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."
