Documentary Edge Festival Ringing in Tenth Year with Martin Scorsese and Wyclef Jean For President

Beyond the glamour of Hollywood and far fetched story lines (like the one where the man dies and comes back reincarnated as a snowman so he can get a second chance at building a relationship with his son), there are people giving valuable insight into the world through nonfictional cinema.

The Documentary Edge Festival brings together the very best documentaries from across the globe every year. More than 10,000 people annually attend the festival to watch a selection of over 50 thought-provoking docos. The 10th anniversary of the festival will play out this year from 20 May - 1 June in Auckland's Q Theatre and 3 June until 14 June in Wellington's The Roxy.

While the full programme will be launched at the beginning of April, the festival has announced the first three films for the 2015 programme, including: a presidential race between two Fugees, an investigative piece on a notorious serial killer, and the latest release from film buff Scorsese.

Sweet Micky for President

Sweet Micky for President follows Fugees founder Pras Michel as he returns to his homeland of Haiti to mobilize a presidential campaign for the nation’s most controversial musician: Michel Martelly aka Sweet Micky. The inexperienced pair set out against a corrupted government, civil unrest, and fellow election hopeful - Pras's former bandmate, Wyclef Jean. Sean Penn, Bill Clinton, Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy also make appearances. It’s one of the most unlikely true stories ever captured on film.

Tales of the Grim Sleeper

Nick Broomfield’s Tales of the Grim Sleeper digs into the case of the notorious serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper, who terrorised South Central Los Angeles over a span of twenty-five years. The film ventures into the neighbourhood, and speaks with both the Sleeper’s accomplices and survivors.

The 50 Year Argument

The 50 Year Argument is the latest work from cinema legend Martin Scorsese and co-director David Tedeschi. In celebration of the semi-monthly magazine New York Review of Books which marked its 50th anniversary in 2013, Scorsese and Tedeschi explore its impressive history through rare archive footage, interviews and portraits.

For more info, click here.