The Oscar®-qualifying Doc Edge Festival marks its 21st year with a bold opening slate - 16 films that take audiences inside a Gaza conflict zone, into the world of AI companionship, onto the set of a fatal Hollywood shooting, and deep into the criminal underworld of Aotearoa.
From competitive dance floors to a bucket list written by a dying man and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, this year's programme is as wildly varied as it is urgent.
Spanning deeply personal stories to global issues playing out in real time, the opening line-up draws on voices from Aotearoa and around the world. It features multiple world premieres ahead of the full programme release on 15 May.
The festival runs in Auckland from 24 June to 12 July, with screenings alongside an immersive exhibition programme. Auckland will also host Doc Edge's industry event and awards from 29 June to 1 July, drawing filmmakers, distributors, and industry guests from across New Zealand and internationally.