The countdown is on. Doc Edge—New Zealand’s Oscar-qualifying documentary festival—has officially unveiled its landmark 20th anniversary programme, now live and on sale at docedge.nz.
Running from 25 June to 24 August, the 2025 festival offers a bold and unmissable line-up of 49 feature films, 29 shorts, and 12 immersive projects. Spanning Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and nationwide via Virtual Cinema, this milestone edition continues Doc Edge’s legacy of fearless storytelling that educates, provokes, and inspires.
This year’s theme is all about connection—through community, resilience, and the shared human experience. With 32 world premieres and 20 international premieres, the programme spotlights urgent global issues and powerful local voices across an extraordinary range of subjects and styles.
MANA MOANA MANA TANGATA
Dirs. Toby Mills, Julian Arahanga | NZ | 90 min | World Premiere
The battle to protect Māori fishing rights becomes a powerful portrait of cultural resilience and political resistance.
NO TEARS ON THE FIELD
Dir. Lisa Burd | NZ | 90 min | World Premiere
Set in Taranaki, this intimate story follows four young wāhine chasing their rugby dreams, capturing the grit and camaraderie of grassroots women’s sport.
THREE DAYS IN FEBRUARY
Dir. Serena Stevenson | NZ | 74 min | World Premiere
A playful and emotional exploration of connection at Splore Festival, through a vibrant lens of music, freedom, and humanity.
A QUIET LOVE
Dir. Garry Keane | Ireland | 95 min | World Premiere
Three Deaf couples share their love stories across 70 years, offering a moving reflection on language, connection, and identity.
FATAL WATCH
Dirs. Mark Benjamin, Katie Carpenter | USA | 88 min | International Premiere
A gripping exposé of the deadly risks faced by fisheries observers exposing illegal practices on the high seas.
IN WAVES AND WAR
Dirs. Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen | USA | 108 min | International Premiere
Navy SEALs confront trauma with groundbreaking psychedelic therapy, in this timely and emotional portrait of healing.
THE POOL
Dir. Ian Darling | Australia | 95 min | International Premiere
An evocative tribute to Bondi Icebergs, the iconic ocean pool and the community that calls it home.
THE LAST DIVE
Dir. Cody Sheehy | USA | 88 min | International Premiere
A man finds redemption in an unexpected bond with a manta ray, exploring loss, grief, and the depths of human connection.
NEVER GET BUSTED!
Dirs. David Anthony Ngo, Stephen McCallum | USA/AUS/Philippines | 105 min | International Premiere
From narcotics cop to whistleblower, one man exposes police corruption in this provocative and wildly entertaining true story.
THE PROMISE
Dir. Daan Veldhuizen | Netherlands | 115 min | International Premiere
A powerful indictment of broken promises and forgotten genocide in West Papua.
VIVIEN’S WILD RIDE
Dir. Vivien Hillgrove | USA | 87 min | International Premiere
As her eyesight fades, a veteran film editor faces the past and redefines her creative life.
NUMAKAGE PUBLIC POOL
Dir. Shingo Ota | Japan | 84 min | International Premiere
A community mourns the demolition of its local pool in this poetic meditation on memory, place, and progress.
Join the Celebration – Two Decades of Life Unscripted
The 2025 Doc Edge Festival is more than a showcase—it’s a rallying cry for those who believe in the power of documentary to change hearts, minds, and systems.
🎟 Book tickets now at docedge.nz
2025 FESTIVAL DATES
- Auckland: 25 June – 13 July (Bridgeway Cinema, Capitol Cinema, SkyCity Theatre, Silo 6)
- Wellington: 16 – 27 July (The Roxy Cinema)
- Christchurch: 16 – 27 July (Lumiere Cinemas, Christchurch Art Gallery, Tūranga Library, University of Canterbury)
- Virtual Cinema Nationwide: 28 July – 24 August
- Industry Programme: 30 June – 3 July (Grand Millennium Auckland)
- Awards Night: 3 July (Grand Millennium Auckland)
