The Capitol

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/58th/ Q&A: Ianessa Valdellon (Producer) will be present The 2009 Maguindanao Massacre was the deadliest attack on journalists in history. Through the eyes of Reynafe Castillo, daughter of the missing 58th victim, the film blends animation, archival footage and harrowing memories to chronicle a family’s relentless fight for justice amidst a landscape of political violence. Director Carl Joseph Papa Producer Annette Gozon-Valdes, Nessa Valdellon, Johnson Tam, Ian Carlos Simbulan Country Philippines Language English, Tagalog Year 2026 Duration 86 min Category Facing the Edge

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/a-war-on-women/ Triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death in morality police custody, the film looks beyond headlines to uncover Iranian women’s forty-year struggle against the theocratic regime. Through interviews, archival material, and rare footage from inside Iran, the film traces an unbroken resistance shaped by prison, exile, and courage across generations and borders. Historical and urgent. Personal and political. A testament to the enduring spirit of Iranian women and a call to stand with them. Director Raha Shirazi Producer Marco Serrecchia, Marica Stocchi, Beatrice Bordone Bulgari, Gianluca Curti Country Italy Language English, Farsi Year 2026 Duration 102 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/a-war-on-women/ Three physicians — Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian— are unlikely friends united by a single oath to save lives. Dr Thaer Ahmad is measured and strategic, Dr Mark Perlmutter is blunt and wears his heart on his sleeve, and Dr Feroze Sidhwa is media-savvy and prolific. Captured as events unfold on the ground, the film follows them from a Gazan hospital under siege to the halls of Congress. Together, they fight to honour a promise to their Palestinian colleagues and patients, carrying the struggle to where it matters most: the United States of America. Director Poh Si Teng Producer Kristine Barfod, Reem Haddad Country Denmark, Malaysia, Palestine, Qatar, United States Language Arabic, English Year 2026 Duration 93 min Category Being Oneself Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/american-doctor/ Screening Note: In-cinema only. This film screens exclusively in cinemas in Auckland and Wellington. It will not be available on the Doc Edge Virtual Cinema. We encourage you to catch it on the big screen.

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/cagnat-drawing-or-nothing-cagnat-le-dessin-sinon-sien/ Q&A: Alice Cagnat (Director of Cagnat, Drawing or Nothing) will be present Since the Charlie Hebdo attack, Jean-Pierre Cagnat, a press cartoonist, no longer draws. The National Library of France offered to archive part of his work. After his divorce from his wife, he left his 17,000 drawings in the cellar of his family home, which he no longer lives in. His daughter, Director Alice Cagnat, proposed an arrangement: she would help him sort through his drawings, in exchange for his life story as a man and an artist. Screening Note: This film is preceeded by the short film, If You Don’t Like It, Look Away (Au Bain des Dames), (30 mins) Director Alice Cagnat Producer Alexandre Hallier, Jérémy Pouilloux, Thomas Schmitt Country France Language French Year 2024 Duration 52 min Category French Connection Premiere International

Book Here : https://docedge.nz/events/cambodian-beer-dreams/ In Cambodia, major international breweries are battling to win the war over the rapidly growing beer market. Through aggressive marketing, the poor population is encouraged to drink more alcohol in one of the world’s most corrupt countries. The film follows an activist who dares to stand up to the beer industry, fighting an uneven battle to introduce a national alcohol law. At the same time, we meet beer sellers, singers, and beer girls who dream that the beer industry will become their path to a better life. Director Laurits Nansen Producer Malene Flindt Pedersen, Signe Skov Thomsen Country Denmark, France, Sweden Language Central Khmer Year 2026 Duration 82 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/films/ceremony/ After a long winter in Bella Coola’s Coast Mountains, the arrival of the ooligan was a time of celebration for the Nuxalk people. It brought vital nourishment and medicine. For 26 years they have been gone. The Nuxalk Nation carries this absence like a wound: an ecosystem collapse entangled with smallpox, occupied land, and silenced culture. Now, as one family builds the first home back in their ancestral village, something stirs in the river. Director Banchi Hanuse Producer Banchi Hanuse Country Canada Language English Year 2026 Duration 84 min Category Turangawaewae Where We Stand

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/coexistence-my-ass/ Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up the literal poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a hard pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. Raised in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village — the only intentionally integrated community in the country — Noam grows disillusioned with traditional peace activism. As the region sinks deeper into devastating violence, she must meet the moment by challenging her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter. Director Amber Fares Producer Amber Fares, Rachel Leah Jones, Valérie Montmartin Country France, United States Language Arabic, English, Hebrew Year 2025 Duration 95 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https: https://docedge.nz/events/collapse/ Q&A: Ariel Cypel (Executive Producer and co-Writer) will be present Shortly after October 7, 2023, Director Even returns to what was once her home, traversing for over two years the remnants of the kibbutz of Nir Oz and its environs, now repurposed for tourist itineraries and military training exercises. From distant vantage points along the fence demarcating the Gaza Strip, she observes the gradual ruination across the border and the calculated maneuvers of IDF troops. A cinematic essay, the film chronicles systematic violence while exposing the muted indifference of spectators. Director Anat Even Producer Etienne de Ricaud Country France Language English, Hebrew Year 2026 Duration 78 min Category French Connection

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/dance-for-your-life/ An intimate portrait into the highly competitive world of the commercial back-up dancer where chances are few, and your best friends are your competition. Brent Street, Australia’s leading commercial dance schools, is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send ten of its best dancers, past and present, to London to audition for international dance company, Shapehaus Dance Theatre, led by renowned dancer and choreographer, Dean Lee. Who will make the cut? Director Luke Cornish Producer Brendan Dahill, David Alrich, Jade Barnes Country Australia Language English Year 2026 Duration 105 min Category Art of Becoming

Sponsored by Greenpeace, World BEYOND War Aotearoa and Quaker Peace and Service Aotearoa NZ. Exempt from international climate agreements and rarely scrutinised in mainstream reporting, the Pentagon is the world’s single largest institutional polluter—spewing carbon, contaminating water, and scarring landscapes across the globe. Combining investigative journalism, striking visuals, and stories from impacted communities, this film challenges audiences to rethink the hidden costs of a global military empire and its planetary consequences. Provocative, urgent, and eye-opening, this is a documentary that will change how you see both the military and environmentalism. Come early for a meet and mingle with Abby Martin from 6.30pm. The screening will conclude with a Q&A with Abby moderated by award winning journalist, Simon Wilson.

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/elon-musk-unveiled-the-tesla-experiment/ It is 2014 and tech billionaire Elon Musk unveils his plans for a self-driving car in front of an enthusiastic audience. What consumers don’t know is that Tesla’s “autopilot” function is far from road-ready, and new owners are being used to improve the software by providing their data. A fatal accident in Florida triggers a protracted lawsuit to hold Tesla accountable, and it is not the only incident. Shocking footage from dashcams and security cameras shows the ruthlessness of Tesla cars suddenly braking or accelerating, and the crashes that follow. Director Andreas Pichler Producer Christian Beetz Country Germany Language English Year 2025 Duration 90 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/feather-strength/ Filmed over a decade, one father gradually relinquishes his professional life to meet the relentless demands of raising a child with severe developmental challenges. With a camera and no crew, he films intimate fragments of daily life – routine, rupture, exhaustion, and unexpected resilience – as the weight of the new normal presses against the limits of what he can sustain. A meditation on care, acceptance, and the strength required to navigate life’s wilderness. It is a story about learning to bend without breaking, and about discovering meaning not in resolution, but in the act of continuing – living the life you didn’t plan for. Screening Note: This film is preceeded by the short film, Chilapa Girl (Niña Chilapa),(17 mins). Director Jon Earle Producer Jon Earle Country Netherlands, New Zealand Language Dutch, English Year 2026 Duration 47 min Category Being Oneself

SOLD OUT When singing legend Hemi Pere is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he tasks his son, Hayden, with finding an estranged family member, “Honk”, so they can make peace before time runs out. As Hayden navigates Honk’s connections within the criminal underbelly, he must decipher clues and red herrings to solve the mystery of Honk’s whereabouts. The closer Hayden comes to finding Honk, the further he travels into danger. To fulfil his father’s dying wish, Hayden is pulled into the shadows of his own family history, where vengeful enemies and hidden truths threaten everything he holds dear. Director Eldon Booth Producer Alex Lovell, Eldon Booth, Heydon Hohaia, Jason Crane Country New Zealand Language English, Māori Year 2026 Duration 96 min Category Facing the Edge

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/first-cuts-are-the-deepest-baad-lek-jeb-luk/ Filmed over six years, the film follows three children growing up within Thailand’s education system. Potter adjusts to a new home and faith in the deep South; Nut comes of age in a spiritual boarding school; while Tee moves through an overcrowded classroom in Bangkok. Without commentary, the film observes how everyday moments of friendship, confusion, and solitude quietly shape who they become over time. Director Sopawan Boonnimitra, Peerachai Kerdsint Producer Sopawan Boonnimitra, John Badalu Country Thailand Language Thai Year 2026 Duration 106 min Category Around the World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/for-life/ Q&A: Ahmet Seven (Director) will be present Hind, a Palestinian woman, has been living apart from her husband, Ramadan, who has been held in an Israeli prison, serving a life sentence for over twenty years. Their rare visits are limited to brief moments in a space divided by a glass partition, where physical contact is impossible. Despite everything, Hind remains determined to fulfill her desire to become a mother. To do so, she must secretly smuggle her husband’s sperm out of prison and undergo IVF treatment. Hind’s arduous journey intersects with the stories of other prisoners’ wives who share the same desire, forming a space of collective solidarity. For Palestinian women, this ordinary desire gradually transforms into an extraordinary act of resistance under the conditions of occupation. Director Ahmet Seven Producer Aslıhan Eker Çakmak Country Palestine, Turkey Language Arabic Year 2026 Duration 88 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/frost-without-snow-and-ice/ For ten years, Director Helgestad follows polar bear named Frost, a mother struggling to raise her cubs in a rapidly changing Arctic. A story of survival and love, conflict and loss in Svalbard, the fastest-warming place on earth. Helgestad is left with a question that frames the film: can empathy and understanding bridge the gap between humans and other animals before it’s too late? Director Asgeir Helgestad Producer Ageliki Lefkaditou, Asgeir Helgestad, Ola K. Hunnes Country Norway Language English, Norwegian Year 2026 Duration 95 min Category Around the World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/half-moon/ New York based clarinettist virtuoso and composer Kinan Azmeh, a Damascus-born musician living in exile, attempts to find meaning and purpose after the outbreak of war in Syria. Director Scheffer follows Kinan over several years as he attempts to navigate this crisis of identity and purpose, travelling the world for concerts with other world-class musicians (including Yo-Yo Ma), revisiting his former mentors, and developing his own unique style of improvisational composition. A profound exploration of the role art can play in forging identity and community. Director Frank Scheffer Producer Jan de Ruiter, Jia ZhaoKinan Azmeh, Niek Koppen Country Netherlands Language English Year 2025 Duration 92 min Category Art of Becoming

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/in-the-path-of-giants/ In 2017, Bangladesh opened its borders to nearly a million Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar. But the vast camp built to shelter the refugees cut off Bangladesh’s wild elephants from their last migratory corridor, causing them to rampage across farmland in their search for food. The result is a tense stand-off as Rohingya refugees, local Bengalis and Indigenous farmers are forced to contend with the elephants in a fight for land, survival and a place to call home. Director Fayed Khan, Kirsty Wells Producer Md Shariful Islam, Dan Davies Country Bangladesh, United Kingdom Language Bengali, English, Rohingya Year 2025 Duration 89 min Category Around the World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/inside-gaza/ Q&A: Yann Ollivier (Producer) will be present Free access to the Gaza Strip has remained closed to international journalists since the war began on October 7, 2023. Agence France-Presse (AFP) local reporters are among the few witnesses inside, documenting the conflict while struggling to survive. From exile, they recount a war that has become the deadliest on record for the press. Drawing on hundreds of hours of footage, photographs and reporting, Mai Yaghi, Adel El-Zaanun, Mohammed Abed and Mahmud Hams evoke the shock of escalation, the constant presence of the dead and wounded, and the burden of bearing witness. Director Hélène Lam Trong Producer Yann Ollivier Country Belgium, France Language Arabic Year 2025 Duration 72 min Category French Connection

Book Here : https://docedge.nz/events/kabul-between-prayers/ A devoted soldier of the Taliban’s ideology that has shaped his destiny since birth, Samim struggles between the alluring promises of martyrdom and the mundanity of his daily existence as a husband and farmer. Samim’s younger brother, Rafi, idolises him as he navigates the confusion of adolescence, leaving behind playfulness to enter a world shaped by decades of military intervention and resulting radicalisation. Director Aboozar Amini Producer Aboozar Amini Country. Belgium, Netherlands Language Pashto (Pushto) Year. 2025 Duration 101 min CategoryAround the World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/kikuyu-land/ Set in Kenya’s tea highlands, Mr Mungai seeks justice for land taken from his family. His claim uncovers a deeper history of dispossession, bringing him into conflict with a multinational corporation still operating on contested ground. As the case gains momentum, it draws in Bea, a local news producer whose investigation reveals buried histories and long-silenced truths. Alongside them is Stephen, the son of a tea worker, growing up within the plantations at the centre of the dispute. Moving between legal battle and lived experience, the film traces a community’s struggle to reclaim what was lost and confront a past that remains unresolved. Director Andrew H. Brown, Bea Wangondu Producer Andrew H. Brown, Bea Wangondu, Joseph Njenga, Mike Morrisroe, Moses Bwayo Country Kenya, United States Language English, Swahili Year 2026 Duration 95 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/kings-of-venice/ A madcap look at the Paddle Tennis community of Venice Beach. Once thriving, it is now kept alive by a collection of oddballs, including an Italian male model, a degenerate gambler, and Hollywood’s most accomplished party crasher. When Pickleball arrives on the beach and overtakes their beloved courts, the locals hatch an over-the-top plan: a $50,000 winner-takes-all paddle tennis tournament — only to find top pickleball players entering. Director S.D. Saltarelli, Sveinn Ingimundarson Producer S.D. Saltarelli, Sveinn Ingimundarson Country United States Language English Year 2025 Duration 95 min Category Being Oneself

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/legacy-heritieres/ At the crossroads of musical documentary, art film and poetic essay, this film delves into the musical project of the same name, bringing together more than twenty female musicians of different generations and cultural backgrounds. Through intimate testimonies and music, the film explores maternal legacy and the heritage carried between women across generations. Kiwi and Canadian co-directors Parry-Canet and Pion offer a full immersion into intergenerational memory. Director Karine Pion, Lucile Parry-Canet Producer Karine Pion, Lucile Parry-Canet Country Canada, New Zealand Language French Year 2025 Duration 86 min Category Art of Becoming

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/let-our-mountains-live/ Reindeer cannot eat money. Sámi reindeer herders Sissel Stormo Holtan, Terje Haugen, and Elise Holtan Pavall have spent two decades fighting Europe’s largest wind power project, built across vital Sámi reindeer grazing lands in Norway. Before legal challenges were resolved, 151 turbines were installed. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court found the wind farm violated Sámi human rights, raising hopes the land would be restored. But the government refused to act, backing powerful energy interests and proposing coexistence. Now the reindeer herders face an impossible choice: accept a €14 million settlement to relocate, or continue a long legal battle. Director Håvard Bustnes Producer Håvard Bustnes Country Finland, Norway Language Norwegian Year 2026 Duration 100 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: \https://docedge.nz/events/loving-karma/ In the remote foothills of the Himalayas, former monk Lobsang Phuntsok founded Jhamtse Gatsal, a refuge for children shaped by abandonment and trauma. Once a teacher in the United States of America, he returned to India to build the community he never had as an orphan. Tashi, the youngest and most volatile arrival, carries the scars of a fractured childhood and resists every attempt at care. Twelve years after the Emmy Award winning Tashi and the Monk, this film follows their lives and a new generation of children, revealing a community where healing emerges through shared responsibility, presence, and love. Director Johnny Burke, Andrew Hinton Producer Johnny Burke, Andrew Hinton Country India, United Kingdom, United States Language Hindi Year 2025 Duration 80 min Category Around the World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/films/mar-musa/ Q&A: Shahab Kermani (Director) will be present In the Syrian mountains of Al Ghalamoun, overlooking the vast desert, stands the ancient Christian monastery of Mar Musa, a beacon of interfaith dialogue and radical hospitality in a fractured land. The film follows the monks and nuns through intimate, observational storytelling as they navigate postwar devastation working towards peace, even in the face of grave personal loss. Through cinematography and a hypnotic score, this film emerges as a profound metaphor for Syria itself. Director Shahab Kermani Producer Marketa Polednova, Shahab Kermani Country Germany, Syria Language Arabic, English, German, Italian Year 2026 Duration 97 min Category Around the World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/modern-whore/ Q&A: Andrew Werhun (Producer, Author, Subject) will be present Based on her book Modern Whore: A Memoir, Andrea Werhun portrays her past roles as escort Mary Ann, stripper Sophia, and an OnlyFans creator. Through a series of funny, raw and disarming encounters, Andrea explores intimacy, labour and identity, confronting how sex workers are seen and how they see themselves. This hybrid film pushes the conventional divide between documentary and fiction. Screening Note: This film is preceeded by the short film, Monster Slayer, (21 mins). Director Nicole Bazuin Producer Lauren Grant, Nicole Bazuin, Andrea Werhun Country Canada Language English Year 2025 Duration 80 min Category Facing the Edge

Book Tickets: https: https://docedge.nz/events/molly-vs-the-machines/ At 14, Molly Russell seemed like any other teenager. But behind her screen, powerful algorithms were shaping what she saw. After her sudden death, her father Ian begins a relentless search for answers, uncovering how social media systems can draw young users into dangerous spirals. From a teenager’s suburban bedroom to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley, this film is the story of a heartbroken father’s quest to uncover the truth behind his daughter’s death and his fightback against how the most powerful corporations of the modern age operate. A cautionary tale for both young people and parents. Director Marc Silver Producer Kat Mansoor, Natalie Humphreys Country United Kingdom Language English Year 2026 Duration 84 min Category Facing the Edge

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/music-and-the-mystical-experience/ Q&A: Isabel Corfiatis (Director), Michael Sutherland (Producer), Keegan Connor (Producer) will be present Musician and sound engineer Michael Sutherland takes us on a metaphorical tour of his latest musical project involving over twenty talented New Zealanders, aimed at aiding the controversial practice of psychedelic therapy. Weaving artist interviews, numerous performances, and appearances from veterans in the psychedelic field, including Chris Bache, the film gives an insight into how music enhances a psychedelic therapy session, and how much thought and effort goes into getting that music just right. Director Isabel Corfiatis Producer Michael Sutherland, Isabel Corfiatis, Keegan Connor Country New Zealand Language English Year 2026 Duration 75 min Category Art of Becoming

Book Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/no-one-rides-alone-auckland Can someone with Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) ride the route of the Tour de France? That's what Clive Phillips and a team of fellow veterans set out to discover during the Tour de MMN 2025, No One Rides Alone, follows the team as they ride along the 1955 Tour de France route, in the wheel tracks of the first British Tour de France team. It follows them as they push their limits, connect with others in the rare disease community, learn more about MMN and come face to face with the impacts of it and conditions like it. It's an inspirational story that resonates far beyond the MMN community and has lessons for us all whatever challenges we face.. Join members of the team for a screening of the film and Q and A session afterwards. The Tour de MMN and this film is raising funds for MMN Research with GBS|CIDP Foundation International. To donate go to https://p2p.onecause.com/tourdemmn. https://events.humanitix.com/no-one-rides-alone-auckland

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/nz-wars-stories-of-waerenga-a-hika/ Doc Edge is proud to present the world premiere of the latest episode of NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika, a landmark moment for both the series and for the communities whose history it honours. In 1865, the pā at Waerenga-a-Hika became the flashpoint for one of the most significant conflicts of the New Zealand Wars. Within its walls, hundreds of Māori—men, women, and children—endured a siege that would irrevocably alter the future of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa. NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika returns to this sacred site through the voices of descendants whose ancestors lived, fought, and survived. Blending intimate storytelling and dramatic reconstruction with the very landscapes where these events unfolded, the film brings to light a history long overlooked by many, but never forgotten by those who carry it. More than a chronicle of battle, this film is an act of remembrance and reclamation. It reflects on the enduring legacy of war and land loss while honouring the profound resilience of the Tūranga communities. Director Cameron Bennett, Richard Curtis Country New Zealand Year 2026 Duration 43 min Category Special Presentation Screening Note: This is a one-off Auckland in-cinema screening on 11 July. It will not be available on the Doc Edge Virtual Cinema. We encourage you to catch it on the big screen.

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/ranginui-call-of-the-ice/ Q&A: Julia Sartorio (Director & Producer), Miriama Kamo (Producer) will be present Antarctica in winter is one of the most extreme places on Earth: isolated, locked in darkness, and -50°C. Māori astronomer Rangi Matamua and language expert Mataia Keepa enter this frozen world, where science and Indigenous knowledge meet in real time. Rangi carries a personal promise to honour his grandfather’s dying wish and share Māori starlore beyond Aotearoa. When unexpected snowstorms roll in, they are forced to stay longer than planned, cut off inside a continent that continues to shift and close in around them. Through auroras, storms, first sunrise and shifting ice, they learn to read a living landscape most will never witness. Director Julia Sartorio Producer Miriama Kamo, Rangi Matamua, Mataia Keepa, Julia Sartorio Country Antarctica, New Zealand Language English, Māori Year 2026 Duration 60 min Category Turangawaewae Where We Stand

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/redlight-to-limelight/ CAM-ON, a self-taught filmmaking collective of sex workers and their children, use cinema to reclaim their stories and challenge generations of stigma. Born into one of the most marginalised and caste-oppressed communities, they are not only telling their stories, but reshaping how they are seen. Through filmmaking, they move beyond lives long defined by others, building confidence, dignity and a renewed sense of self-worth. Told from within through vérité and self-shot footage, the film is a powerful portrait of resilience and transformation. Director Bipuljit Basu Producer John Webster, Nilotpal Majumdar, Uldis Cekulis Country Finland, India, Latvia Language Bengali Year 2025 Duration 100 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/films/remathau-people-of-the-ocean/ Nicole Yamase becomes the first Micronesian and Indigenous person to dive to “Challenger Deep” in the Marianas Trench, the deepest point in the ocean. As global attention intensifies, the weight of expectation pushes her to confront what it means to carry this historic first. Beyond the record, she turns inward, exploring her identity as a descendant of master navigators. In the silence of the ocean’s depths, a richer story emerges of Pacific resilience where culture, language and ancestral knowledge endure. Director Daniel H. Lin Producer Anne Quidez, Daniel H. Lin, Nia Tero Country United States Language English Year 2025 Duration 70 min Category Turangawaewae Where We Stand Screening Note: This film is preceeded by the short film, Tied with the Tides, (10 mins). Director Andy Hui Liuxing Producer Naqea 'Atiqah Binte Osman, Andy Hui Liuxing Country Singapore Language English Year 2026 Duration 10 min Category Shorts World Premiere

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/replica/ Q&A: Andy Huang (Producer) will be present Three women turn to AI lovers to fill gaps left by modern life. Qin, a factory worker in her twenties, creates the perfect boyfriend to escape isolation. Muna, a married housewife, uses AI to reclaim desire beyond the limits of her marriage. Sonya, independent and self-assured, treats AI as an experiment until it begins to unsettle her sense of control. As their relationships deepen, the film reveals the seductive pull of intimacy without friction, where affection is constant, responsive and designed to please. What happens to love when it no longer requires negotiation, and connection comes without consequence? Director Chouwa Liang Producer Andy Huang Country Australia, France Language Mandarin Year 2026 Duration 90 min Category Facing the Edge

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/?s=Return+to+the+Strange+ Renowned choreographer Jiří Kylián’s craft has always reflected his own life. His final choreography made for his lifelong love and collaborator, Sabine Kupferberg, is a deeply personal performance that celebrates love, creation, and the ephemeral nature of life. Set against the raw, windswept beauty of the Dutch island of Terschelling, the shifting light and landscape mirror the fragile boundary between life and its end. Blending movement and memory with a subtle sense of the tragicomic, the film becomes an intimate meditation on longing, love and the fleeting nature of existence. Director Olga Malířová Špátová Producer Michal Sikora, Carmen Thomas Country Czechia Language Czech Year 2026 Duration 72 min Category Art of Becoming Screening Note: This film is preceeded by the short film, Flashes in the Realm of Caves, (11 mins)." In the depths of an island’s underwater cave system, world renowned divers, Cristina Zenato and Kewin Lorenzen, blend artistry with activism as they navigate perilous dives to capture elaborate underwater photoshoots where Cristina free-dives in dresses as an attempt to champion an urgent environmental message. Director Madeline G Kennedy Producer Madeline G Kennedy Country Bahamas Language English Year 2025 Duration 11 min Category Shorts

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/revolutions-daughter/ Q&A: Thaddeus Matula (Director) Alina Fernández grew up in Havana not knowing she was Fidel Castro’s daughter, an open secret kept from her alone. Years before escaping Cuba and rebuilding her life in Miami, she made a choice that would define her: to speak out, and to keep speaking out. She calls it the only thing she ever really did, the one act she refused to shrink from. The film weaves Alina’s defiance into the broader fabric of Miami’s Cuban exile community, where artists and storytellers across generations carry the inheritance of revolution in their own ways, exploring identity, belonging, and what it costs to use your voice when silence would be easier. Director Thaddeus D. Matula Producer John Martinez O'Felan, Thaddeus D. Matula, Joe Lamy, Allen Gilmer, Javier Gonzalez Country United States Language English, Spanish Year 2025 Duration 85 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/seized/ This film is a gripping, stranger-than-fiction investigative thriller that plunges audiences inside the troubling police raid on the Marion County Record. What begins as a shocking small-town incident quickly spirals into a story that reaches international headlines, exposing how corruption, politics, and decades-long tensions turned a quaint Kansas community into a microcosm of worldwide attacks on freedom of speech. Equal parts horrifying and hilarious, the film unfolds in real time through police body-cam and surveillance footage, revealing the raid’s chaos, the remarkable pettiness that led up to them, and the devastating personal toll on the reporters, including the tragic death of the paper’s 98-year-old co-publisher. Director Sharon Liese Producer Sharon Liese, Sasha Alpert, Paul Matyasovsky Country United States Language English Year 2026 Duration 94 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/shorts1-leaving-a-mark/ Q&A: Phillida Perry (Director, Good Kunst), Sam Templeton (Director, Weight of the World), Josh Frizzell, Matt McKenzie (Producers, Weight of the World), Dick Frizzell (Artist, Weight of the World) will be present What does it mean to make something that lasts? From a pink church in Greymouth to Dick Frizzell’s studio, from a Kiwi art collection under the hammer to Joshua Oppenheimer’s meditation on immortality, these four shorts ask whether art, like life, is ever truly finished. Shorts: Gloria, Good Kunst, The Weight of the World, The Revolution Against Death

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/shorts-2-labour-of-love/ Q&A: Justin Zoras (Director, The Bookstore that Never Sleeps) will be present For some, work is not what you do. It is who you are. A cobbler finds peace in craft. A hotline reveals tender lives behind kitchen catastrophes. A sailor keeps his bookstore open after dark. And behind the world’s greatest piano competition, tuners chase perfect pitch. Shorts: Sole (얼), The Baker’s Hotline, The Bookstore That Never Sleeps, The Tuners (Stroiciele) Duration 73 min

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/shorts-3-the-view-from-here/ Q&A: Hank Chen (Director, Student Army), Ira Yeroshko (Producer, Ember) will be present From windows, shorelines, and occupied villages, these four films bear witness to the world’s most urgent fractures. An elderly Ukrainian couple survives fire and occupation. Two brothers in Gaza remain bound by the sea despite siege and separation. And sometimes, the most powerful act of resistance is simply to keep watching. Shorts: Ember, Free Fish (أسماك حرّة), Memories of a Window, Student Army (红旗下的蛋)

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/shorts-4-steps-of-courage/ Q&A: Prabhjit Sabharwal, Richard Carey (Directors, Race Be Run) will be present Courage wears many faces. A teenager in a Kampala slum sings her questions to God. Women from the Chatham Islands turn a breast screening trip into a ritual of defiance. A young Kiwi farmer runs Canada’s highways in a Superman costume. And two mountaineers make history on Mt Cook. Shorts: Chicken Ghetto, Girls’ Flight Out, Hunter’s Moon, Race Be Run

Book Tickets: https: https://docedge.nz/events/shorts-5-close-to-heart/ Oliver Dawe (Director, Jacqueline Fahey: From Where I’m Looking) will be present and Aaron Cluka (Director, Stoats’ Last Stand) will be present Love in all its forms — between partners, species, and the places we call home. A granddaughter captures sixty years of love meeting ten years of Alzheimer’s, while a 1970s discovery rewrites what we thought we knew about seagulls and partnership. Tender, surprising, and quietly profound. Shorts: Jacqueline Fahey: From Where I’m Looking, Love Birds, Stoats’ Last Stand, The Place Where Memories Hide

Join us at The Capitol Cinema for Show Me Shorts Winter Season. From humble beginnings, Show Me Shorts has expanded every year, forging connections and partnerships across the industry. They seek out top short films, collaborate with local cinemas, raise funds for a world-class festival, and advocate for the short film community. They are an Oscar® and BAFTA qualifying festival. Internationally, Show Me Shorts is considered one of the best and well respected short film festivals in the world. From documentary to animation and drama to science fiction this collection of short films brings together intimate, surprising and deeply human stories from top Iranian filmmakers. The films explore the choices we make, the losses we carry, the people we show up for and the beauty around us. Join us as we follow a nomadic tribe through the snow, keep our cool under intense scrutiny and wake up to the world around us. Each film offers a fresh window into lives both specific and universal. Book now as tickets will sell out. Frozen - My Eggs and Me, a documentary about a major life decision. Directed by Iranian New Zealand filmmaker Shamin Yazdani. Holy Heaviness, an animated story about the weight of a man's grief in losing a parent. Directed by Farnoosh Abedi, Negah Khezre Fardyardad, Mohammad Ghaffari. Under The Shady Oak, an epic odyssey about a nomadic tribe of Iranian indigenous people, migrating in harsh snowy conditions. Directed by Hossein Allahyari. Dot, an animated sci-fi story of a man whose repetitive life is interrupted when he notices the beauty of nature and tries to see it again. Directed by Mohammad Zare. British Passport, a tense drama about a woman trying to leave Tehran illegally to attend a conference in London. Directed by Mahmood Pouyandeh. The Brother, an inspiring tale of a man about to be married who meets a soldier that needs his help. Language: Persian (Farsi), with English subtitles Total run time: 70 minutes Rating: to be advised Admission Prices: General Admission $17.00 | Season Pass* $50 + booking fee https://events.humanitix.com/host/show-me-shorts-film-festival *Season Pass Save money and join Show Me Shorts for the entire winter season for only $50, to watch the following programmes*, only available in Auckland and Wellington. Book via Humanitix

From intimate dramas to visionary futures, this compelling collection of Turkish short films offers a captivating journey through the country’s rich cinematic storytelling. Featuring a gripping medical mystery, a shadowy animated fable, a stark vision of a climate-ravaged world, an emotionally charged portrait of resilience, and a soulful drama of grief and discovery, these five films blend profound human emotion with bold imagination. An essential showcase for cinephiles and anyone fascinated by the depth and diversity of contemporary Turkey. This collection is presented in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in NZ. Book now as tickets will sell out: https://events.humanitix.com/auckland-turkish-short-film-night-2026-show-me-shorts/tickets?_gl=1*1icrctf*_gcl_au*MTcyMzUyMjA3My4xNzcwNzcxODYz*_ga*MTkwMTA4Nzc4My4xNzU3ODg5MTgy*_ga_LHKW5FR9N6*czE3NzYzNzQ0MzckbzI3JGcxJHQxNzc2Mzc2NjQ5JGo1OCRsMCRoMA.. Tavuk Suyuna Çorba (Chicken Broth Soup), a drama about a doctor who comes across unusual symptoms when examining a man said to have died of a heart attack. Oyun (Game), an animated story about the games played around the world, leaving the future of humanity in the dark. Kota (Quota), a dystopia set in a future where water resources have been depleted due to the climate crisis and governments have imposed strict quotas. Yavru Karinca (Baby Ant), a drama in which tomorrow is an important day; Ayser will pay a visit to her husband in prison. Rehber (The Contact), a drama about Ali who returns to the town he left years ago after the death of his son, and confronts the remains of his son, whom he never knew. Language: Turkish, with English subtitles Total run time: 65 minutes Rating: to be advised Proudly supported by: Embassy of the Republic of Turkey Curated in partnership with: Fethiye Film Festival With thanks to: Esin Özalp Öztürk *Dates and programmes subject to change. Admission Prices: General Admission $17.00 | Season Pass* $50 + booking fee https://events.humanitix.com/host/show-me-shorts-film-festival *Season Pass Save money and join Show Me Shorts for the entire winter season for only $50, to watch the following programmes*, only available in Auckland and Wellington. Book via Humanitix 7pm Tuesday 31 March Italian Short Film Night 7pm Tuesday 28 April: German Short Film Night 7pm Tuesday 26 May: Cambodian Short Film Night 7pm Tuesday 23 June: Iranian Short Film Night 7pm Tuesday 21 July: Turkish Short Film Night

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/sukundimi-walks-before-me/ Q&A: Matasila Freshwater (Director), Kerry Warkia (Producer), Maria Tanner (Producer) will be present The Sepik River is the mother line for Papua New Guinea communities. Winding through mountains and rainforests, she is the crucial vertebrae connecting and supporting the region’s rare biodiversity and spiritual consciousness. But her livelihood and her communities are threatened by the proposal of a copper-gold mine being built near at her headwaters, which could extract, erode and pollute an environment that she has sustained for millennia.   The children of this river, led by Manu Peni, create a grassroots campaign to stop the mine from being built, resisting the forces of colonial bureaucracy and Western narratives of ‘development’ by invoking the Spirit of the river and indigenous knowledge.  Sukundimi Walks Before Me, explores this existential fight through lyrical expressions of existence, resistance and life along the mother river. Director Matasila Freshwater, Lachlan McLeod Producer David Elliot Jones, Emmanuel Peni, Kerry Warkia, Maria Tanner Country Australia, New Zealand Language English, Tok Pisin Year 2026 Duration 94 min Category Turangawaewae Where We Stand

Book Tickets: https: https://docedge.nz/events/the-art-of-adventure/ In 1957, renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman and spirited biologist Bristol Foster set out on a global expedition in a rugged Land Rover they called “The Grizzly Torque”. Starting in the UK, their travels took them to the far corners of the earth. From the lush rainforests of the Congo to the vibrant landscapes of India, Bob painted the wonders they encounter, while Bristol filmed on his 16mm Bolex camera. Blending original 16mm footage with reflections from later life, the film traces how their journey shaped two remarkable paths: one through art, the other through science. A heartwarming, inspirational love letter to friendship and the adventure of life. Director Alison Reid Producer Alison Reid Country Canada Language English Year 2025 Duration 90 min Category Around the World

A darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale, which will see the character as a battleworn loner grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, and who finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman who offers him a chance at salvation.

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/the-essence-of-eva/ Featuring never-before-heard recordings and exclusive archive footage, the film reveals the true essence of legendary American singer Eva Cassidy whose voice continues to captivate audiences. Eva passed away in 1996 at the age of just 33, following a battle with melanoma. At the time, she was virtually unknown outside her local music scene. In the years that followed, her recordings found a fervent global audience, and a groundswell of admiration that would posthumously propel her to multi-platinum success. Told through the eyes of those who knew her best, as well as acclaimed musicians Mick Fleetwood and Sting, this film traces the life and legacy of a woman whose music defied genre and convention. Director Alex Fegan, Malcolm Willis Producer Malcolm Willis, Alex Fegan, Brendan Byrne Country Ireland Language English Year 2025 Duration 85 min Category Art of Becoming

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/the-life-we-leave/ When Washington State legalises human composting, entrepreneur Micah Truman bets everything on a new vision of deathcare. But when the conventional deathcare industry resists, he is forced to pivot and learn to care for the grieving while transforming his business. With funeral directors Brie Smith and Katey Houston, he builds the first large-scale terramation facility, reshaping how we grieve and return to the Earth. What begins as an ambitious venture becomes personal as they rediscover human connection, ritual, and legacy. Director JJ Gerber Producer JJ Gerber, Melanie Miller, Clementine Briand, Ann Rogers Country United States Language English Year 2026 Duration 87 min Category Facing the Edge

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/the-lives-of-my-father/ Didrik thought his Norwegian father was a journalist. In reality, he was a CIA spy who fired AK-47s in the Kuwaiti desert and infiltrated cocaine laboratories in Colombia. When Didrik finds a box of old tapes and documents in his father’s attic, he uncovers a story almost too strange to be true. For the first time his father, Bjørn, begins to speak openly about his past. As Didrik digs deeper, the life and lies of a man who blurred the lines between journalism, propaganda, and international espionage begins to emerge. But can any of it be trusted? Director Magnus Skatvold Producer Hilde Håbjørg, Kristian Karlsen Country Norway Language English, Norwegian Year 2026 Duration 86 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/s=The+Trial+of+Alec+Baldwin On October 21, 2021 cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is killed on a movie set by a prop gun held by the actor Alec Baldwin. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, virtually no one doubts that it was an accident and a deeply traumatizing experience for everyone involved. After the shock subsides, questions of responsibility, guilt, blame, punishment and justice begin circulating in the media. Baldwin becomes a lightning rod for online haters and a target for pushy paparazzi. With prosecutors weighing criminal charges, what unfolds is driven less by the facts surrounding the case, and more by who Alec Baldwin is, both as a man and a public figure. Director Rory Kennedy Producer Mark Bailey, Rory Kennedy, Julia Marchesi Country United States Language English Year 2025 Duration 111 min Category Crime & Conspiracy

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/the-war-below-restoring-hope-in-the-solomon-islands/ Q&A: Tuki Laumea (Director) and Cleo Fraser (Producer) will be present In the Solomon Islands, thousands of unexploded WWII bombs remain under homes and schools. 80 years after the war, bombs continue to kill and injure families. Lorettalyn lives with severe injuries from a blast that killed her husband and young son, now raising her remaining children while navigating long-term physical and economic hardship. Maeverlyn, who survived a separate explosion that severely injured her and killed members of her community, establishes Bomb Free Solomon Islands – a survivor-led organisation advocating for awareness, support, and long-term solutions to the ongoing threat. Director Tuki Laumea Producer Tuki Laumea, Cleo Fraser, Elizabeth Osifelo Country New Zealand Language English, Pijin Year 2026 Duration 50 min Category Turangawaewae Where We Stand Screening Note: This film is preceeded by the short film, Digital Traditions: Kastom Keeper, (19 mins). Director Tuki Laumea, Cleo Fraser Producer Tuki Laumea, Cleo Fraser Country New Zealand, Solomon Islands Language English, Other Year 2026 Duration 19 min Category Shorts Premiere World

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/the-werewolf-in-the-waves/ Q&A: Soleil Moon Frye (Director) will be present From award winning Director Soleil Moon Frye (Kid 90), this is a deeply personal and poignant film that explores the complicated dynamics of love and addiction. Told through Moon Frye’s empathetic lens, we follow her reunion with childhood friend, Seth Binzer (aka Shifty Shellshock) of the band Crazy Town, largely known for their hit 1999 song “Butterfly”. She documents Crazy Town’s comeback tour, during which time the connection between them quickly evolves into a love story playing out over euphoric and dream-like imagery. However, the narrative takes a heartbreaking turn when Seth relapses into drugs and the film becomes about the destructive forces of addiction. Director Soleil Moon Frye Producer Soleil Moon Frye Country United States Language English Year 2025 Duration 91 min Category Being Oneself

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/theres-a-hole-in-my-bucket/ Q&A: Royd Tolkien (Director) will be present at The Capitol Cinema screening. When Royd Tolkien, great-grandson of J R R Tolkien, loses his brother, Mike, to Motor Neurone Disease (ALS), Mike leaves behind one final act of love and mischief: a bucket list of 50 challenges designed to drag his reluctant, comfort-zone-hugging brother into the land of the living. What follows is an unexpected journey across New Zealand that pushes a grieving man further than he ever imagined possible. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, with Peter Jackson, Billy Boyd, John Rhys-Davies and Weta Workshop along for the ride, the film is a raucous, tender argument that the best eulogy isn’t a speech, it’s a bucket list. Director Robert Cavanah, Royd Tolkien, Drew Cullingham Producer Royd Tolkien, Belindalee Hope Country New Zealand Language English Year 2026 Duration 86 min Category Being Oneself

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/tough-old-broads-dures-a-cuire/ Three trailblazing women broke barriers in their time: Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon; Siila Watt-Cloutier, the first woman to connect climate change to human rights; and Sharon Farmer, the first woman to act as Chief White House Photographer. Today, they continue to pursue their passions. With determination and grit, these ladies shed light on what it takes to make it in a man’s world, and what old age looks like when you’re a self-described “tough old broad. Director Stacey Tenenbaum Producer Stacey Tenenbaum Country Canada Language English, German, Inuktitut Year 2025 Duration 82 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/unlikely-kin/ Q&A: Kim Webby (Director), Michael Jonathan (Director) will be present Filmed over five years, the film follows elder Hori Parata (Ngāti Wai) and his son Te Kaurinui as they lead the sacred practice of harvesting stranded whales—not for consumption, but to honour whakapapa and revive traditional medicine used to treat kauri dieback, a disease killing New Zealand’s ancient trees. Alongside this, we follow their conservation work protecting the kiore, the Polynesian rat that arrived in Aotearoa with the great Māori migration. Interweaving themes of kinship between species, cultural survival, and Māori-led conservation, the film offers rare access to a sacred world where whales, forests, and even rats are revered as living ancestors. Director Kim Webby, Michael Jonathan Producer Hineani Melbourne, Kim Webby Country New Zealand Language English, Māori Year 2026 Duration 93 min Category Turangawaewae Where We Stand

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/yanuni/ Set deep in the heart of the Amazon, Indigenous chief Juma Xipaia fights to protect her people’s land from exploitation and destruction. Spanning years of activism and six assassination attempts, the film captures Juma’s historic appointment as Brazil’s first Secretary of Indigenous Rights, under President Lula. Hugo Loss, her husband and a former Special Forces ranger-turned-unwavering ally, leads dangerous operations against illegal gold miners. When Juma discovers she is pregnant, her battle takes on new urgency. Navigating impending motherhood, rising political responsibility, and Hugo’s high-risk missions, she is forced to confront the personal cost of resistance. Director Richard Ladkani Producer Anita Ladkani, Richard Ladkani, Juma Xipaia, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson, Philipp Watson Country Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, United States Language English, Portuguese Year 2025 Duration 112 min Category Fearless Wahine

Book Tickets: https://docedge.nz/events/yo-love-is-a-rebellious-bird/ After Yo’s passing at 89, her 41-year-old friend, Anna, spends a decade obsessively building a detailed 1/3-scale version of Yo’s house with a miniature puppet of her inside. Anna re-constructs a magical space where Yo’s stories unfold, and their relationship continues. The film juxtaposes intimate vérité of Yo’s last year with Anna’s creative interpretations of her dramatic life stories. Born in Switzerland in 1924, Yo lived life on her own terms, defying expectations around sexuality, mothering, aging, and even death. Director Anna Fitch, Banker White Producer Sara Dosa, Hannah Roodman, Anna Fitch, Banker White Country United States Language English Year 2026 Duration 78 min Category Art of Becoming Premiere Asia Pacific