75 films. 12 immersive exhibitions. 3 days of industry events. And an Oscar®‑qualifying awards ceremony.
The 21st Doc Edge Festival returns with a bold showcase of documentary film and immersive storytelling from Aotearoa and around the world - work that confronts, challenges, and connects audiences through urgent, real‑world stories.
This year’s programme features a standout mix of 49 feature films, 26 short films, and 12 immersive projects. The festival spans global issues, powerful local voices, and deeply human narratives across screenings, exhibitions, and industry events.
With its Oscar‑qualifying status secured for another four years, Doc Edge continues to attract world premieres and cement its reputation as a major fixture on both the local and international documentary circuit.
Films
Music and the Mystical Experience | World Premiere | NZ Film
Director: Isabel Corfiatis
Sound engineer Michael Sutherland assembles twenty of New Zealand’s most talented musicians to score the psychedelic experience. Through performance and expert insight, the film explores music as a transformative tool for therapeutic healing.
Inside Gaza | Asia Pacific Premiere | International Film
Director: Hélène Lam Trong
Trapped in a conflict closed to the international press, a group of AFP journalists documents the war from within. A searing exploration of the moral dilemma of survival, and the vital role of field journalism in an era of growing attacks on media freedom.
Unlikely Kin | World Premiere | NZ Film
Directors: Kim Webby, Michael Jonathan
A father and son fight to uphold Māori guardianship — harvesting stranded whales and protecting endangered fauna. They reveal how ancestral knowledge may be the essential key to healing the land and saving New Zealand’s forests.
Discover more films, here.


