Doc Edge turns 20 this year, with the festival set to play Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The first crop of titles has been announced, including some local titles and others with local connections.
The NZ titles are Edward Sampson’s Devils On Horses, a documentary exploring the bond between soldiers and their horses during World War 1; Vanessa Wells’ Antarctica-set Mighty Indeed (fka The Climate Canary), which follows three women over four decades as they push the boundaries of science; Gabriel Garton’s Shayni In The Sky, in which Shayni carries her late husband’s ashes and their newborn baby back to the Norwegian mountain where her husband died, and Toby Schmutzler’s Wildboy, about a young Kiwi with ADHD.
A couple more titles have strong NZ connections: Kimberlee Bassford’s Before The Moon Falls (fka I of the Water), a portrait of Samoan writer Sia Figiel, her struggles with bipolar disorder, childhood trauma, and a shocking twist which occurred while the film was in post; and Linus O’Brien’s SXSW-premiered Strange Journey: The Story Of Rocky Horror (above), a deep dive into the origins and enduring impact of the director’s father’s musical play, The Rocky Horror Show, and its subsequent film adaptation.
European titles announced include three world premieres: Pascal Messaoudi’s Carrousel, Audun Amundsen’s Click the Link Below, and Vincent Boujon’s Os Barcos.
Also selected are Baby Ruth Villarama’s Food Delivery, Lacey Uhlemeyer’s The Dancer, Violet Du Feng’s The Dating Game, Zaradasht Anne Ahmed’s The Lions On The River Tigris and Felix Golenko’s Yumi – The Whole World.
Yaara Bou Melhem’s portrait of an Aboriginal elder, Yurlu Country, is the sole Australian title announced so far.
Doc Edge Festival will play Auckland (25 June – 13 July), and simultaneously in Wellington and Christchurch (16-27 July). The festival’s online programme will be available 28 July – 24 August. The full line-up and tickets will be live on the festival’s website from 9 May.
