The Capitol

A country called Ghana (Ghana) Awards/Screening: Premiered in Ghana May 2024 This is an important film that shows how many of the cultural heritages of Africa were stolen and taken out of the Continent. It is an important story told using comedy. Touted as one of the most anticipated films to come out of a Ghana/Nigerian collaboration in terms of cast and crew, A country called Ghana premiered on the world stage early May 2024 In Accra, Ghana. The film is described by one reviewer as a comedic exploration of Ghanaian culture and the resistance to western influences. In a small Ghanaian village, Kwadwo Nkansah (Lilwin) happens to be the only literate person in the town, which sees an intrusion of foreigners. The foreign mission led by Ramsey Noauh tries to take something precious from the land back to their country .Will their mission to take this precious asset from the Ghanaian village be successful? With themes of patriotism and cultural preservation, one might see it as a call to action urging Africans to remember their roots and protect their heritage. Rating: TBC Genre: feature Comedy Director: Frank GHARBIN Fifi Country: Ghana Year: 2024 Length:2hr Language: Akan/English

Africa United (Rwanda/Congo DR/Congo) Media Critics: "Africa United reveals the other side of a continent", The Guardian UK It's not about you. It's not about me. It is about us. We are a team. Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their ultimate dream - to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg. On the way to the vital selection trial, disaster strikes when Fabrice, Dudu and Beatrice board the wrong bus and cross into the Congo. Without papers, money or a believable story, they are escorted to a children's refugee camp. But with considerable ingenuity and sass (and a World Cup wall chart for a map), our pint-sized heroes escape the camp and set off in pursuit of their dream, picking up along the way a "dream team" of displaced kids, who help them negotiate a series of thrilling and hilarious adventures. In their 3,000 mile journey, we encounter an Africa few people ever see; and feel the joy, laughter and hope that comes from making an incredible journey together. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfilm/films/africa-united] Rating: PG Genre: Feature comedy Director: Debs Paterson Country: Rwanda Year: 2010 Length: 1hr24 Language: English

African Glory (Mali) African Glory is a powerful documentary film about one of the world's least known historical accounts that was referred to as the “forbidden story.” It is a powerful and amazing revelation about a powerful kingdom from ancient Mali whose people navigated the new world before Christopher Columbus. The narrative of Christopher Columbus discovering the Americas is debunked through archaeologically backed evidence. The forbidden story is about an African king named Abu Bakr II who was the first to discover America. Abu Bakr II sailed to the new world with a fleet of 2,000 boats and left his brother, Mansa Musa to rule the kingdom during his absence. Mansa Musa would become the world’s richest person and leader of a powerful kingdom. The story of his fame and riches and the Mande empire is simply fascinating. African Glory is about how the truth of African exploration of the Americas was almost entirely erased from the past by Europeans, who sought to make the world forget that historical achievement. It is about the untold story of a man who set foot on the new continent, not as a slave shackled in chains, but as a king. Not as someone who was forced, but as one who chose to. It is about an African who sought to make a name for his culturally rich continent. The story of Abu Bakr II is a story about a human being who made a scientific attempt to discover other horizons with a scientific mind to illuminate and open the world to others. African Glory seeks to give his story the importance it deserves. Genre: Documentary Director: Cheik Tidiane Seck/Thierry Siegried Bugaud Country: Mali Year: 2023 Length: 1hr44 Language: Bamabara/French

African Moot (South Africa) Awards/Screening: Best Documentary, Zimbabwe International Film Festival 2022 Every year, over a hundred of the most talented law students from across the African continent gather in a different capital city to compete at the prestigious African Human Rights Moot Competition, the largest mock court competition in Africa. At the competition, these young aspiring lawyers act as both prosecution and defence in a cutting-edge human rights fictional court case, each hoping to win the case and bring back the trophy to their home country. African Moot takes a journey with 4 passionate law student teams – from Cape Town, Cairo, Kampala and Nairobi, as they spend months preparing in their home countries for a case dealing with refugee rights, and then travel to Botswana to converge for one intense week of legal oratory, debate, adventure, bonding and high emotion. Tracking their progress through various events and competition rounds, leading to a dramatic finale before international judges at Botswana’s highest court, the film intimately captures the student characters’ personal hopes, doubts, disappointment and inner and outer conflicts as they navigate this high stakes event. African Moot uses the surface device of the popular competition documentary genre to ask deeper questions about refugee rights, freedom of movement, African identity and the possibility of hope for the future – while also showing how committed youth are trying to shape the future of the continent on which they live. Genre: Feature Documentary Director: Shameela Seedat Country: South Africa Year: 2022 Length: 1hr25 Language: English

And So It Begins Ramona Diaz | 2024 | 115 min | USA, Philippines | Asia Pacific Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/and-so-it-begins/ The cost of speaking truth to power. The film proffers unbridled access to all the key players in the months leading up to the country’s 2022 presidential election. With all her keen observational eye and deep knowledge of the socio-political history and landscape, Diaz continues to find her own forms of storytelling as political disruption. Taking place in the thick of the Covid pandemic, it is a shape-shifting story of the raucous collective act of joy expressed in a quirky resistance movement that pits itself against the haunting spectre of increasing autocracy. Weaving together multiple narratives against the backdrop of a gloves-off campaign for the most powerful office in the land, what emerges is a dazzling cinematic portrait of a beleaguered nation fighting for its very soul.

Bye Bye Tiberias Lina Soualem | 2023 | 82 min | France New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/bye-bye-tiberias/ Vanished places, scattered memories. In her early twenties, Hiam Abbass left her native Palestinian village to follow her dream of becoming an actress in Europe, leaving behind her mother, grandmother, and seven sisters. Thirty years later, her filmmaker daughter Soualem returns with her to the village and questions for the first time, her mother’s bold choices, her chosen exile, and the way the women in their family influenced both their lives.

Choose me (Chad) The Director Allamine kadar Kora visits his mother’s village on the edge of the Chadian desert where there has been a drought. The male village elders and religious figures believe that the source of this calamity is caused by all the unmarried women in the village. The men convene and decide to remedy the situation by ressurecting Amchilini, a long disused custom requiring unmarried women to publicly choose a husband from a selection of candidates. We see the the women revolt, questioning authority, and expressing distaste of what they see as an attack on their dignity. The seemingly tranquil fabric of the community is changed by this debate between the generaions about the tention existing between genders with regards to autonomy, eqaul rights and freedom to choose.

Citizen Sleuth Chris Kasick | 2023 | 82 min |USA New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/citizen-sleuth/ Hunt for truth tests moral boundaries. The film follow Emily Nestor and her Mile Marker 181 podcast, as she conducts an amateur investigation into the death of Jaleayah Davis. It examines the ethics of the true crime genre through Emily's pursuits of her top suspects. With a growing audience of millions, the podcast becomes a hit, but as she probes deeper into the case, she's confronted with a new truth she struggles to tell her listeners. Told in real time over several years, the film chronicles the rise, fall and redemption of a podcaster in the new media language.

Dancing on the Edge of the Volcano Cyril Aris | 2023 | 87 min | France New Zealand Premiere Amid chaos, cinema's resilience shines bright. BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/dancing-on-the-edge-of-the-volcano/ In the aftermath of the catastrophic explosion from 4 August 2020 in Beirut, a film crew is facing a serious dilemma: should they defy the chaos and move forward with the shooting of their film or surrender to the multiple crises that are spreading all over the country? This film captures their relentless battle to keep making cinema in a shattered city.

Devi Subina Shrestha |2024 | 80 min| Nepal International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/devi/ From survivor to warrior. In 1997, 17-year-old Devi, was arrested, accused of being a rebel, tortured, and raped in custody. A civil war had just begun. Rebel leaders revealed her as a rape 'victim'. Tagged with this shameful taboo, Devi battled depression, social ostracism, joined the rebel frontlines, and rose through the ranks, even serving as a member of the parliament when the war ended. Shot as an immersive verité, the film travels with Devi, as she consolidates the voices of survivors. As she confronts her former lawyer and her counsellor, the film dives into deeply intimate and vulnerable moments. Through her diary, supported by archives and sweeping images, Devi reconstructs an erased history to rewrite destiny.

Di den la messagere Di Den means bee in Bambara. Di Den, a little bee–nature’s storyteller... In Mali, she's a healer, messenger, warrior & more. While the Malian bee is healthy, pesticides threaten. It's vital to avoid mistakes of developed countries to protect the bee and biodiversity. A journey through rural Mali to explore a mystical bond with bees

Dissidents Yi Chen | 2024 | 75 min| USA International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/dissidents/ Not even exile is safe. From harassing relatives back home to disrupting protests and spying on critics in other countries, China is one of the most aggressive governments in targeting dissents abroad. We follow three dissidents in America as they continue their fight for democracy. Juntao Wang, a primary organiser of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and one of the world’s most renowned Chinese dissidents, has led the Democratic Party of China for more than a decade from the New York headquarters. But wherever he goes, pro-Beijing mobs often follow. While showing support for Taiwan’s democracy, his group is violently attacked. Kiwi Chinese artist Weiming Chen, who criticises the Chinese government through his sculptures, has been spied on and has his work burnt down. Meanwhile, asylum seeker, Chunyan Wang, forced into exile after her house was appropriated by the Chinese government, is constantly surveilled. She takes her protest directly to the Chinese Vice Premier during the U.S.- China trade talks. But her attempts to hand him a petition led to her being arrested and charged with a criminal case, facing 10 years of imprisonment if found guilty. Combining intimate observational footage, rich archival materials and investigative approach, the film uncovers transnational repression by an authoritarian state targeting dissidents who are keeping the democratic flame alive during the darkest hours.

Every Little Thing Sally Aitken | | 2024 | 93 min | Australia, New Zealand New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/every-little-thing/ A big celebration of tiny things. The film follows Terry Masear, who, amidst the glamour of Hollywood, Los Angeles, finds herself on a transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds. Unravelling a visually captivating and magical tale of love, fragility, and healing, award-winning Doc Edge alumna director Aitken has found the perfect film subject in Masear, who is not only warm, knowledgeable, and slightly eccentric but also the author of the bestselling memoir "Fastest Things on Wings". Coupled with breathtaking slow-motion macro photography to capture the antics of hummingbirds barely bigger than a bumble bee, the film celebrates the delicate beauty found in tiny acts of greatness. *Screening with Looking Up

Fight like a girl (Rwanda/Congo DR) This film is inspired by Congolese boxing legend Balezi “Kibomango” Bagunda’s all female boxing-team that he created as an antidote to the sexual violence and endemic poverty that too-many women in his country endure. A young Congolese woman forced to work in an illegal mineral mine escapes her captors and finds a new life for herself after joining a renowned all women boxing club in the border city of Goma. Nominated for 8 African Academy Awards and a SA Indie Fest Winner, this film is a powerful depiction of the depravity of war and enormous suffering on people. Fight like a girl is a film about determination, immense courage, bravery, and unbeatable spirit. Rating: M Genre: Feature Fiction Director: Matthew Leutwyler Country: Rwanda/Congo DR/Congo Year: 2023 Length: 1hr58 Language: Swahili/English

Flickering Lights Anupama Srinivasan, Anirban Dutta | 2023 | 90 min | India New Zealand Premiere. BOOK HERE https://docedge.nz/films/flickering-lights/ Hope flickers as a village waits. Far from the mainland and mainstream consciousness, in a region ridden with uncertainties, Tora is a quaint village on the Indian–Myanmar border with bad roads, erratic transport service, a dysfunctional school, no hospital, no power supply, no mobile network, and no job opportunities. But that is about to change. Soon, the town will have electricity. People are sceptical as they have been let down too often in the past. A woman dreams of a better future for her family. A century-old man dreams of sovereignty for his people. Life flickers between hope and frustration, idealism and pragmatism, as a village waits. Will progress deliver all it has promised to Tora?

A former US military translator stationed in Afghanistan returns to San Francisco to put her life back in order. Working at a fortune cookie factory, in a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a special message via cookie.

Habana Shakes Marcelle Lunam | 2024 | 70 min | New Zealand, Australia International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/habana-shakes/ A unique and intimate portrait of young Cuba. Habana Shakes takes us on a rhythm-filled odyssey spanning ten vibrant days in Havana, a pulsating island city teetering on the edge of transformation. Infused with a lyrical heart, this is not just an homage to Cuba's spirited culture but also provides an intimate window into the dynamic worlds of Cuban youth. Through the eyes of a skater, a tattoo artist, an actor, a ballerina and an electronica DJ, we find ourselves asking: What aspirations do these young Cubans hold for their nation and future, and how might these differ from or echo the dreams and hopes of their parent’s generation? *Screening with They Call Me Wazza

I Shall Not Hate Tal Barda | 2024 | 90 min | Canada, France International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/i-shall-not-hate/ Tragedy to tolerance. From Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp to the University of Toronto and the Supreme Court of Israel, the film follows the uncharted path of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the first Palestinian doctor that worked in an Israeli hospital delivering babies. His ethos of forgiveness and reconciliation is put to the ultimate test when an Israeli tank bombs his house, killing his three daughters. Against all odds, he turns his tragedy into a global campaign to eradicate hate. Following the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, and the war on Gaza ever since, the doctor's journey becomes even more fateful to the possibility to imagine a future for Palestinians and Israelis. It is a letter of tolerance from a deeply inspiring man with a message as urgent as ever.

Ice Maiden Nathaniel C. T. Jackson, James Blannin-Ferguson | 2024 | 91 min | New Zealand, Australia BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/ice-maiden/ World Premiere Sail. Survive. Succeed. The film charts the astonishing journey of Australian adventurer Lisa Blair, as she attempts to be the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Antarctica. Equal parts ambitious and treacherous, this trip has only ever been completed twice. Blair aims to break the record for speed. Confidently conquering the most perilous parts of the journey, Blair’s confidence grows, but it is shattered when unexpected, life-threatening weather conditions cause catastrophe. She will need to dig into every ounce of courage, determination, and self-belief if she wants to finish this course and survive the most dangerous waters on the planet.

Invisible Nation Vanessa Hope | 2023 | 85 min | USA Australasia Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/invisible-nation/ Taiwan's troubled past and uncertain future come into focus. With unprecedented access to Taiwan’s sitting head of state, director Hope investigates the election and tenure of Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan. Thorough, incisive and bristling with tension, the film is a living account of Tsai’s tightrope walk between the colossal geopolitical forces of the U.S. and China, carefully balancing the hopes and dreams of her nation. At a time when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates the ever-present threat of authoritarian aggression, the film brings a timely focus to the struggle of Taiwan and its vibrant democracy as it fights for autonomy and freedom from fear.

Invisible Summit Lixin Fan | 2024 | 88 min | China World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/invisible-summit/ Reaching the top is only half the battle. Zhang Hong is an eternal hustler who comes from a poor family in China and lost his sight when he was only 21 years old. While his wife aspires to a peaceful life, Hong keeps trying to be successful in order to prove himself and to bring a better life for his family. Now as he works as a blind masseur in Tibet, a typical job for a disabled person in China, the 45-year-old family man ventures out for something not so ordinary: climbing Mount Everest. After preparing for this expedition for the past five years, he hopes to finally turn his luck around.

American ballet dancer Joy Womack is accepted into Moscow's infamously tough Bolshoi Ballet Academy, with the dream of becoming a great ballerina.

Kō au te Āwa, kō te Āwa kō au - I am the River, The River Is Me Petr Lom | 2024 | 86 min | Netherlands Asia Pacific Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/ko-au-te-awa-ko-te-awa-ko-au-i-am-the-river-the-river-is-me/ A journey binding hearts and igniting change. The Whanganui River is the first river in the world to be recognised as a legal person, as a living adult indivisible being. Māori river guardian Ned Tapa invites a First Nations Elder from Australia and his daughter, who are activists to saving their own dying river back home, on a five-day canoe trip down this sacred river. Both mirror and inspiration, the river unites all the travellers organically, where everyone has a voice to share stories of humour and light, and a space to heal from the darkness of the past, of enduring historical injustice. Made over a three-year period, in close collaboration with the Whanganui Māori, the film is a positive, urgent call to action for the rights of nature: now the fastest growing legal movement in the world.

Le Courage en Plus (Guinea) Screening/Awards: Best Documentary at Luxor African Film Festival, Jury speciale Mention at Khourigba Documentary International Film Festival 2023, Double Special mention at Vue dAfrique 2024, Prix Critique Cinéma, Les 7 jours du 7ème Art, Conakry, Guinée, 2023. One of the most inspiring films you will see this year, Le Courage en Plus is a beautiful story about courage, resilience, determination, and hope. Life for Salya, a disabled young man, has a daily routine of begging on the streets under dangerous conditions to support himself and his family. His life is however transformed when he joins an artiste group formed by Yoyo, a French based Guinean artist. The group is named “Handicapables” and is composed of disabled people who prior to its formation were unemployed and stigmatised due to their impairments. Salya and his fellow artistes dance, sing and play drums in Conakry and other cities and soon gain popularity. They demonstrate that they can rise above their disability and lead a fulfilled life, earn respect, and ensure they have dignity. Salya and his troupe take a trip to France where they perform and meet other people living with disabilities. Salya may be severely handicapped but manages to not only shine as an artiste, but also, gets married and fathers a beautiful child. Le Courage en Plus will truly leave you inspired and is a testament that anyone can rise above their physical, emotional, or mental limitations to live a fulfilled and happy life. Genre: Music/Dance Documentary Director: Billy Touré Country: Guinee Year: 2023 Length: 1hr21 Language: Soussou/Malinke/French

Life is Beautiful Mohamed Jabaly | 2023 | 93 min| Norway New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/life-is-beautiful/ Stranded and stateless. A young Palestinian filmmaker invited to tour Norway to share images of his hometown, Gaza, is stranded when the border closes indefinitely. Applying for residency, he finds himself stuck in the Arctic, stripped of his identity when Norway refuses to recognise an independent Palestinian state. Thus begins a bureaucratic odyssey. Using his personal archive and video calls, he shares his longing for home, friends, and family, all while trying to adapt to life in the Arctic. As much a love letter to Gaza as to his adopted hometown, Tromsø, the film embodies the empowering force of storytelling.

Lobola -A Bride’s true price (South Africa) Screening/Awards: Joburg International Film Festival 2022 Loboloa is an autobiographical documentary from SAFTA-winning filmmaker Sihle Hlophe. March 2014, Sihle has just gotten engaged. A few days later, her father has passed away. Sihle is in a serious fix - who will receive the Lobola now that her father is no more? Sihle respects Lobola but she has reservations about the transactional, patriarchal and heteronormative elements of the practice. In an effort to learn more about Lobola before making her final decision, Sihle attends the Lobola ceremonies of three other couples. After years of vacillating, Sihle comes to an important realization - Lobola is not just about uniting two families. It is also about honouring the ancestors of those two families. What will her final decision be? Will she turn her back on Lobola or will she embrace it? Genre: Feature Documentary Director: Sihle Hlophe Country: South Africa Year: 2022 Length: 1hr36 Language: English/Southern Sotho/Zulu

Mali 70 (Mali) This is a story of cultural exchange, respecting values and learning from each other. A Berlin big band sets out on a road trip to explore the infamous brass sections of the seventies together with legendary musicians from Mali. Popular music has its roots in West Africa, and especially in Mali. In Berlin, a big band discovers old vinyls from the Malian Big band such as Rail Band, Kananga of Mopti, Super Biton of Segou, Kene Stars of Sikasso and more of the era. Inspired by these songs, they travel to Mali to find the heroes of their vinyl collection, where they research the origins of the songs, marvel at old archive footage, bring back the lost brass sections to play with some of the remaining Malian stars and record an album in Salif Keita's studio in Bamako. From working and jamming together, a joyful musical exchange emerges, transforming into an exchange of humanity as they voyage by boat and road on their musical quest into the heart of Malian life and culture. A wonderfully heartwarming documentary and an opportunity to meet and hear some of the old stars like Salif Keita, Sory Bamba, Neimouna, Cheick Tidiane Seck one of the Patron of the Festival on River Niger and others. Genre: Music Documentary Director: Markus CM Schmidt Country: Mali/Germany Year: 2022 Length: 1hr34 Language: Bambara/French/English

Mauri Zaya Benazzo, Maurizio Benazzo | 2024 | 71 min | USA World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/mauri/ A testament to the radiant beauty and unbreakable resilience of Māori culture. The film is an intimate, visually stunning testament to a land and a people who have survived removal, exploitation and colonization — and to the healing ways that are part of the Māori ancestral knowledge. It juxtaposes the enduring trauma of colonialism with the resilience offered through ancestral healing traditions. Exploring intergenerational trauma and the loss of indigenous identity it also contrasts traditional healing practices, which provide a holistic approach to well-being, with Western therapeutic trauma-healing methods, disconnected from the indigenous worldviews and relationships. 'Mauri' has a Q&A following this screening

Mediha Hasan Oswald | 2023 | 91 min | USA New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/mediha/ Awareness is the first step towards justice. Mediha, a teenage Yazidi girl recently returned from ISIS captivity, turns her camera on herself to process her trauma. Having survived kidnapping and enslavement by ISIS, she and her younger brothers, Ghazwen and Adnan, must now attempt to rebuild their lives with the whereabouts of their father, mother and baby brother unknown. Faced by local and international complexities, which continue to affect rescue and accountability efforts eight years after the genocide, the siblings must turn to a network of Yazidi rescuers in their search. Confronting her past through personal video diaries, Mediha reclaims her voice and steps bravely towards the future.

MONEY, FREEDOM, A STORY OF THE CFA FRANC (Senegal) Can a country be truly independent if its currency is still controlled by its former colonial oppressors? The director traces the history of a currency whose roots lie in compensation for slave owners. Originally used by countries in Central and West Africa, the currency was pegged to the French franc. While France publicly touted the CFA as a benefit to developing nations, it effectively robbed them of the ability to set their own monetary policy. It features rich archival footage and a wealth of interviews with economists, former politicians (including finance ministers and a prime minister), bankers — and even a colonial administrator. They discuss the CFA franc in the context of a colonial system that not only destroyed local governance and economic structures, but continues to prevent West African nations from re-imagining an economy that benefits Africans first. And they explore the devastating effects of the currency’s devaluation and the IMF’s austerity programs in the mid-1990s, followed by its overnight dramatic strengthening less than a decade later, when it became tied to the Euro—with no input from Africans. Now, the CFA is set to finally be phased out, replaced by a new currency called the ECO. But will the change be anything more than cosmetic? Genre: Feature Documentary Director: Katy Lena Ndiaye Country: Senegal Year: 2023 Length: 1hr44 Language: French

Mourning in Lod Hilla Medalia | 2023 | 75 min | Israel New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/mourning-in-lod/ Three Women. Three Faiths. One Search for Justice. A microcosmic look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through Musa, Yigal, and Randa — three people whose fates become inextricably linked in a vicious cycle of violence. Lod/Lydd is a “mixed” city inhabited by Arabs and Jews who live side-by-side in a strained co-existence. In May 2021, two of these three people lost their lives, and one regained hers – thanks to an unlikely organ transplant. The outpouring of love, anger, forgiveness, and sorrow that follows in their wake is a ray of light that offsets a collective state of mourning with no end in sight.

Mozart’s Sister Madeleine Hetherton-Miau | 2024 | 90 min| Australia World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/mozarts-sister/ A stunning new investigation explores the fascinating theory that Maria-Anna Mozart, Mozart's elder sister, played a bigger role than previously known in musical history. Director Hetherton-Miau reveals and tests controversial new evidence by music experts and forensic handwriting analysts to find if Maria-Anna Mozart played a part in well-known compositions attributed to her brother Wolfgang Mozart, turning our gaze to the legacy of unrecognised female creators.

This highly anticipated romantic comedy stars the dynamic duo of John Malkovich and Fanny Ardant. Malkovich brilliantly takes on the role of the charming British Businessman, Andrew Blake. In a twist of fate, Blake becomes the butler of a once-distinguished manor house, owned by the elegant yet aloof Madame de Beauvilier (Ardant). The “Domaine de Beauvilier” has fallen on hard times, with both staff and residents longing for better days. Based on Gilles Legardinier’s international hit novel, Mr. Blake At Your Service! is a heartwarming cinematic experience that will leave you grinning.

Mvera (Kenya) Awards/Screening: NYALI CINEMAX MOMBASA Oscars 2023, ANGA CINEMAS NAIROBI Oscars 2023 Corrupt leadership plunges a community into poverty. Against her grandmother's advice, Mvera pursues her quest for a better life, echoing her mother's journey to America. Mvera, yearning to escape and find her missing mother, seizes an opportunity offered by Thabiti's company, only to discover a horrifying truth: an organ trafficking ring preys on hopefuls like her. Determined to expose Thabiti's villainy, Mvera embarks on a perilous journey, racing against time to save her community from his deceitful grasp. From a timid girl to an inspiring heroine, Mvera's resilience shines through, inspiring others to challenge injustice. Mvera is a gripping narrative of courage and redemption, illustrating how even in darkness, the smallest glimmer of hope can ignite profound change. Rating: M Genre: Feature Fiction Director: Daudi Otieno Anguka Country: Kenya Year: 2023 Language: Swahili/English

Screening/Awards: Tanzania Film Festival & Awards - 2022 – 2023, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) – 2023, Zanzibar International Film Festival - 2023 In the twilight of their lives, fate reunites two aging souls who shared a profound connection in their youth. Separated by circumstance and societal pressures, they now find themselves confronted with the ghosts of their past. Despite the disapproval of their families, their hearts ache to reconcile the emotions they once buried. Roles are reversed as their children become the marriage advisors and counselors to their parents. As they navigate the complexities of aging and societal expectations, they rediscover the depth of their bond and the resilience of their love. Their reunion becomes a journey of re-discovery, as they navigate regrets and sacrifices that shaped their lives apart. With each passing moment, they find solace in each other's presence, defying the constraints of time and societal norms. In the twilight of their lives, they embrace the opportunity to rewrite their story and find redemption in each other's arms. Rating: TBC Genre: Drama Romance Director: Juma Saada Country: Tanzania Year: 2023 Length: 1hr35 Language: Swahili

Name Me Lawand Edward Lovelace | 2024| 86 min | UK New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/name-me-lawand/ Home is where they understand you. Five-year-old Lawand is on a quest to find a world where there are people like him — people who will understand him. Since birth, Lawand has been profoundly deaf and unable to communicate with those around him. He undertakes a treacherous journey with his family from Iraq to Derby, home of the Royal School for the Deaf. But this new life soon comes under threat when the family faces deportation. Along with members of the Derby community, they begin a new quest — the fight to stay in the place they now call home.

BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/shorts-2/ Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool Leah Warshawski | 2023 | 39 min | United States International Premiere The Ground Under Our Feet Jim Williams | 2023 | 39 min | Solomon Islands Australasia Premiere Wouldn't Make it Any Other Way Hao Zhou | 2024 | 20 min | United States Asia Pacific Premiere

Pitchblack Playback: Joy Division 'Unknown Pleasures' (45th Anniversary) *Please arrive by event start time as latecomers will not be admitted and refunds will not be offered* Experience Joy Division in high intensity at Pitchblack Playback's listening session in the dark, celebrating 45th anniversary of their brooding debut album. Hear this immense recording played loud in uncompressed audio on our powerful Screen One sound system. No distractions; just you and the music. "This sounds great” — Rick Rubin "A fabulous idea" — Jay Kay, Jamiroquai "It’s the way I remember experiencing music when I was a teenager, turning out the lights and just allowing myself to be carried away by the music" — Steven Wilson "I have an out-of-body experience every time I go" — Jonny, artist manager Ticket includes Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness. As recommended by The Guardian, GQ, Time Out, Metro and Newsweek. Album duration: 40 minutes

Pistachio Wars Yasha Levine, Rowan Wernham | 2024 | 75 min | New Zealand, USA World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/pistachio-wars/ A road trip into the dark heart of the American Dream. Journalist Yasha Levine follows a lead on a water sale between a farmer and a small desert town and discovers a hidden side to California's healthy snack industry. At the centre of the story are the Resnicks, billionaires with the flashiest mansion in Beverly Hills and a monopoly on the pistachio trade. They've taken control of California's water: draining rivers, building plantations in the middle of a desert, leaving a trail of environmental collapse. Towns ravaged by drought, farms built on oil fields, mass extinction, a water heist straight from the plot of Chinatown, and…war with Iran?

Poised Toby Robson | 2024 | 108 min| UK World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/poised/ A universal underdog tale with its own unique lens. Out of the ashes of loss, can one man use mixed martial arts to save young people from the toughest parts of our society? Zero opportunity, poverty and crime are common themes in the housing estates of Sunderland, North East England. A once proud region of industry, now a wasteland scattered with the relics of the past, as generations of government continue to neglect it. The film immerses viewers in the captivating realm of a mixed martial arts (MMA) club in North East England, dedicated to empowering youth. At its helm is our protagonist Steven, who haunted by his stepfather’s tragic suicide, resolves to effect meaningful change in both his world and the community he calls home. Despite a backdrop plagued by crime, poverty and neglect, can Steven use MMA to a save a group of young people with their own unique challenges? Be it battles with drug use and dealing to unemployment and poverty, the weight of terminal illness or the trials of immigration and having to abandon family, thousands of miles away, this film shall find out

Racing Mister Fahrenheit Michael Rowley | 2024 | 81 min| USA International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/racing-mister-fahrenheit/ In the race against death, speed is key. A 74-year-old billionaire sets out to gain a “pinch of immortality” by attempting to break a world speed record on a hand-built motorcycle - Mister Fahrenheit. Bobby Haas, once the owner of Dr Pepper, 7-Up, and other soda giants, abandons his business career in search of more adrenaline-based endeavours. Atop his world-renowned sidecar racer, he turns the energy of his twilight years towards cementing his name in the land speed record books. But when things take a sudden and devastating turn, Bobby and those closest to him must pick up the pieces and face death at the finish line.

Rather Be Ashes Than Dust Alan Lau | 2023 | 114 min| China Australasian Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/rather-be-ashes-than-dust/ When fear dictates, objectivity retreats. What are the challenges journalists face when covering increasingly challenging global crisis of war, civil disobedience, famine and hunger? Witnessing acts of government crackdown and injustice, should they remain objective? What are their choices when the government turns against them? Although journalism is not listed as one of the most dangerous professions, journalists have been killed, kidnapped, imprisoned, attacked, and accused of spying while doing their job. Using the Hong Kong protest movement in 2019 as a backdrop, this film follows a Hong Kong video-journalist who recounts his experience during the protest movement that leads to his decision to leave Hong Kong.

Renee Gracie- Fireproof Frances Elliott, Samantha Marlowe | 2024 | 88 min| Australia World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/renee-gracie-fireproof/ From Bathurst to OnlyFans, and back again. 19-years-old Renee Gracie became Australia’s first female V8-Star and the first woman to race at the Bathurst 1000 in seventeen years. Despite breaking records, Renee faced blatant sexism at every turn, until she was pushed out of the sport altogether. Capitalising on the sexualisation she faced in motorsport, Renee Gracie became Australia’s biggest earner on OnlyFans. Now, she’s ready to re-enter the sport she loves, using the millions she made as an Adult Entertainer. But V8s don’t want her back, believing her return is a ruse to promote her OnlyFans. This film uses Renee’s unique experience to examine the greater injustices faced by women in motorsport, exposing the discrimination faced by sex workers in modern Australia and painting a broader portrait of two Goliath companies, V8s and OnlyFans.

Resilient Man Stephane Carrel | 2024 | 90 min | UK, France Asia Pacific Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/resilient-man/ How does a dancer bounce back from such a tragic event? The film charts the physical and mental journey back from the brink. In the middle of a show, Steven McRae, a famous principal dancer at the Royal Ballet of London, is catastrophically injured, breaking his Achilles tendon. He was at the height of his career that was dramatically put on hold. Will Steven ever be able to dance again? For one year, director Carrel filmed the return of Steven to the stage and his training to recover alongside his engagement for mental health within the dance world. At 35 years old, he either recovers or his career is over. That's how it is in the world of ballet

Rhino Man John Jurko II | USA | 2023 | 96 min | Asia Pacific Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/rhino-man/ The true heroes in our efforts to protect the world’s wildlife. This is the story of the courageous field rangers who risk their lives every day to protect South Africa's rhinos from being poached to extinction. We follow Anton Mzimba, the head ranger of the Timbavati, as he protects the rhinos. He faces long deployments, dangerous working conditions, and constant threats to his life. Nearby, a legendary trainer, Ruben de Kock, struggles to inspire a group of 41 candidates, as he takes them through a rigorous ranger selection. Tragedy strikes when Anton is assassinated at home by a poaching syndicate. Ruben laments the loss of his friend. Prince William and the international community cry out for justice. The film leaves us with Anton's hopeful message, and the determination of the rangers who vow to carry his torch.

Sabbath Queen Sandi DuBowski | 2024 | 102 min| USA International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/sabbath-queen/ Drag queen rebel, radical rabbi of reinvention, interfaith love and peace. Filmed over 21 years the film follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie's epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis. He is torn between rejecting and embracing his destiny and becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer father, and the founder of Lab/Shul - an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. The film joins Amichai on a lifelong quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy and supremacy, champion interfaith love, and stand up for peace, ceasefire, and an end to the Occupation in Israel/Palestine. The film interrogates what Jewish survival means in a difficult rapidly changing 21st century.

Safari in Conakry (Guinea) Two opposite police officers must go on a mission to try to dismantle a mafia organization. They meet Sira and FC, two independent female journalists who denounce the corruption put in place by this organization. This quartet, despite differences and tensions in the way they each carry out their profession, will attack these criminals in order to bring down the thinking heads of this mafia network. Will they manage to come together to resolve this investigation and put an end to the corruption that is plaguing the country ?

Searching for Amani Nicole Gormley, Debra Aroko | 2023 | 82 min| Kenya NZ Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/searching-for-amani/ His father's job was to protect the animals. Whose job was it to protect him? 13-year-old Simon Ali is an aspiring investigative journalist living in Laikipia, Kenya, a lush area where elephants roam, and part of the savannah still thrives. It’s also one of the most unstable regions, making headlines for its violent clashes and record-breaking droughts. In 2019, armed pastoralists killed his father while he worked as a tour guide. For over a year, Simon waited for the investigators to come and do their job, but they never came. Taking up the mantle of the investigation himself, Simon begins to search for the answers his family seeks. Shot over three years, exploring the life and death of Simon’s father catalyses a conversation about the changing environment, conservation, and community equity at a time of crisis. *Screening with Then Comes the Body

A dream of foot and leg (Egypt) A film about pain, humiliation, determination and discovery. Their lives come together through a random series of events. Physical defect at birth, events through acts of kindness, jealousy, attraction, and a premeditated accident. She loves to dance and is poised to enroll into a dance competition that could change her life. He hates dancing due to a birth defect. Together they overcome obstacles of pain and jealousy to achieve their dreams and they discover each other in the process. Rating: TBC Genre: Short Fiction Director: Omar Elshahad Country: Egypt Year: 2023 Length: 12min Language: Arabic See me (Zimbabwe) See Me is a film honouring real life stories. It is a collaborative effort from 5 friends, based on research from real life stories about the hardship HIV Positive young people went through during COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe. Using the 6 pillars of creativity: Film, Poetry, Music, Photography, Visuals and Dance, the film takes us through some of their struggles including stigma, discrimination, mental health issues and gender-based violence. We walk in their shoes, see through their eyes, feeling what they felt as they continue to ask time and time again: Do You See Me...? The flow from film to dance is interesting and impactful. The film brings hope, sheds light on how we see each other and how we should treat each other. Rating: TBC Genre: Feature Drama Director: Charlene Furusa Country: Zimbabwe Year: 2023 Length: 1hr Language: English

Sharko Luke Graham | 2024 | 88 min | Australia World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/sharko/ A father and son documentary about NZ's greatest Rugby League player… ever. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Rugby League players ever, kiwi hard-man Mark Graham was feared off and on the field, though few knew the real man or the destruction behind his success. SHARKO, portrays an intimate look at the life of a father, a son and the cost of greatness. Mark’s story is told through the in-depth lens and skewed perspective of Luke, his film-maker son, revealing a shared personal history scarred by pain and loss. As he learns more about his father’s past, both the hardships and the glory, he comes to a realisation about the man he idolised above all else.

BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/shorts-1/ Man of Arran Paul McCambridge | 2023 | 19 min | Ireland Asia Pacific Premiere The Only Girl in the Orchestra Molly O’Brien | 2023 | 34 min | USA International Premiere The Presidents' Tailor - From Auschwitz to the White House Rick Minnich | 2024 | 39 min | Germany Asia Pacific Premiere

BOOK NOW - https://docedge.nz/films/shorts-3/ Losing Blue Leanne Allison | 2023 | 17 min | Canada Asia Pacific Premiere What does it mean to lose a colour? The film is a cinematic poem about losing the otherworldly blues of ancient mountain lakes, now fading due to climate change. Girls Move Mountains Anna Huix | 2024 | 20 min | Spain Asia Pacific Premiere A group of young girls who use soccer to fight for gender equality and gain independence in one of the most remote places on earth, the Karakoram Mountain Range, Pakistan. Instruments of a Beating Heart Ema Ryan Yamazaki | 2024 | 24 min | Japan International Premiere First graders in a Tokyo public elementary school are presented with a challenge for the final semester: performing “Ode to Joy” at the ceremony for the new incoming 1st graders. Ayame, who often struggles to keep up with the group, is determined to play a major part, the big drum. Girl of Wind Nanhsi Yuen | 2023 | 38 min | China International Premiere Yang Yang, a lonely deaf girl, often climbs with her bare hands on top of 500 tall buildings in the city. By chance, Nanhsi, met her and the two started to share a special life journey together.

BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/shorts-4/ A Two Hearted Tale Rory K McHarg, Bret Miller | 2023 | 39 min | New Zealand, USA International Premiere Diary of a Head Injury Jonny Kofoed | 2024 | 7 min | New Zealand World Premiere Life Upside Down Barbara de Baare | 2024 | 25 min | Netherlands World Premiere Diary of a Head Injury' has a Q&A following this screening.

BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/shorts-5/ Refuge: A Duty to Care Annie Goldson | 2024 | 40 min | New Zealand World Premiere Finding Venus Mandi Lynn | 2024 | 16 min | New Zealand New Zealand Premiere Yatra Hemal Trivedi, Matt Alesevich | 2024 | 27 min | United States World Premiere Finding Venus' has a Q&A after this screening.

The Envoy of God (Niger) Screenings/Awards: FESPACO 2023 Fatima, a young girl of 12 is taken from her mother by armed rebels during a normal day at the market. We see Fatima being subjected to funeral rites by older women(strangers) in preparation to accomplish the work of God. Fatima , this randomly chosen “envoy of God “ is dropped off at the same market from where she was taken, wearing an explosive belt marked 10 minutes to kill the “enemies of God.” We witness Fatima on an internal journey during which she passes from the past to the present. At 1 minute, she finds herself face to face with her mother, both parties helpless. The viewer is left to conclude- Does the bomb go off? Will one of them survive the loss of the other? Is love present in those final moments? Rating: TBC Genre: Short Fiction Director: Amina Abdoulaye Mamani Country: Niger Year: 2023 Length: 23min Sira (Burkina Faso) Screenings/Awards: Best NARRATIVE FEATURE (World) and BEST FEMAL DIRECTOR, NARRATIVE FEATURE at NY Film Festival 2023, Second best price at FESPACO 2023, Berlinale 2023, Cannes 2023, Toronto International Film Festival 2023, NY Film Festival This is an amazing film from Apolline Traore, who is, no doubt one of the best filmmakers from the Continent at the moment. Some of her achievements: "The Price of Ignorance" won the Jury Prize at Fespaco 2001, “Frontières” won the audience award at AFFNZ2018, “Desrances” in 2019, “Sira” in 2023 is her fifth feature film. She was distinguished in 2019, Knight of the Order of Merit, Arts, Letters and Communication and in 2020, she was installed Ambassador of the National Museum of Burkina Faso. Sira is a typical Apolline way, fighting for social justice through her camera lens. Sira is the story of a young woman who decides to stand up to the terrorists who have attacked her family. It is a story of revenge by a strong woman who refuses to surrender and to be a docile victim. Sira decides to stand up against the Islamist terrorists until help arrives. A feminist counterpoint to current reporting from the Sahel region, this is the fifth film from director Apolline Traoré, and as is the case with most of her work, it places a particular emphasis on the voice of women and the scourges that plague the African continent. Burkina Faso has endured multiple terror attacks, but one that targeted the civilian population prompted Apolline Traore to work on her latest film Sira. “I had a hard time understanding it. What else can I do? I can’t take any weapons, neither am I a politician. I can only talk about it through art,” she said. Rating: TBC Genre: Feature Fiction Director: Apolline Traore Country: Burkina Faso Year: 2023 Length: 2hr01 Language: Fulah/French

Spontaneous Combustion: Songs for Barry Brickell Bruce Robert-Foster | 2024 | 70 min | New Zealand World Premiere BOOK HERE -https://docedge.nz/films/spontaneous-combustion/ When the natural environment and the human imagination combine. A celebration of Barry Brickell's legacy and the realisation of his extraordinary dream, Driving Creek Railway, a productive pottery with numerous kilns, a railway, a native bird sanctuary, and a lively creative hub drawing artists from around the globe. The film reflects the sensual attachment Brickell felt to the land and human form, as expressed in the ceramic sculptures that defined his creativity. It is a paean to all Barry held dear: the bush, the railway, the company of friends, conversation, and song. A cinematic montage of historical stills and film from present-day Driving Creek is woven with a spirited, poetic narration by Greg O'Brien, with a sumptuous soundtrack including compositions by Gillian Whitehead and Ross Harris. **Screening with the following short film** Breaking The Mould Phillida Perry | 2024 | 14 min | New Zealand World Premiere A visceral glimpse into the life and work of acclaimed New Zealand sculptor, Jaime Jenkins, whose unconventional upbringing combines with the elements to inform her ceramic explorations. A Q&A with the director will be taking place after the screening.

Standing Above the Clouds Jalena Keane-Lee | 2024 | 83 min| USA International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/standing-above-the-clouds/ Mauna Kea stands sacred for Hawaii, now Hawaii stands for Mauna Kea When the massive Thirty Meter Telescope is proposed to be built on Mauna Kea, an uprising of kia'i (protectors) in Hawai'i and around the world dedicate their lives to protecting the sacred mountain from destruction. The film follows teacher and community organiser Pua Case and her two daughters — artist/activists H'wane Rios and Kapulei Flores—who have been called to stop the telescope since 2010. Their lives quickly become consumed with frontline actions and court proceedings and immersed in ceremonies and cultural practices. As they face opposition and arrests, they are joined by a community that has dedicated its lives to protecting Mauna Kea.

Sugarcane Julian Brave Emily Kassie | 2024 | 107 min| USA, Canada New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/sugarcane/ The past is present here. A stunning tribute to the resilience of indigenous people and their way of life, this debut film from directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Set amidst a ground-breaking investigation into abuse and death at an Indian residential school, the film empowers participants to break cycles of intergenerational trauma by bearing witness to painful, long-ignored truths and the love that endures within their families despite genocide.

Teaches of Peaches Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer | 2024 | 102 min| Germany New Zealand Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/teaches-of-peaches/ 'Cause there's only one Peaches. Filmed during The Teaches of Peaches Anniversary Tour in 2022, this film seamlessly weaves together exclusive archival gems with dynamic tour footage capturing the transformative journey of Canadian Merrill Nisker into the internationally acclaimed cultural powerhouse Peaches. From the inception of the stage show to the rigorous rehearsal and riveting performances, the film provides an intimate look at the inner workings of a tour led by this beloved and globally celebrated icon. As a feminist musician, producer, director, and performance artist, Peaches has spent over two decades challenging gender stereotypes, solidifying her status alongside pop and music industry icons.

Terror-Fi Presents an advance screening of one of the most anticipated films of 2024 … the horror/crime/thriller LONGLEGS. Dark, creepy and most definitely twisted, who wouldn’t want to see Maika Monroe (‘It Follows’, ‘The Guest’) hunt a demented serial killer played by the one and only Nicolas Cage!?! We couldn’t be more excited for this one! “FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.” Get to the cinema early to enjoy our custom cocktail and themed pre-show. Directed by Oz Perkins (Gretel & Hansel) LONGLEGS stars Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, and Blair Underwood.

Be one of the first in the world to see MAXXXINE … the chilling conclusion to the thrilling Ti West / A24 trilogy. Dripping with 80s style and sleaze, Mia Goth returns as fame-hungry antihero Maxine Minx. Joining her in the seedy underbelly of Hollywood is a killer cast (pun intended) that includes Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon. To celebrate, we’re hosting special midnight screenings on the same day as the US release! And from 10:45pm on both nights, we’re taking over the entire Capitol cinema to throw an 80s party, with themed cinema, dance tunes and a retro cocktail. So come along in your finest 80s gear – there’ll be prizes for Best Dressed! “In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.” Directed by Ti West (‘X’, ‘’Pearl’) MAXXINE stars Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon. Don’t miss out on the most anticipated film of 2024! Massive thanks to awesome crew at Universal NZ for this Terror-Fi exclusive.

The Blue Penny (Mauritius) Awards/Screening: Indo French International Film Festival, Chicago International Indie Film Festival, Life Art Festival Los Angeles, Stockholm City Film Festival, Greece International Film Festival, Girona Sun Film Fest, Canada Vues d'Afrique Montréal, Built around the iconic Mauritian stamp, The Blue Penny is a thriller with complex characters. Dating from the 19th century, the ‘Blue Penny’ is a Mauritian stamp that is one of the rarest and most coveted stamps in the world. Harry Theodore is a wealthy businessman who opens his home to family and close friends to celebrate the marriage of his daughter. In an unexpected turn, Harry’s eldest son arrives with his new girlfriend, who happens to be Harry’s former mistress. What ensues is the exposure of secrets and a revelation of what happens when the unmentionable is made possible by social status and privilege. With a distinct undercurrent of a growing social malaise, the events that shake up this evening depict how the social cohesion within any family is a fragile balance, especially when built around appearance. Rating: TBC Genre: Feature fiction Director: Jon Rabaud Country: Mauritius Year: 2023 Length: 1hr44 Language: French

The Click Trap Peter Porta| 2023 | 90 min| Spain Asia Pacific Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/the-click-trap/ Is it time to regulate online advertising? The film exposes the alarming truths behind the digital advertising economy, worth hundreds of billions of dollars, showing the far-reaching impact it’s having on our lives, both on and offline. New advertising technology, monopolised by big tech companies, has turned hate and mis - and disinformation into a profitable business opportunity, which cyber scammers worldwide are also exploiting. By revealing how this complex industry works, who controls it and who is choosing to fight back, the film questions whether a safer, fairer and more transparent digital ad business is possible in the future.

When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate. “The First Omen” stars Nell Tiger Free (“Servant”), Tawfeek Barhom (“Mary Magdalene”), Sonia Braga (“Kiss of the Spider Woman”), Ralph Ineson (“The Northman”), and Bill Nighy (“Living”). The film is directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on characters created by David Seltzer (“The Omen”), with a story by Ben Jacoby (“Bleed”) and a screenplay by Tim Smith & Arkasha Stevenson and Keith Thomas (“Firestarter”). The producers are David S. Goyer (“Hellraiser”) and Keith Levine (“The Night House”) and the executive producers are Tim Smith, Whitney Brown (“Rosaline”), and Gracie Wheelan.

The Great White Whale Michael Dillon | 2024 | 104 min | Australia World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/the-great-white-whale/ Five times it tried to kill them, but back they go! Deep in the wild Southern Ocean, halfway between Australia and Africa, a snowy volcano almost three thousand meters high rears up from the sea like a mythical great white whale. Five times that great white whale of a mountain tried to kill the first team that sought to reach its summit. Yet in 1964, back they sailed, through the worst seas in the world, to try again, this time with legendary explorer Bill Tilman as their skipper. This is the extraordinary tale of those first attempts to climb Big Ben, the smoking glacier ringed volcano on Hard Island told by those who were there. At times expeditioner John Crick sings the songs too, as befits such an epic saga.

The Jewish Nazi? Dan Goldberg | 2023 | 86 min | Australia International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/the-jewish-nazi/ A young boy witnesses his family being massacred during the Holocaust but cheats death by escaping into the frozen woods in Belorussia. He is eventually captured by a battalion that was absorbed into Hitler’s SS and faces the firing squad and their death pits. But instead of killing him they make him their child soldier, their ‘Mascot’. They give him a false name, fake birth date, adorn him with a pint-sized uniform and arm him with a sawed-off rifle.

The Man I Left Behind Larry Towell, Matthieu Rytz, Hubert Hayaud | 2024 | 83 min | Canada International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/the-man-i-left-behind/ The power of bearing witness. Larry Towell's business card reads: 'Human Being'. And for the past 40 years, the celebrated Magnum photographer has chronicled humankind's deepest struggles. The Canadian artist and folk musician reflects on his relentless pursuit of stories shaped by conflict and displacement. He pulls from a vast archive of photos, videos, songs, and poetry to contrast the turmoil of conflicts over territory with the serenity of his own family farm. The film poignantly explores how losing land can mean losing self and is a testament to the power of bearing witness. Ultimately, it portrays the profound absurdity of war.

The Other Side Sean Langan | 2024 | 99 min | UK World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/the-other-side/ Russia’s war on Ukraine – as rarely seen through Russian eyes. Journalist Sean Langan travels into the Russian side of the war in Ukraine, offering a never-before-seen perspective on . He witnesses the lethal reality of this war, where drones loiter threateningly over WWI-style trenches. He meets Russian special forces who threaten to eat his liver and mercenaries who have seen action in Bucha. But this remarkable film also shows the human face of the other side of this war - civilians living under siege, young students and an old babushka who invites him for tea, coffee and pickles. Dark, intimate and at times bleakly funny, this film captures what life is like for those fighting, and for those civilians who’ve been caught up in Eastern Ukraine’s conflict for the past decade.

Eugenie, an esteemed cook, has been working for over the last 20 years for Dodin, a fine gourmet. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her.

Tooth for Tooth (Senegal) Awards/Screening: Premiered at FESPACO2023 and NY African Film Festival Tooth for Tooth is a film about a civil servant (Augustine) who immigrates to Senegal from Burkina Faso to seek better opportunities in Senegal. Life turns upside down for Augustine after he loses his job as a civil servant because of budget cuts and severe austerity policies ordered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF.) He finds himself at the bottom of society and his pride humiliated as he ends up working a menial office job while remaining dependent on his doctor wife (Vivianne). This is a fascinating story that exposes the negative impact multilateral organisations have on poorer nations and society. The film brilliantly covers gender issues, masculinity, youth voice, poverty, and romance, all in the backdrop of a political upheaval. Augustine’s daughter (Aminata) and her fiancé’s (Moussa) relationship is tested when Moussa seeks to migrate to Europe to flee the hopelessness back home. The orphan boy “Lamine” is a mischievous hero in the film that proves very resourceful to Augustine by rescuing him from the underbelly world of a bully named Ibou, through a shrewdly crafted plot, and introduces him to the local traditional healer (Marabout) to cure his impotence. Augustine finally gets his revenge on the IMF boss who he attributes to his difficulties by asking the Marabout to place a curse on him. The IMF boss loses his job following an indecent assault in New York. Tooth for Tooth is a witty and funny beautiful family drama that will leave the audience deeply captivated. Rating: PG Genre: Feature Drama Director: Ottis Bah Country: Senegal Year: 2023 Length: 1hr21 Language: Wolof/French

Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Manon Ouimet, Jacob Perlmutter | 2024 | 100 min| UK Asia Pacific Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/two-strangers-trying-not-to-kill-each-other/ Every love has its complications. Thirty years after a chance encounter, Maggie and Joel, aged 75 and 84, are still very much in love. But their relationship is not without complications. Born in the hard-boiled Bronx, Joel Meyerowitz is a world-renowned photographer with major exhibitions and 40 books to his name. British-born Maggie Barrett is a talented but less recognised artist and writer. There is a knot of unease in their relationship, which is further strained when Maggie falls and breaks her leg, and Joel becomes her caregiver. In the shadow of mortality, each with a long and dramatic life behind them, the hard truths of life together provoke in Maggie and Joel an attempt to find a shared inner-peace while there is still time. With unique access to the couple's lives, directors Jacob Perlmutter and Manon Ouimet have created a profoundly moving film about living, creating and loving. https://docedge.nz/films/two-strangers-trying-not-to-kill-each-other/

Vika! Agnieszka Zwiefka | 2023 | 74 min | Poland, Germany, Finland Australasian Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/vika/ Vika repeats that age is just a number and inspires others to live life to the fullest. A charismatic 84-year-old Vika is a DJ and a true star of the Warsaw clubbing scene. Facing the passing of time, Vika repeats that age is just a number and inspires others to live life to the fullest. 84-year-old DJ Vika is a star of Warsaw night clubs. Charismatic and colourful she refuses to grow old, repeating that age is not just a number. But when her health suddenly begins to deteriorate, Vika can no longer deny the passing of time. Will she find meaning in sharing the joy of life with other seniors by encouraging them to live their lives to the fullest? The film is a bittersweet portrait of a woman who intends to celebrate life to the very end, a true inspiration both for the silver generation and our future selves.

War and Justice Marcus Vetter, Michele Gentile | 2023 | 90 min | Germany International Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/war-and-justice/ Is the biggest war crime of all war itself? On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. A short time later, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes. On 7 October 2023, Hamas committed a cruel massacre of Israeli civilians. Israel responded with the largest offensive on Gaza ever. The ICC Chief Prosecutor announced that he would prosecute any kind of war crimes on both sides. But what has come to pass? Focusing on ICC Chief Prosecutors past and present, this film gives a complex legal process a face, and viewers will understand why wars of aggression can hardly be brought to justice when the major world powers - China, Russia, India and the United States - are unwilling to recognise the ICC as a global court.

The Day the Music Stopped Yariv Mozer | 2024 | 89 min |Israel, USA, UK World Premiere BOOK HERE - https://docedge.nz/films/the-day-the-music-stopped/ 7 October, the day the music stopped, and the world changed. Friendship, love, peace, and freedom — these ideals drew young hearts from around the globe to Nova’s EDM music festival in south Israel. But as the sun rose on 7 October, rockets sliced through the sky, and the music stopped. Confusion morphed into fear as gunfire erupted amidst the chaos. Terror breached the border fence and unleashed violence on the unsuspecting people. The film meticulously captures the events. raw emotions and heroism that emerged, the day the world changed.

A former child star torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.

Terror-Fi Presents: WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY 2 (NZ Premiere) Be the first in New Zealand to see WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY 2. Our not-so-friendly woodland inhabitant and his murderous mates are back with a vengeance (and significantly larger budget) to inflict some seriously gnarly kills in the highly entertaining second entry in the Poohniverse. This will be your only chance to see WTP2 on the big screen … don’t miss out! “Deep within the 100-Acre-Wood, a destructive rage grows as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger find their home and their lives endangered after Christopher Robin revealed their existence. Not wanting to live in the shadows any longer, the group decides to take the fight to the town of Ashdown, home of Christopher Robin, leaving a bloody trail of death and mayhem in their wake. Winnie and his savage friends will show everyone that they are deadlier, stronger, and smarter than anyone could ever imagine and get their revenge on Christopher Robin, once and for all.” Get to the cinema early to enjoy our exclusive cocktail and custom pre-show. Directed by Rhys Frake Waterfield, the film stars Scott Chambers, Ryan Oliva, Tallulah Evans, and Lewis Santer. Big thanks to the crew at Umbrella Entertainment for this exclusive screening!