News

Running 25 June to 24 August in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, the Oscar-qualifying docfest will present 32 world premieres and 20 international premieres, “Tackling themes of community, resilience, and the universal power of human connection,” organisers write, “these films are bold, raw, and resonant—reflecting the festival’s 20-year legacy of fearless storytelling.”

If you’ve ever wanted to run away to the circus (who hasn’t?), Always Far Away will be a must-see, offering us deep insights into life in the big top within today’s changing world, as seen through the eyes of three young brothers born into the community. “The youngest generation of circus acts face a new challenge: how to adapt the circus to this new era,” says producer Richard Šimeček of Svjetski Films.

At MDAG Industry Days, BDE caught up with Aliona Kachkan of Ukrainian production company TABOR ahead of her presentation of new project, Missing in Action. “Although the film is rooted in the context of war, the theme of disappearance extends far beyond it,” she says. “It touches on the broader, universal experience of absence, unresolved grief, and the human need for closure, whether caused by migration, political repression, social injustice, or natural disasters.”

Dubbed ‘Britain’s most glamourous spy,’ and an inspiration for the character of James Bond, Polish-born Countess Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek is the subject of director Sylwia Rosak’s new documentary to be presented during this week’s MDAG Industry Days. “It’s a powerful exploration of how we construct and forget our heroes — especially women who live beyond the limits of what is socially acceptable,” producer Justyna Kluczewska tells BDE.

The programme includes 51 world, 16 international, 8 European and 39 UK premieres from 68 countries of production. Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato are named as Guests of Honour while the first solo exhibition in the Alternate Realities Programme features Baff Akoto’s cutting-edge immersive work Collateral Echoes. Talks to include a BBC Interview with Professor Brian Cox, a Channel 4 Masterclass with Oobah Butler, and David Blaine x Nat Geo: Bringing the Magic to Factual.

Sunny Side of the Doc, the international community and marketplace dedicated to linear and non-linear documentaries, revealed May 6 the 42 projects that make up the official selection for its 36th edition (23-26 June 2025, La Rochelle, France). The projects will be pitched across seven thematic sessions, supported by key industry partners including PBS Distribution; Blue Ant Media & Love Nature; RTBF; Al Jazeera Documentary & AJB DOC, and ZDF Studios.

Designed for emerging filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe, the Millennium Docs Against Gravity Short Pitch Program provides a platform for directors of short documentaries to present their work-in-progress to a curated audience of sales agents, distributors, festival programmers, and broadcasters. This year’s presentation takes place May 10 in Warsaw.

“While things like artistic values, or thematic importance are always a place to start…at the end of the day, however simple it sounds, we really are searching for the best films,” Millennium Docs Against Gravity Artistic Director Karol Piekarczyk explains his programming approach on the eve of the festival’s 22nd roll-out. The festival runs 9-18 May across seven Polish cities, and 20 May to June 2 online.

World-premiering May 9 in International Competition of the 40th DOK.fest Munich, In Hell with Ivo follows Bulgarian queer artist and songwriter Ivo Dimchev who transforms personal and social hardship into provocative public and intimate private spectacles, boldly exploring sexuality, identity, faith, and activism in a liberating celebration of queer visibility.

Still Pushing Pineapples is described as “a melancholy yet heartfelt look” into the story of Dene Michael, the former singer of UK pop outfit Black Lace. The festival also announced Professor Brian Cox as Guest Speaker. Additionally, award-winning producers Norma Percy & Lucy Hetherington will talk with UK journalist Nina Hossain. The 32nd Sheffield DocFest will run June 18-23.