Doc Edge
Doc Edge is a New Zealand not-for-profit charitable trust operating the country's Oscar-qualifying international documentary festival, running in-cinema screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, plus a nationwide Virtual Cinema platform and year-round education and industry programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Doc Edge does
Doc Edge is a not-for-profit charitable trust (Charity #CC54892) founded in 2005 and headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. The organization operates New Zealand's Academy Awards-qualifying international documentary festival, now in its 21st year (Festival 2026). It runs an annual hybrid festival combining in-cinema screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch with a nationwide Virtual Cinema streaming platform, complemented by year-round industry, education, and immersive programming.
The organization serves four stakeholder groups: general documentary audiences, domestic and international filmmakers, students and educators, and industry professionals (producers, funders, buyers, distributors). Its product portfolio consists of Doc Edge Festival (75 films and 12 immersive projects in 2026), Doc Edge Awards (Oscar-qualifying categories for NZ and International features/shorts, plus emerging filmmaker and tertiary categories), Doc Edge Industry (Forum, Pitch, Market strands), Doc Edge Schools (Student Short Documentary Competition and year-round Virtual Classroom for Years 5 to Tertiary), Doc Edge Immersive (VR/AR/MR experiences), and Virtual Cinema (nationwide streaming). Underlying technology comprises a Virtual Cinema streaming platform and a Virtual Classroom digital education platform; ticket sales are transacted through the Ferve Tickets platform. The organization is led by Co-founders Alex Lee (Director/Trustee) and Dan Shanan (Executive Director/Trustee), governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Matthew Metcalfe.
Revenue flows from four streams: transaction-based ticket sales for screenings and education platform access; an annual subscription membership programme ($65 full membership, $55 concession, GST inclusive); advertising and sponsorship with estimated reach of 100,000+ via print and digital festival programme; and grants and funding from government bodies (NZ On Air, NZ Film Commission, Auckland Council, Wellington City Council) and cultural/philanthropic sources (Foundation North, Raye Freedman Foundation, Lion Foundation, Embassy of France, Institut Francais, University of Canterbury, Grand Millennium Auckland, Pacific Island Communication, RNZ). Operational scale is small at 1-10 employees plus seasonal interns.
Doc Edge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Doc Edge
- Legal name
- Doc Edge
- Website
- https://docedge.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Doc Edge is a New Zealand not-for-profit charitable trust operating the country's Oscar-qualifying international documentary festival, running in-cinema screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, plus a nationwide Virtual Cinema platform and year-round education and industry programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Doc Edge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Film Festival & Cultural Arts Programming
- NAICS
- Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ), Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons) (EDAFACAG)
Keywords
Where Doc Edge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Doc Edge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Individual screening tickets for in-cinema and virtual screenings across the festival period and year-round Virtual Classroom platform.
- Membership Programme: Annual membership offering lowest guaranteed ticket prices, special invitations, exclusive giveaways, and festival booklet delivery. Full membership $65, Concession $55 (GST inclusive).
- Advertising & Sponsorship: Advertising opportunities in print and digital festival programme with estimated reach of 100,000+. Corporate sponsorship from partners across government, cultural institutions, and private sector.
- Grants & Funding: Funding from government bodies including NZ On Air, NZ Film Commission, Auckland Council, Wellington City Council, Foundation North, and cultural partners including embassies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership - General audience |
| Subscription | Annual | Concession Membership - Students, Gold Card, Community Card holders |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Doc Edge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Doc Edge operates an annual hybrid documentary film festival featuring in-cinema screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch alongside a nationwide Virtual Cinema streaming platform, supported by Oscar-qualifying awards, an industry programme (Forum, Pitch, Market), an immersive VR/AR/MR exhibition, and a year-round Doc Edge Schools education programme with Virtual Classroom access for Years 5 to Tertiary students.
Product overview
Doc Edge operates as a multi-component documentary festival organization offering a unified platform centered around documentary storytelling. The core offering consists of the Doc Edge Festival (the main in-cinema and virtual documentary film festival), Doc Edge Awards (Oscar-qualifying awards ceremony), Doc Edge Industry (professional development and networking), Doc Edge Immersive (VR/AR digital storytelling), Doc Edge Schools (educational programs), and Virtual Cinema (nationwide streaming). These components work together to serve filmmakers, audiences, students, and industry professionals across New Zealand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Doc Edge Industry: Industry programme bringing together filmmakers, producers, funders, buyers, distributors, and decision makers with strands: Forum, Pitch, and Market.
- Doc Edge Awards
- Doc Edge Immersive
- Doc Edge Schools
- Doc Edge Virtual Cinema
Products and services
- Doc Edge Festival New Zealand's Academy Awards qualifying international documentary festival featuring in-cinema screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, plus nationwide Virtual Cinema streaming. The festival showcases documentary films and immersive projects and hosts industry events, targeted at documentary filmmakers, general audiences, and industry professionals.
- Doc Edge Awards Annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in documentary filmmaking with Oscar-qualifying categories for Best New Zealand and Best International short and feature films, plus emerging filmmaker, tertiary film, and legacy awards. Winners of the Best NZ/International short and feature categories are eligible for Academy Awards consideration, alongside cash and in-kind prizes, targeted at documentary filmmakers.
- Doc Edge Industry Industry programme comprising three strands: Forum for networking and professional development, Pitch for filmmaker project presentations, and Market connecting finished films with buyers and festival programmers, targeted at documentary producers, funders, buyers, distributors, and decision-makers in the Asia Pacific documentary sector.
- Doc Edge Immersive Showcase of cutting-edge digital storytelling featuring virtual, augmented, and mixed reality experiences, run as part of the World Press Photo & Doc Edge Immersive Exhibition at Smith & Caughey Auckland, targeted at festival audiences and immersive content creators.
- Doc Edge Schools Education programme connecting young people with documentary filmmaking, including the Student Short Documentary Competition and the year-round Virtual Classroom offering curated documentaries and educational resources for Years 5 to Tertiary students, targeted at NZ schools, tertiary institutions, students, and educators.
- Virtual Cinema Nationwide online streaming platform enabling audiences across New Zealand to access documentary films and immersive content during the festival period (27 July – 10 August) and year-round via the Virtual Classroom education platform, targeted at NZ consumers unable to attend in-cinema screenings.
- Doc Edge Membership Programme Annual membership programme providing lowest guaranteed ticket prices, special invitations, exclusive giveaways, and festival booklet delivery within New Zealand. Full Membership is $65 NZD; Concession Membership is $55 NZD for students, Gold Card holders, and Community Card holders. All prices GST inclusive; non-refundable credit card processing fee applies; membership is non-transferable and limited to one ticket per session at member rate, targeted at regular festival attendees and documentary enthusiasts in NZ.
Companies that use Doc Edge
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Doc Edge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Doc Edge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Embassy of FrancemajorFrench diplomatic mission supporting French documentary content and cultural exchange at the festival.
- Institut FrancaismajorFrench cultural institute promoting French language and culture, supporting French documentary programming.
- University of CanterburymajorTertiary education institution supporting Screen Canterbury and festival operations in Christchurch.
- Grand Millennium AucklandmajorLuxury hotel venue hosting Awards Night and industry events during the Auckland festival.
- The Capitol CinemacoreHistoric Auckland cinema serving as primary venue for festival screenings and events.
- The Roxy CinemacoreIconic Wellington cinema hosting Wellington festival screenings.
- Smith & CaugheycorePrestigious Auckland department store hosting World Press Photo and Doc Edge Immersive Exhibition.
- Jack Mann TheatrecoreUniversity of Canterbury venue hosting Christchurch festival screenings.
- Park Road Post ProductionminorPost-production facility sponsoring Best International Short award.
- Pacific Islander in CommunicationmajorFunding body supporting Pacific Islander documentary content, credited as co-production partner for Unlikely Kin.
- RNZ (Radio New Zealand)majorPublic broadcaster supporting documentary content, credited as co-production partner for Unlikely Kin.
- South Seas Film SchoolminorTertiary film school with student winning Best Tertiary Film award.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Doc Edge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Doc NYC: Doc NYC is the largest documentary festival in the United States, featuring theatrical screenings, an industry conference, and education programmes. Directly comparable to Doc Edge's festival + industry + schools structure.
- Sydney Film Festival: Sydney Film Festival is the leading Australian film festival featuring documentary and fiction programming with in-cinema screenings and industry events. Comparable to Doc Edge as an Asia Pacific regional film festival with similar audience and industry programming.
- Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival: Hot Docs is a leading international documentary festival with theatrical screenings, industry programmes, and year-round education initiatives. Most directly comparable to Doc Edge as a national-level documentary festival with curated programming, filmmaker support services, and educational outreach.
- New Zealand International Film Festival: NZIFF is New Zealand's largest film festival featuring international and NZ films across multiple cities. The most direct domestic peer to Doc Edge, sharing NZ geography, theatrical venues, and audiences, though NZIFF covers fiction and documentary rather than specializing in documentary.
- Sheffield DocFest: Sheffield DocFest is a UK-based documentary festival featuring theatrical screenings, an industry marketplace, and pitching sessions. Highly comparable business model to Doc Edge with film exhibition, industry programming, and filmmaker development.
- True/False Film Festival: True/False is a US documentary festival known for curated programming and filmmaker Q&As. Comparable to Doc Edge as a curated documentary festival focused on theatrical exhibition and filmmaker engagement.
- Melbourne International Film Festival: MIFF is Australia's largest film festival featuring documentary, fiction, and shorts programming with industry events. Comparable to Doc Edge as a regional festival in the Asia Pacific with hybrid theatrical and online exhibition components.
Broad incumbents
- Sundance Film Festival: Sundance is the most prominent US independent film festival featuring significant documentary programming alongside fiction films. Comparable to Doc Edge as a leading international film festival, though Sundance operates at much larger scale and broader scope.
- IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam): IDFA is one of the world's largest documentary festivals with industry forums, pitching markets, and an extensive educational programme. Comparable to Doc Edge as a documentary festival with industry, awards, and education components, though at much greater scale.
Emerging players
- World Press Photo: World Press Photo is a global photojournalism organization with annual exhibitions, including a co-presented immersive exhibition with Doc Edge. Comparable as a documentary/nonfiction storytelling brand with annual exhibition programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Doc Edge social profiles
Digital presenceDoc Edge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Doc Edge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Doc Edge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Doc Edge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Doc Edge
What does Doc Edge do?
Doc Edge operates an annual hybrid documentary film festival featuring in-cinema screenings across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch alongside a nationwide Virtual Cinema streaming platform, supported by Oscar-qualifying awards, an industry programme (Forum, Pitch, Market), an immersive VR/AR/MR exhibition, and a year-round Doc Edge Schools education programme with Virtual Classroom access for Years 5 to Tertiary students.
Is Doc Edge a public or private company?
Doc Edge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Doc Edge founded?
Doc Edge was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Doc Edge based?
Doc Edge is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Doc Edge make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership Programme, advertising & Sponsorship and grants & Funding.
Who are Doc Edge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Doc NYC, Sydney Film Festival, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, New Zealand International Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, True/False Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival. Broad incumbents are Sundance Film Festival and IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam). World Press Photo is listed as an emerging player.
Does Doc Edge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Doc Edge.
What industry is Doc Edge in?
Doc Edge's product category is Documentary Film Festival & Cultural Arts Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAG, Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera), with a secondary code of EDAGALAK, Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment). Its NAICS code is 512131 and its SIC code is 7830.