Latest news with #DocEdge

1News
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 1News
Chinese consulate asks NZ film festival to can Philippine doco
Chinese officials have asked that a Filipino documentary be removed from future screenings at the New Zealand Doc Edge Festival, saying doing so would be in the interest of Chinese-New Zealand relations. The documentary, Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, had its world premiere on June 30 at The Capitol Cinema in Auckland — after being withdrawn from screenings in its home country. The film was scheduled to premiere at the Puregold CinePalo Film Festival in Manila was pulled from the line-up days before it aired over what the film creators described as "external factors" earlier this year. It was then selected by New Zealand's Doc Edge Festival — the first to be able to do so. But, this week, festival organisers were asked to do as the Filipino counterparts had and cut the doco from its schedule. In correspondence seen by 1News, the Chinese Consulate requested the festival refrain from all future screenings — if it wanted to act in the "interest of public and China-New Zealand relations". The correspondence pointed out that New Zealand Prime Minister's Christopher Luxon's recent visit to China had been "fruitful". ADVERTISEMENT Festival organisers said the written request followed several calls to ticketing staff and board members, requesting that the screenings be pulled. "The documentary... is rife with disinformation and false propaganda, serving as a political tool for Philippines to pursue illegitimate claims in the South China Sea. Its screening would severely mislead the public and send the wrong message internationally," the email from the Chinese Consulate read. "This documentary disregarded history and facts, and is designed to amplify the Philippines' wrong position on the issue concerning the South China Sea and deliberately distort and hype up the maritime situation." Doc Edge general manager Rachael Penman said they've refused the request and willingly stand by all their filmmakers. "We are a voice for independent filmmakers," she said. "We programmed a film that we felt was really important to be seen and brings up a conversation with so many people. I hope that everyone does go and see this now, and has their own opportunity to make their own decisions about this film." 1News has reached out to both the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Consulate via email and phone with questions around its specific concerns with the film and why it was appropriate to exert political pressure in such a way. While it didn't address those specific questions, the Chinese Embassy said as a "matter of principle we hope that publicly promoted content would reflect realities rather than spreading mis or dis-information". ADVERTISEMENT It also called for disputes to be peacefully resolved and expressed its desire for "countries outside the region to play a constructive role in this regard instead of doing the opposite". The Philippine Embassy declined to comment other than to say "it is aware" of the situation. Directed by Filipino filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, the tells the stories of local fishermen, the national Coast Guard, and the Navy as they work in the South China Sea – with a particular focus on the area around the Scarborough Shoal. Contained within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, China's had de-facto control of it since 2012 and has refused to accept an international ruling that said its claim over almost the entirety of the South China Sea has no legal basis. University of Otago senior lecturer in politics Nicholas Khoo said there is "absolutely no ambiguity" and the Scarborough Shoal is "Filipino territory". "The challenge is that China doesn't respect the Filipino position, nor does it respect the international legal issue that is at stake here." He said the situation "underlines the importance of New Zealand standing up for the international legal order" and for it to continue to "reassert our interest in freedom of navigation", adding that "there should not be an aggressive use of force to attempt to solve issues". ADVERTISEMENT Khoo said the film clearly contradicts China's narrative and that will be why officials are working to prevent its screening. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on behalf of government officials and said it fully supports freedom of expression. In relation to the territorial disputes, it said New Zealand does not take a position on individual claims in the South China Sea, but did want disputes resolved peacefully via diplomacy and in accordance with international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In China the film has also been heavily criticised. Commentators with its state-run network described it as revealing a "pattern of selective storytelling that serves broader political interests" and a "propaganda piece" that "dodges the gritty geopolitics of the region and the realities of the territorial issues and maritime disputes". Villarama told 1News today she had deliberately chosen to shine the lens on the people rather than the politics. "Because we really want to celebrate us as people, without politicising the issue. We want to diplomatically reach out and share our personal stories, because the more personal we go, the more authentic we can be with others." She said she held no animosity towards China, and invited those opposed to her documentary to go and watch "so they can know the truth about our people". ADVERTISEMENT "We don't have any agenda. There is no 'Western influence'."

RNZ News
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Chinese documentaries expand presence at 2025 Doc Edge
Clockwise from top left: Ai Weiwei's Turandot; Made in Ethiopia; The Dating Game; Chinatown Cha-Cha Photo: Supplied Doc Edge co-founder Alex Lee says the Chinese titles in the line-up shine a light on growing diversity in the world as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. Lee, who is also the nonprofit festival's co-director, says he's proud his team has been able to create something that's "so special". "I'm also proud of the fact that I'm a migrant that has managed to do something special for the future and for the history of New Zealand," said Lee, who is Malaysian Chinese. Featuring documentaries from across the world covering a wide range of topics on politics, culture, history, art, the environment and more, the 2025 festival includes seven films related to China. Ai Weiwei's Turandot leads a strong line-up that also includes The Dating Game, Made in Ethiopia, Chinatown Cha-Cha, Correct Me if I'm Wrong, Little Potato and Two Travelling Aunties , with the latter three being short films. Alex Lee, co-founder and co-director of the Doc Edge Festival Photo: Supplied Lee acknowledges that some people might think documentaries are boring or irrelevant, but he believes they're important as a "slice of our life". The Dating Game , for example, depicts how Chinese men have needed to learn how to be more attractive as there are so many more men in China than women, he says. Meanwhile, Ai Weiwei's Turandot reminds people that conversation and dialogue are important even if two opposing sides disagree with each other, Lee says. "There's nothing worse than ... hearing your own voice," Lee says. "The only way that we can become a better world is if we are all able to listen to each other and we don't agree on the differences, but we learn to live with it." Lee says there has been an increase in the number of films submitted from China over the years. "There is a growth in the Chinese documentary sector, which includes not just the industry from PRC [People's Republic of China] but also from the Chinese diaspora - whether [it's] just filmmakers or content." Lee says the growth has been driven by a rise in industry upskilling and support from Chinese authorities and academic institutions. "This is often stimulated by the demand and interest about Chinese culture and issues," he says. "Additionally, with more cross-border travel, people have travelled to and worked with China," he says. "Therefore, there is also more awareness and sophistication with audience interest." Clockwise from top left: Correct Me if I'm Wrong; Little Potato; Two Travelling Aunties Photo: Supplied Lee says the festival organisers are keen to "encourage diversity in voices and content". With more people turning to social media, it is important to bring long-form content that can explore issues more deeply rather than offer snapshots that do not provide the detail and clarity required, Lee says. "Additionally, watching documentaries allows you to understand another person's point of view," he says. "It will help you to develop greater empathy for [others] and it may reshape the way you see them. "At the very least, we want the opportunity for audiences to say they have watched and listened to others. "They may not agree but they can agree to disagree - with empathy and kindness and not within an echo chamber."

RNZ News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
An intimate look at resilience, connection and enduring love
disability media 17 minutes ago A standout on this year's DocEdge Film Festival programme is 'A Quiet Love', which won the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows three deaf couples - each from different backgrounds and circumstances - connecting through Irish sign language. The producers of the film Anne Heffernan and Seán Herlihy spoke to Jesse. The DocEdge Documentary Film Festival is underway in Auckland, and it'll be coming to Wellington and Christchurch from the 16th, and the rest of the country from the 28th.


Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Doc Edge Awards 2025: Mighty Indeed And The Pool Take Top Honours And Oscar® Consideration
On Thursday evening Doc Edge held their annual awards as part of the 2025 Doc Edge Festival at The Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland. Twenty-four awards were announced to honour and celebrate the superb documentaries and filmmakers, from both New Zealand and internationally, participating in this year's programme. Doc Edge is an Academy Awards qualifying festival for feature and short documentary films. The winners of Best NZ Short, NZ Feature, International Feature and International Short are eligible for consideration for the 2026 Academy Awards. Mighty Indeed from New Zealand director Vanessa Wells and The Pool by Australian filmmaker Ian Darling emerged as the night's most awarded films, with Wells' taking out two awards and Darling's film taking home three. Mighty Indeed was awarded Best New Zealand Feature and Best Director. The film follows three women working in Antarctica across four decades, exploring science, climate, and survival in one of the world's harshest environments. The jury praised the work for its 'quiet strength, emotional depth, and clear directorial vision, gracefully executed.' Wildboy by Brando Yelavich and Toby Schmutzler received Best Editing and Best Cinematography, with the jury applauding 'its relentless commitment to capturing both nature in all its grandeur and personal challenges in all their intimacy'. Three Days in February directed by Serena Stevenson was awarded Best Sound, with the jury noting its 'evocative, immersive, and emotional aural design that transports the viewer to a magical place outside of time and day-to-day drudgery.' Little Potato, directed by Chen Chen, won Best New Zealand Short for what the jury described as 'artistic photography, an unflinching camera, and bravery and vulnerability in sharing intimate moments about a sensitive topic often kept behind closed doors.' The Best New Zealand Emerging Filmmaker award went to Caleb Young for Nothing is Impossible: The Primanavia Story and Best Tertiary Film was awarded to Ally, directed by Evienne Jones from the University of Canterbury. Best International Feature went to The Pool (Australia), directed by Ian Darling. The jury described it as ' a compelling and beautifully crafted work that transforms a seemingly simple subject into a powerful exploration of the human condition,'. The film also took our Best International Editing and Best International Cinematography. The Dating Game (United States), directed by Violet Du Feng, was awarded Best International Director and received a Special Mention for Best International Short. The jury praised the film for 'delivering on all fronts – from strong casting and beautiful cinematography to mindful editing, a remarkable achievement from a director to watch.' On Healing Land, Birds Perch (USA/Vietnam), directed by Naja Phm Lockwood, won Best International Short and In Waves and War took out Best International Sound. Ruby Chen, the previously announced recipient of the Doc Edge Superhero Award, was celebrated and formally presented with her award on the night. Ruby Chen is a tireless advocate for independent storytellers, she has played a pivotal role in elevating the global presence of Chinese and Asian documentaries and in nurturing a new generation of documentary talent. The 2025 festival programme boasts 90 titles including feature films, shorts and immersive projects. Screenings continue in Auckland until 13 July, before heading to Wellington and Christchurch from 16 to 27 July, and online via the Doc Edge Virtual Cinema from 28 July to 24 August. Full list of Doc Edge Awards 2025 Winners: New Zealand Award Winners Best New Zealand Short: Little Potato (Dir. Chen Chen) Best New Zealand Feature: Mighty Indeed (Dir. Vanessa Wells) Special Mention: Devils on Horses (Dir. Edward Sampson) Best New Zealand Director: Vanessa Wells (Mighty Indeed) Best New Zealand Editing: Wildboy Best New Zealand Cinematography: Wildboy Best New Zealand Sound: Three Days in February Best New Zealand Emerging Filmmaker: Caleb Young (Nothing is Impossible: The Primanavia Story) New Zealand Student Award Winners Best Tertiary Film: Ally (Dir. Evienne Jones) University of Canterbury, Christchurch Special Mention: Don't Forget Us (Dir. Maria Hewison) South Seas Film School, Auckland International Award Winners Best International Short: On Healing Land, Birds Perch (USA, Vietnam, Dir. Naja Phm Lockwood) Best International Feature: The Pool (Australia, Dir. Ian Darling) Special Mention: The Dating Game (United States, Dir. Violet Du Feng) Special Mention: Before the Moon Falls (United States, Dir. Kimberlee Bassford) Best International Director: Violet Du Feng (The Dating Game) Best International Editing: The Pool Best International Cinematography: The Pool Best International Sound: In Waves and War Festival Category Winners Being Oneself: A Quiet Love The Art of Storytelling: Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror Tides of Change: Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea Facing the Edge: In Waves and War In Truth We Trust: Blame The Edge of Impact: Yurlu | Country Immersive Impact Winners New Zealand Project: The Visitors Book (Created by Rewa Rendall) International Project: Kapwa (USA, Created by Michaela Ternasky-Holland, Aaron Santiago) Doc Edge Superhero Ruby Chen Stay updated with the latest news and announcements by visiting and following Doc Edge on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Film stills available here.

RNZ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Linus O'Brien his dad journey to create The Rocky Horror Show
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. It was the little musical that ended up with cult following. When the Rocky Horror Show opened in London in 1973, it bucked the trend of big-budget and technical productions like Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair . It was the brainchild of Richard O'Brien, the UK-born New Zealand-raised creative who wrote the stage show and played the character of Riff Raff. The show became a hit, and Richard wrote the screenplay when it was turned into the Rocky Horror Picture Show . Rocky 's transition from musical to movie, to 4am screenings with audience dress up and participation, has been captured by Richard's son Linus. It features interviews with key members of the production team and original cast, including Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. It's called Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror and is screening as part of the DocEdge film festival . Linus and Richard join Kathryn to talk about the show's enduring legacy.