc Edge 2024 a resounding success. We look forward to even greater achievements in the years to come.
Ngā mihi nui
Executive Director Dan Shanan
Director Alex Lee
December 2024
In 2023, Doc Edge was honoured to be selected for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)’s Creative and Cultural Events Incubator. This three-year programme supports events with significant potential for international growth.
In 2024, Doc Edge's first year of incubation, we focused on developing an international growth strategy and establishing a dedicated Māori engagement and advisory process.
These efforts aim to position Doc Edge as a leading cultural event in the Asia Pacific, fostering global connections while honouring and integrating Te Ao Māori into its vision.
Read media release here
ChristchurchNZ
In 2024, Doc Edge partnered with ChristchurchNZ to bring the Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival to Christchurch for the first time, establishing the city as a key hub for documentary storytelling in the Asia Pacific. This collaboration included public screenings, the Immersive Exhibition, Industry events, and the Schools Programme, enriching Ōtautahi Christchurch’s cultural landscape and engaging local communities. Together, we celebrated the transformative power of documentaries and showcased the city as a premier destination for creative and educational events.
University Of Canterbury's Kōawa Initiative
The Kōawa initiative provides a unique opportunity for the creative technology sector to drive convergence of world class education, projects and facilities. In 2024, Doc Edge partnered with the University of Canterbury's Kōawa initiative to celebrate the art of documentary storytelling. This collaboration fosters connections between the university community and the wider documentary industry. Together, we supported emerging filmmakers, enhanced educational experiences, and highlighted the University of Canterbury as a leader in advancing creative and cultural initiatives in Aotearoa
The 19th Doc Edge Festival was held from 19 June to 31 July 2024 in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and online nationwide. This year’s festival featured 66 films with a record-breaking 30 world premieres, showcasing powerful stories that spanned a wide range of topics from personal journeys to global issues.
We were honoured to host over 57 international attendees, whose contributions enriched the festival experience.
The Industry Forum successfully established Doc Edge in its mission to develop Ōtautahi as the Asia Pacific documentary hub.
Significant highlights were our successful Immersive Exhibition, with 28 projects, and the Schools Programme, which engaged students across New Zealand with the goal of nurturing the next generation of documentary filmmakers.
As we prepare for our 20th anniversary in 2025, the 2024 edition stands as a testament to our commitment to impactful storytelling and innovation in documentary filmmaking.
Festival at Hoyts EntX, Christchurch
Festival at Alice Cinema and
Schools at Christchurch Art Gallery, Christchurch
Awards at Christchurch
Town Hall, Christchurch
Industry Pitch at Christchurch
Town Hall, Christchurch
+ Industry Market
Industry Forum at Christchurch
Town Hall, Christchurch
Schools at The Capitol Cinema, Auckland
Festival at The Capitol Cinema, Auckland
Schools at The Roxy Cinema, Wellington
Festival at The Roxy Cinema, Wellington on The Virtual Cinema
The Doc Edge Festival Programme Launch in Christchurch on 9 May 2024 was a vibrant and highly anticipated event, setting the tone for our 19th annual festival. Held at Maui Studios, the launch attracted an enthusiastic crowd of filmmakers, industry professionals, media and partners.
The evening began with a warm welcome, underscoring Christchurch’s pivotal role in this year’s festival. Doc Edge Ambassador Judy Bailey spoke passionately about how Christchurch is the perfect city to host the Doc Edge Festival and become the Asia-Pacific documentary hub. Ali Adams, Chief Executive of ChristchurchNZ, and Brett Berquist, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Engagement at the University of Canterbury, also addressed the audience, highlighting the city’s strong support for the arts and its commitment to fostering creative industries.
We unveiled a compelling lineup of documentaries, featuring a mix of world premieres, award-winning international films and a strong selection of local stories that highlighted the rich diversity of voices in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Link to Video from Chris Lynch here.
Journalist Balamissa of Film Fest Report attended Doc Edge this year. Check out his exceptional coverage.
Link to Film Fest Report Articles
The festival kicked off in Christchurch with the screening of “I Am The River, The River Is Me,” followed by a Q&A session with director Petr Lom and producer
Corrine van Egeraat from the Netherlands, along with representatives from the Whanganui iwi. The evening concluded with a reception hosted by the Embassy of the Netherlands, featuring live music by the film's composer. The closing night film was “Habana Shakes” by Christchurch-born director Marcelle Lunam, who attended the festival from Australia along with producer Tamara Popper.
The festival then moved to Wellington and Auckland where it opened with a screening of “I Am The River, The River Is Me” in Wellington, and “Every Little Thing“ by Kiwi director Sally Aitken, in Auckland. “Every Little Thing“ won five awards at the festival, including Best NZ Feature, securing it Oscar consideration eligibility for 2025. The festivals in both Wellington and Auckland concluded with screenings of “Ice Maiden” by directors James Blannin-Ferguson and Nathaniel Jackson.
We proudly hosted the World Premieres of the following films/projects:
Features
Ice Maiden
Invisible Summit
Pistachio Wars
The Other Side
The Great White Whale
Sharko
Spontaneous Combustion
Poised
Renee Gracie - Fireproof
Mauri
We Will Dance Again
Shorts
Breaking the Mould
Diary of a Head Injury
Life Upside Down
Looking Up
Refuge: A Duty To Care
The Life Before
The Presidents' Tailor
They Call Me Wazza
Yatra
Immersive
64 ways of Being Beyond the Thread
Deja VR - Interactive VR experience
Idyll NZ
Lane 25
LBC Holopresence
Metramorphosis NZ
Moana Pacifica Dance VR
Transcendence
Waka Hourua
ChristchurchTownHall Thursday27June2024
The 19th annual Doc Edge Festival Oscar-qualifying Awards was held on Thursday, 27 June 2026, at Christchurch Town Hall, with 180 people in attendance.
We presented a total of 23 awards, including two sponsored by NZ On Air: Best NZ Feature, awarded to the film "Every Little Thing," directed by Sally Aitken, and Best NZ Short, awarded to the film "Diary of a Head Injury," directed by Jonny Kofoed.
This year’s jury included Alexandra Garcia, Alexandra Johnes, Jasmin McSweeney, Juliette Veber, Leo Koziol, Peter Day, Petrina D’Rozario, Sam Witters, Sharron Ward, and Tanya Black.
Doc Edge Ambassador Neil Waka MCed the event, with awards presented by jury members and Doc Edge staff. This year, we honoured Ted Hope (USA) as the Doc Edge Superhero 2024.
Watch the Awards Live Streaming here.
See the full list of winners here.
We take pride in spotlighting the following filmmakers, now on the consideration list for the 2025 Academy Awards: Best New Zealand Feature: Every Little Thing (Dir. Sally Aitken) Best New Zealand Short: Diary of a Head Injury (Dir. Jonny Kofoed) Best International Feature: Sugarcane (Canada, United States Dirs. Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie) Best International Short: Girl of Wind (China Dirs. Nanhsi Yuen).
NEW ZEALAND COMPETITION
Best New Zealand Feature: Every Little Thing
Special Mention: Sharko & Pistachio Wars
Best New Zealand Short: Diary of a Head Injury
Best New Zealand Director: Sally Aitken / Every Little Thing
Best New Zealand Editing: Every Little Thing
Best New Zealand Cinematography: Every Little Thing
Best New Zealand Sound: Every Little Thing
Best New Zealand Emerging Filmmaker: Rowan Wernham / Pistachio Wars
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Best International Feature: Sugarcane
Special Mention: Invisible Nation
Best International Short: Girl of Wind
Special Mention: Instruments of a Beating Heart
Best International Director: Marcus Vetter, Michele Gentile / War and Justice
Special Mention: Jalena Keane-lee / Standing Above The Clouds
Best International Editing: We Will Dance Again
Best International Cinematography: I Shall Not Hate
Best International Sound: Sugarcane
IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION
New Zealand Immersive Impact Project: Lane 25
International Immersive Impact Project: Murals
FESTIVAL CATEGORY
Being Oneself: Renee Gracie: Fireproof
Bridges Of Understanding: I Shall Not Hate
Democracy On The Edge: Rather Be Ashes Than Dust
Facing The Edge: Invisible Summit
In Truth We Trust: We Will Dance Again
The Edge Of Impact: Devi
NZ STUDENT AWARDS
Best Tertiary Film: No Home Owner
Special Mention: Underbirds: The Fight To Save The New Zealand Dotterel
Best Secondary Film: Hounga’ia – Be Grateful
Special Mention: Telesia 2 The World
The Immersive Exhibition took place during the festival in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. Most of the Exhibition was free to the public.
In Christchurch, the Exhibition took place across four inner city locations: 231 High Street (the Tech Hub), Tūranga Library, Christchurch Town Hall and the Te Pae outdoor projector. We hosted 10 World Premieres and 3 international guest speakers at our Industry Forum.
In Auckland, the public experienced projects at Auckland Central Library, generously supported by Auckland Council’s City Centre Targeted Rate, and Silo 6, supported by Eke Panuku and Fresh Concepts.
In Wellington, the Exhibition was hosted at Te Auaha Gallery, supported by Wellington City Council.
During the Doc Edge 2024 Awards ceremony, the following two projects won the awards for Best Immersive Impact Project:
Best New Zealand Project: Lane 25, Shivani Karam Best International Project: Murals, Alex Topaller, Daniel Shapiro
Doc Edge Immersive Exhibition showcases impact stories from New Zealand and around the world. We aim to take non-fiction storytelling beyond the screen, utilising Virtual Realities (VR), Augmented Realities (AR), art installations and various other formats. We center projects that demonstrate what is possible beyond traditional linear forms of storytelling.
28 local and international projects were selected for the 2024 Exhibition and curated into 3 categories.
Digital Storytelling
A unique and dynamic, digital media storytelling experience. These innovative and engaging stories convey powerful messages which captivate the audience and push the boundaries of traditional narratives.
Immersive Non-Fiction
Transporting audiences to new and exciting worlds through VR, AR, 360-degree videos, interactive installations and other immersive mediums. This provides a more visceral and emotionally impactful experience, allowing the audience to connect with the subject matter more profoundly.
Urban Activation
Providing the opportunity for the public to engage with their city and the storytelling process through immersive urban art installations. These interactive outdoor spaces allow the public to partake in Augement Realities (AR) projects and attend performances.
Doc Edge Schools brings documentary films into educational settings, promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills. We offer film screenings for Years 5 -13, providing both in-cinema and virtual cinema options. The programme runs throughout the year and is accompanied by edicational resources such as study guides.
We are also proud to have hosted a live in-cinema Q&A for the film 'Ice Maiden’ with Director Nathaniel Jackson and subject Lisa Blair, who both traveled from Australia to attend. The film was well received and sparked a lot of discussion during the session.
In Auckland we were also lucky enough to have the Director and producer of our winning Short Film 'Diary of a Head Injury' join us for a Q&A.
In-cinemaAudience
TotalSchoolsParticipated
Wellington
Auckland
StudentCompetitionEntries
TotalFilms Sessions
Man Poised
Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au – I Am The River, The River Is Me
Thing
The Click Trap No Home Owner Hounga’ia – Be Grateful
Combustion: Songs for Barry
Each year Doc Edge Schools features a competition, encouraging secondary and tertiary students to create their own documentary projects. Young filmmakers showcase their creativity and storytelling skills and submit their completed documentaries for award consideration. Winning entries are recognized at the Oscar-Qualifying Doc Edge Awards ceremony, alongside the other outstanding projects from the Festival. This allows for the students to be recognised in front of domestic and international industry professionals.
The finalists were chosen by General Manager/Festival Producer Rachael Penman and EA/ Schools Coordinator Amber Rouse. The final films were then judged by Film Producer Juliette Veber.
The University of Canterbury provided cash awards for the winners.
Adrian Clark and Petrina D'Rozario from Digital Screen Campus Kawawa presented the awards to the following students:
Best Secondary Film: Hounga’ia – Be Grateful, Dir. Mele Tupou
Best Tertiary Film: No Home Owner, Dir. Gabrielle Maffey
The Virtual Cinema is an online platform offering schools across New Zealand curated documentaries and accompanying education kits, to inspire, educate and enhance the learning experiences of students.
These films serve as a powerful supplement to lesson plans, enabling educators to amplify their teaching with engaging visual content. With a Virtual Classroom Subscription, educators gain the freedom to select films that closely align with the New Zealand curriculum, thereby enriching their students’ understanding of relevant topics. This year's Virtual Classroom’s offerings included a finalist film from our annual student competition, providing an excellent opportunity for students to see the work of their peers.
We provided comprehensive education kits tailored to each film, aiding educators in the integrating of these documentaries into their lessons. These kits offered a diverse range of supplementary materials and resources, ensuring that educators can optimise their students' benefit from the documentaries, fostering a deeper understanding of the explored subjects.
Christchurch 26– 29June
Doc Edge Industry prioritises learning and connections for media professionals. It includes the annual Forum, Pitch and Market events.
Doc Edge Forum fosters networking and career development for storytellers.
Doc Edge Pitch allows filmmakers to present their projects to industry experts.
Doc Edge Market facilitates connections between New Zealand films and potential buyers. Doc Edge Year-Round delivers advocacy, mentorship, strategy and leadership in documentary and immersive storytelling. This includes supporting filmmakers, industry and government to ensure that documentary and immersive storytelling continues to grow.
Year-Round, Doc Edge delivers advocacy, mentorship, strategy and leadership in documentary and immersive storytelling. This includes supporting filmmakers, industry and government to ensure that documentary and immersive storytelling continues to grow.
Doc Edge International comprises of networking and working with international partners and industry as well as promoting our filmmakers and their content to global festivals, buyers and funders consolidating our role as the leading Asia-Pacific documentary hub.
Doc Edge has established Memoranda of Understanding with CNEX (CNEX Chinese Doc Forum), Chinese Documentary Forum, Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), Dhaka Doc Lab (Bangladesh), International Festival of Oceanian Documentary Film Tahiti (FIFO), Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and its Taiwan Creative Content Festival (TCCF). We are also working closely with Fresh Pitch China, Cinema BY The Sea (Okinawa).
Through exchange of prizes and opportunities, NZ filmmakers visit our partner events overseas and their prize winners attend Doc Edge.
Since 2010, Doc Edge set up an internship partnership with Asia NZ Foundation and Beach House Pictures (Singapore) enabling one New Zealand documentary filmmaker to be selected to work with beach House Pictures, the leading production company in Singapore.
Links to reflections by interns here and here.
The 2024 Doc Edge Industry events were held from 26 to 29 June at Christchurch Town Hall, with 192 people in attendance over the four days.
Held to coincide with Matariki at the behest of Ngāi Tūāhuriri and ChristchurchNZ, the intention was to use Matariki to inspire participants to pause, ponder, give thanks, develop new alliances, and plan for the future.
The Doc Edge Industry programme attracted a wide variety of international screen professionals with significant reputations and featured high-calibre local and international speakers sharing their knowledge and insights.
Marketing channels included electronic direct marketing using Mailchimp to send Industry Newsletters, Facebook ads, Instagram posts, utilising effective hashtags for both, and Google ads. The ultimate goal was to drive traffic to the appropriate website page, such as ’Events & Passes’.
The opposite post was a paid Facebook ad. It was one of our most successful.
Doc Edge Pitch – Wayfinding was held over June 26 – 27. Our event theme takes inspiration from the traditional concept of wayfinding used across the world, which refers to the myriad of ways people (and animals) orient themselves to their surroundings, then find ways to navigate from place to place. It often involves using constellations in the night sky, which ties in nicely with Matariki.
We support our Pitch participants in their quest to navigate to the place or places they want to be. Instead of our filmmakers competing with eachother, we surrounded them with Wayfinders – industry professionals from various backgrounds – who supported them to identify and then take the all-important next-steps. We provide real and valuable support for each participants through workshops and mentoring sessions industry experts and leaders..
Pitch Mentors
Kim Webby, NZ
Cynthia Kane, US
Juliette Veber, NZ
Claire Aguilar, US
Tareq Ahmed, BD
NEW ZEALAND PROJECTS
1. Aotearoa Off the Map: How the World Sees Us
2. Being Brown in a Small White Town
3. On The Line
4. Handsome Savage
5. Kiwi Dad Aotearoa
6. Mana Atua Aotearoa
7. It’s So Peaceful Here
8. Oversight
9. Ripapa
10.The Endurance
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
1. Replika /Australia & China
2. Land of The Displaced /Bangladesh
3. My Little Lies /China
4. Qila Lachman Singh /India
5. Tortured Truth /Pakistan
6. Etched Echoes /Philippines & Australia
7. Darasong /Taiwan
8. Mothers In Transit /Taiwan
9. Dear Doris /USA
10. Life After Life /USA
11. The Return /USA & India
Mana Atua (NZ) and Our Hoolocks (Indonesia) were presented in the RoughCuts session.
Adding to the traditional process of pitching, we created a safe space for the pitching teams to engage with the assembled Wayfinders through tables encompassing circles of trust, to korero and accumulate knowledge, feedback and contacts.
The following prizes have been awarded in consultation with our Doc Edge partners, who have generously provided these opportunities.
DOK Leipzig (Germany) accreditation goes to the projects: "Being Brown in a Small Town" - New Zealand project by Alfie Leotta and Madams "The Return" - International Project by Anjali Kamat and Rehan Ansari
Sunny Side of The Docs (La Rochelle, France) prize goes to "Handsome Savage" by Hiona Henare and Chantelle Murray
AIDC (Australia) prize goes to "The Land of The Displaced" by Md Shariful Islam and Malik Ayub Sumbal
Fresh Pitch (China) has accelerated the project "Chinese Acting Up" for the final round of jury selection for Fresh Pitch in 2025
Dhaka Doc Lab (Bangladesh) prize goes to "It's So Peaceful Here" by Avigail Allan, Callum Thomas, Angela Maurice and Kath Thomas
CNEX/CCDF (Taiwan) prize goes to "Mothers in Transit" by Patrick Mao Huang for CCDF16 in 2025
Doc Edge Forum took place from June 28-29 with the following: Kaupapa Matua | Central Address by screen visionary Ted Hope, Doc Edge Superhero 2024.
Public Journalism and Documentary was a timely and lively conversation. As we have seen a proliferation of false news, misinformation, and mass manipulation, the role of public journalism and documentary filmmaking has never been more crucial. This panel session explored the vital intersection between these two mediums, emphasising their importance in fostering truth, transparency, and accountability in today’s media landscape. As traditional journalism faces significant declines in funding support, the panel discussed innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to sustain investigative reporting and documentary production and alternative funding pathway ideas. With Sharon Fergusson, Bureau Editor News, TVNZ; Sean Langan, winner of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation World Press Freedom Award 2023 and Director of “The Other Side”; and Sharron Ward, Emmy, Royal Television Society & BAFTA award-winning Filmmaker. Facilitated by Neil Waka.
Revisiting Story Sovereignty was facilitated by Nathan Hoturoa Gray (Ngai Tahu). Director Vanessa Hope, who attended Doc Edge with her film “Invisible Nation” discusses why she was entrusted with telling President Tsai Ing-wen’s story. Sandi DuBowski with his film “Sabbath Queen”, discussed his role in bringing the story to the screen over several years and why he was trusted to do so. Long-time screen advocate, Leo Koziol (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu) is the founder and director of Wairoa Māori Film Festival, and co-curator of Ngā Whanaunga Shorts at the Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival. His perspective as an indigenous person anchored the conversation and rounded out approaches to respecting story and story participants in a myriad of ways.
Kōrero Matua | Whakaaro o te Minita | Keynote address by The Hon. Paul Goldsmith who gave his first public address to the screen industry in his role as both the Minister of Arts, Culture & Heritage and the Minister of Media and Communications. He shared is views and vision while also asking us all to take an active role in consultation with the current administration.
Te Ara | The Journey Before Us had Cameron Harland, Chief Executive of NZ On Air, and Sally Chesher, Investment and Development Manager, Screen Australia discussing where to from here and what individuals can do to play a part. We also discussed similarities and differences between our current funding pathways.
Along The Route sees successful producer Matthew Metcalfe, reflecting on screen production from the trenches. In this session, he talks about real-world experience and what the actual pathway to production is likely to look like. He encouraged those in the room not to be reliant on structures but to take ownership and think beyond perceived limitations.
Alternative or Visionary was facilitated by XR visionary John-Paul Marin, Founder Distil Immersive, and featured presentations by him and his contemporaries Radoslawa Bardes, creator of awardwinning Immersive project “Murals”; and Laura Emel Yilmaz, creator of “Metramorphosis” .
The Taniwha and The Dragon was a discussion facilitated by Chinese documentary leaders, Yulan Chang of CNEX CCDF (Taipei); Long Xiao of Fresh Pitch (Suzhou); and acclaimed filmmaker and director of ”Invisible Summit” , Lixin Fan (InHope Pictures). The session provided a platform to build understanding around the Chinese documentary industry and collaboration opportunities.
Short & Sweet brought together powerhouses Emile Guertin, Senior Producer, Al Jazeera English; Alexandra Garcia, Supervising Producer NY Times Op-Docs; and award-winning filmmaker Hemal Trivedi, director of "Yatra" to discuss impact producing and the relevance, funding pathways, and platform opportunities for short form content.
Festival and Sales Strategy examined the role of film festivals and how to devise a viable sales strategy. Panelists included Jasmin McSweeney, Head of Acquisitions Umbrella Entertainment; Jason Ishikawa Head of Acquisitions, Cinetic; Lauren Theron, Déléguée Générale, FIFO Tahiti; and Dan Shanan, Executive Director, Doc Edge.
Impact Storytelling saw award-winning director Shannon Service; founder of Random Good Foundation and Random Good Films Chris Gebhardt; and award-winning journalist, and director of “Devi” , Subina Shrestha, discuss impact producing and the importance of identifying and engaging an audience for maximum results.
Truth, Impact, and Reconciliation were the themes guiding Doc Edge in its programming and curation of the 2024 programme. This panel was carefully curated to reflect these values and featured the director and participant of ”I Shall Not Hate” , French-American-Israeli filmmaker Tal Barda and Palestinian Nobel Prize Nominee Dr. Izzledin Abuelaish. These remarkable people came together to discuss how they came to work together to tell such a powerful story and how we can all participate in the process of finding peace and love while still speaking truth to power.
The Final Session was an opportunity to debrief and discuss where to from here from an industry perspective.
Each day concluded with a networking function or activity, along with Festival screenings, many including Q&As.
Wed 26 June – Networking Drinks
Thu 27 June - Screen CanterburyNZ Networking Event, Lumière
Cinemas + Doc Edge Awards at Christchurch Town Hall
Fri 28 June - Matariki Lights Guided Walk
Sat 29 June - Networking Event and Immersive Exhibition, XCHC
Doc Edge Market is our premier screening platform for content buyers & programmers. It enables you to explore diverse and compelling documentaries covering a wide range of topics and perspectives.
In 2024, we invited over 165 local and international buyers and programmers to join our platform for free. Their exclusive, nontransferable account gives them the opportunity to browse, watch, and directly acquire films from New Zealand and around the globe.
The Market includes 34 feature films and 20 short films from the 2024 edition of Doc Edge Festival.
Our Film of the Month programme, offers a new documentary each month. Beyond the Festival, we’ve curated a selection of exceptional films, available exclusively on our Virtual Cinema nationwide and at The Capitol Cinema in Auckland. Open to both Doc Edge members and non-members, each film will be available for a limited, monthlong run, providing a unique opportunity to explore powerful stories all year round. Read more here
January | Your Fat Friend
February | Blix Not Bombs
March | 44 Hours
April | The Last Human
September | Human Forever*
October | The Gullspång Miracle
November | Diving Into The Darkness
December | Fortitude
*Director Jonathan de Jong and subject Teun Toebes attended inperson screenings in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. These screenings also served as fundraisers for Alzheimer's NZ, Home4All, and Dementia NZ. See images from the screenings on the next page.
In 2025, Doc Edge reaches an incredible milestone — our 20th-anniversary edition. Since 2005, Doc Edge has grown into Australasia’s only Oscar®-qualifying documentary festival, a vital platform for celebrating impactful storytelling, and a champion for the growth of the documentary sector in New Zealand and the Asia Pacific.
The 20th-anniversary edition promises to be our most ambitious yet. From May to July 2025, the festival will span key cities — Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, as well as extend to audiences nationwide through our Virtual Cinema platform. This milestone event will include an expanded festival programme featuring outstanding documentaries, filmmaker Q&As, and special retrospective screenings celebrating 20 years of extraordinary stories.
The festival will also feature our acclaimed Doc Edge Forum, Pitch, and Market, connecting filmmakers with industry leaders and advancing the documentary sector. Our Immersive Exhibition will showcase cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality projects, and the Schools Programme will continue to inspire students from Year 5–13 with curated educational screenings and resources. The Doc Edge Awards will remain a highlight, celebrating excellence in filmmaking with Oscar® consideration for winners.
As we prepare for this landmark edition, we are dedicated to cementing Doc Edge as the Asia Pacific hub for all things documentary. This vision includes fostering collaborations across the region, showcasing diverse voices from the Asia Pacific, and creating pathways for local and regional filmmakers to engage with international markets. With an expanded focus on building global partnerships, we aim to position New Zealand as a leader in documentary storytelling while strengthening our role in the global creative community.
The 20th anniversary is both a celebration of our achievements and a pivotal moment to build a sustainable future for documentary storytelling in New Zealand. Through your continued support, we look forward to ensuring that Doc Edge thrives for years to come, bringing audiences powerful, unscripted stories that inspire and connect us all.
He Waka Eke Noa
We're all in this together
From 2016 to 2024, the partnership between Doc Edge and Rei Foundation Limited (RFL) has been instrumental in shaping Doc Edge into New Zealand’s leading documentary organisation. RFL's unwavering support has enabled the development and growth of key initiatives, including the highly impactful Doc Edge Schools programme. This initiative has provided thousands of students nationwide with access to powerful educational documentaries, fostering critical thinking and dialogue on important social and cultural issues.
RFL's contributions have extended beyond financial support, embodying a shared commitment to using storytelling to inspire change and connect communities. Together, Doc Edge and RFL have created opportunities for filmmakers and audiences to engage with meaningful narratives that drive positive societal impact. This enduring partnership has been a cornerstone of Doc Edge's journey and mission to celebrate, support, and showcase documentaries that make a difference.
As an international not-for-profit foundation, RFL envisions a world that fosters the wellbeing of all. We are proud of and grateful for our association with a visionary partner who values a better world through creativity and community.
Ka whangaia, ka tupu, ka puawai
That which is nurtured, blossom then grow
To RFL, we appreciate the taonga you have bestowed on us and our country. You will be etched in the Doc Edge’s history.
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi Without foresight or vision the people will be lost
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
Executive Assistant & Schools Coordinator: Amber Rouse
Industry Manager: Kim Georgine
Special Projects: Shoaib Iqbal
Outreach Coordinator: Sarah McMullan
Customer Service & Ticketing Coordinator: Jing Jing Ke
Wellington Customer Service & Ticketing: Emma Fryer
Trailer Editor Intern: Alexander Dickson
Auckland Coordinator: Esme Lansdowne
Wellington Coordinator: Colleen Restieaux
Steering Committee: Jeni Leigh Walker, Erica Austin, Slavko Martinov, Seku Skandan
University of Auckland Interns: Kaitlyn Ziegler, Emily Moran, Asini Nissangaratchie, Ayla Driver
Editor and Content Creator Intern: Elvis Njomo
Event Exhibition Intern: Mia Tetrault, Kaiya Healy
Digital Marketing Intern: Julian Jansen
International Programme Advisor: Shane Smith, Corey Tong
Media & PR (Elephant Publicity): Michelle Lafferty, Ali Nicoll van Leeuwen
Chair: Glenn Johnstone
Trustees: Cameron McGregor, Nathan Hoturoa Gray,
Matthew Melcalfe, Sharon Fergusson, Alex Lee, Dan Shanan
Secretary: Amanda Steyger
Patron: Helen Clark
Ambassadors: Judy Bailey, Neil Waka
LegalAdvisor: David Bigio Q.C.
