Overview
The Documentary Edge Festival has been bringing the very best documentaries from across the globe to New Zealand since 2005. It annually attracts more than 10,000 people to watch a selection of thought-provoking, feature-length docos and pint-sized flicks.
With six titles already released, including an eye-opening look at Blockchain and a portrait of six guide dogs and their owners, the festival has now unveiled its full program for 2019. The 65-film lineup has something for every cinematic palate, from political thrillers to a Billy Elliot-style story about a South African ballet dancer and a fight against the corruption and slavery which fuels the Thai fishing industry.
Elsewhere on the lineup film-goers will be treated to unscripted masterpieces by way of Spain, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia and beyond.
Kate Nash: Underestimate The Girl, Amy Goldstein's high-energy, female-focused rock odyssey, follows punk musician Kate Nash as she forgoes money and fame to speak out about gender inequality in the music business; Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life follows the world-famous gay porn star through eight years of his unconventional life; Midnight Traveler is the true story of filmmaker Hassan Fazili and his escape from Afghanistan after the Taliban puts a bounty on his head; Karamea: At The End of the Road uncovers a bunch of modern-hippies trying to change the world from one of the most remote places on earth; while More Human Than Human proposes whether AI will render humanity obsolete as they attempt to build a robot smart enough to direct a film.
And that's only a small slice of the pie — you can see the full program here.
The 14th Documentary Edge Festival 2019 will play out from 30 May – 9 June across Auckland's Q Theatre, Ellen Melville Centre and Auckland Art Gallery, and from 13 – 23 June at Wellington's Roxy Cinema, Te Auaha and Light House Cuba.