The programme is divided into eight sections: World Cinema, Culture Vultures, Generation Next, The American Dream, Sign of the Times, Human Rights, Game On and Special Presentations. Plus, you can also check out a selection of short films.
It’s a mighty programme, with a massive range of films on offer. Flicks’ Aaron Yap takes us through ten he’s looking forward to seeing at the festival.
Brooklyn Castle
Inspirational whiz-kids doco follows the young chess prodigies (many whom live below the poverty line) of Brooklyn’s Intermediate School 318 as they chase their dreams at the national championships. This “geeks are the athletes” tale picked up the Audience Award at South by Southwest last year.
Brooklyn Castle screening times
Auckland:
Thursday April 11th – 6.15pm at Q Theatre
Sunday April 14th – 12.00pm at Q Theatre
Thursday April 18th – 12.30pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Thursday May 9th – 6.15pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Sunday May 12th – 12.00pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Thursday May 16th – 12.30pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Scarlet Road
Long-held myths about two socially marginalised groups are debunked in this eye-opening doco from Aussie filmmaker Catherine Scott. Scarlet Road is the story of her friend, Rachel Wotton, a sex worker who specialises in providing intimacy for the disabled through a charitable organisation called Touching Base.
Scarlet Road screening times
Auckland:
Friday April 12th – 11.45am at Q Theatre
Wednesday April 17th – 8.30pm at Q Theatre (with Q&A)
Wellington:
Friday May 10th – 1.45pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Saturday May 18th – 5.30pm at Film Archive
The Waiting Room
A fitting fly-on-the-wall flipside to Michael Moore’s Sicko looking at the American healthcare system via the doctors, nurses and patients at the embattled Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. No talking heads or sensational statistics here – just pure E.R. nightmare, a hospital at breaking point.
The Waiting Room screening times
Auckland:
Monday April 15th – 2.15pm at Q Theatre
Thursday April 18th – 7.00pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Monday May 13th – 2.15pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Thursday May 16th – 7.00pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Seeking Asian Female
Middle-aged American guy finds young Chinese bride through the internet. A predictable case of “yellow fever”? Debbie Lum’s Seeking Asian Female promises to go a bit deeper. A candid examination of cross-cultural romance that delves into all those complications you’d expect from such a pairing, and more.
Seeking Asian Female screening times
Auckland:
Thursday April 11th – 5.00pm at Q Theatre
Wednesday April 17th – 4.15pm at Q Theatre (with Q&A)
Saturday April 20th – 9.30pm at Q Theatre (with Q&A)
Wellington:
Thursday May 9th – 5.00pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Wednesday May 15th – 4.45pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Saturday May 18th – 9.30pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
How to Survive a Plague
An impassioned acknowledgement of the groundbreaking efforts by two activist coalitions – ACT UP and TAG – responsible for turning the AIDS epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s into a manageable condition by pushing the government to expedite treatment. Expect an emotionally stirring, gut-wrenching experience.
How to Survive a Plague screening times
Auckland:
Sunday April 14th – 5.45pm at Q Theatre
Thursday April 18th – 3.45pm at Q Theatre
Sunday April 21st – 3.15pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Sunday May 12th – 5.45pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Thursday May 16th – 3.45pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Sunday May 19th – 4.00pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Muscle Shoals
Music doco fans won’t want to miss this slice of rock ‘n’ roll history, which visits the small town of Muscle Shoals in Alabama to unearth its rich musical legacy as the place where some of world’s most iconic hits were produced. Bono, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and legendary producer Rick Hall are all on hand to talk about it.
Muscle Shoals screening times
Auckland:
Closing Night: Sunday April 21st – 8.30pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Closing Night: Sunday May 19th – 9.00pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Only the Young
Coming-of-ager focusing on a group of teenagers living in a sleepy desert town in Southern California. They skate, find love, and skate some more. Looks intimate, wistful, gorgeously photographed. Larry Clark-lite, perhaps?
Only the Young screening times
Auckland:
Saturday April 13th – 7.45pm at Q Theatre
Friday April 19th – 9.30pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Saturday May 11th – 7.15pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Friday May 17th – 7.45pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
The Invisible War
Kirby Dick (This Film is Not Yet Rated) tackles the hot-button topic of rape in the US military, an epidemic that has seen half-a-million sexual assaults and only 2% of cases resulting in convictions. Strong stuff that has actually influenced policy changes in the most powerful institution in the world.
The Invisible War screening times
Auckland:
Friday April 12th – 7.15pm at Q Theatre
Tuesday April 16th – 6.15pm at Q Theatre
Thursday April 18th – 2.45pm at Q Theatre (with Q&A)
Wellington:
Friday May 10th – 6.30pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Tuesday May 14th – 6.15pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Thursday May 16th – 2.45pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Rafea: Solar Mama
Incredible-sounding story about women plucked from impoverished villages in the Middle East to become… solar engineers. Many of these women are illiterate and will be leaving their families for the first time, but they will return six months later with the skills to provide electricity for their community.
Rafea: Solar Mama screening times
Auckland:
Sunday April 14th – 2.00pm at Q Theatre
Thursday April 18th – 12.15pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Friday May 10th – 5.30pm at Film Archive
Sunday May 12th – 2.00pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Thursday May 16th – 12.15pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Scattered / Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Intriguing double feature of shorts. Lindsay Lindenbaum’s Scattered attempts to piece together a portrait of her mysterious, absentee father through old home movies and photographs, while Lucy Walker’s Academy-nominated Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom is an artfully shot, moving study of post-tsunami Japan and the symbolic significance that the nation’s favourite flower has in their steps towards rebuilding life.
Scattered / Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom screening times
Auckland:
Friday April 12th – 3.15pm at Q Theatre
Wednesday April 17th – 12.30pm at Q Theatre
Friday April 19th – 3.30pm at Q Theatre
Wellington:
Friday May 10th – 2.30pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
WednesdayMay 15th – 1.30pm at Reading Cinemas Courtenay
Saturday May 18th – 4.15pm at Film Archive
Check out the full Documentary Edge Festival programme on their website or by picking up a printed copy. See you there!
