Activism and B.C.-made world premieres as DOXA Documentary Film Festival unveils more of its programming

New paraDOXA initiative will highlight experimental films like To Use a Mountain

A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT a Russian school’s life under the iron fist of Vladimir Putin is one of the features just announced as part of this year’s DOXA festival.

Western Canada’s largest documentary film festival has unveiled more of its programming for its 24th edition, running from May 1 to 11. In all, DOXA will showcase 39 features, 30 short and mid-length films, and industry events, with many of the directors on hand for Q&As and panel discussions following screenings.

David Borenstein’s Mr. Nobody Against Putin screens May 7 at SFU Woodward’s Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema. The winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival follows small-town teacher Pasha, who documents the transformation of his school into a recruitment centre for the war on Ukraine.

Elsewhere among the international offerings, audiences can experience award-winning films such as Coexistence, My Ass!, featuring comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi’s one-woman show about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Mistress Dispeller’s look at marital betrayal in China; Direct Action, following activists, farmers, and squatters fighting an airport development in France; and Bogancloch, focusing on a man who lives alone in Scotland’s Clashindarroch Forest. Meanwhile, 2024 Cannes Festival feature The Brink of Dreams centres on an Egyptian theatre troupe that tackles issues like child marriage and sexual harassment.

World premieres of B.C. films include the NFB’s Nechako—It Will Be a Big River Again, documenting Indigenous resistance in northern B.C., directed by Vancouver-based Stellat’en filmmaker Lyana Patrick. There will also be Have You Heard Judi Singh?, which revives a forgotten musician’s legacy; and King Arthur’s Night, from director John Bolton, reimagining the King Arthur legend through artists with and without Down syndrome.

This year’s festival also presents the world premiere of Canadian film They Are Sacred, by Kim O’Bomsawin. The documentary reframes autism through an Indigenous lens, embracing Cree traditions that honour neurodiversity. Newly announced North American premieres include Bedrock by Kinga Michalska, Silent Observers by Eliza Petkova, HUAQUERO by Juan Carlos Donoso Gómez, and The Cats of Gokogu Shrine by Kazuhiro Soda.

DOXA also launches its new paraDOXA program this year, highlighting experimental films that include the Canadian premiere of To Use a Mountain, directed by Casey Carter, about real and imagined spaces and the activism around where to bury American radioactive waste.

Last week, DOXA announced Elizabeth Vibert and Chen Wang’s Aisha’s Story as its Opening Gala film, and Patrick Shannon’s Saints and Warriors as the Closing Gala film.

All tickets and festival passes are on sale now at doxafestival.ca.

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Janet Smith

Janet Smith is founding partner and editorial director of Stir. She is an award-winning arts journalist who has spent more than two decades immersed in Vancouver’s dance, screen, design, theatre, music, opera, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.

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