Doc Station

Watch this collection of the best new short documentaries from all over the world. Join us for the world premiere of a Kiwi documentary shot in Antarctica. Observe the beautiful banality on board a cruise ship. Take part in a festival celebrating crawfish. Experience a Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Observe the mayhem that ensues when a new traffic separation device is installed in Sweden. Sometimes the best and most incredible stories are true stories — about real-life adventures, inspiring characters, places we wish to visit!

Estimated total run time: 106 minutes.
Exempt from rating. Contact your cinema for details.

Acadiana

Documentary, 10 mins, Canada

Dir/Writ: Guillaume Fournier

Dir: Samuel Matteau, Yannick Nolin

Prod: Jean-Pierre Vézina

On a sunny day in May 2017, in the city of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, the mythic Crawfish Festival is underway. Let the dancing, feasting and parades begin.

All on a Mardi Gras Day

Documentary, 19 mins, USA

Dir/Writ/Prod: Michal Pietrzyk

Prod: Celeste Caliri, David Favret, Gabriel Bienczycki

In New Orleans, there is a little-known, 200-year-old culture known as Mardi Gras Indians: these African-American men, from the city’s roughest neighborhoods, spend all year sewing feathered suits to wear in a battle to decide who’s “the prettiest”.

A Song Can’t Burn

Documentary, 12 mins, United Kingdom

Dir: Roscoe Neil

Prod: Martin Ball

Professor and musician Nigel Osborne has developed techniques to use music as therapy for children suffering the effects of trauma. These methods are now being used to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Six Degrees of Immigration

Documentary, 12 mins, USA

Dir/Prod: Jayme Gershen

The story of a couple separated by US immigration policy, whose love may or may not stand the test of time.

Judas Collar

Drama, 15 mins, Australia

Dir/Writ: Alison James

Prod: Brooke Silcox

In outback Australia, a wild camel is captured and fitted with a tracking device known as a Judas Collar. Based on the real-life practice, the film is a scripted story that explores the idea of a camel used to betray her kind.

Te Whakairo – Ngā Kī o Te Tai Ao
(The Carvings Carry the Stories of the World)

World Premiere

Documentary, 14 mins, New Zealand

Dir/Prod: Vanessa Wells

Two talented carvers from each end of Aotearoa take their toi whakairo (carving) to Antarctica in response to our kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the world’s largest marine protected area — the Ross Sea region.

Spårviddshinder
(The Traffic Separating Device)

Documentary, 15 mins, Sweden

Dir/Writ/Prod: Johan Palmgren

Writ: Julian Antell, Mattias Grosin

A traffic-separating device is installed in the middle of Stockholm. It is supposed to keep cars away and only let buses pass. It turns into a disaster as cars continue to try to pass through and we follow the whole amusing mess.

All Inclusive

Documentary, 10 mins, Switzerland

Dir: Corina Schwingruber Ilić

Prod: Stella Händler

A workout on the sun deck, a conga line in the dining hall, a photo shoot with the captain, or a beauty contest for all ages: around-the-clock fun is guaranteed on a cruise ship, while you float along with your hotel room.