Ōtautahi Christchurch, a city renowned for its stunning scenery and resilience post-earthquake, is now the new home for the Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival, enhancing its cultural and economic landscape.
Ōtautahi Christchurch, known for its picturesque landscapes and resilient spirit following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, has become one of the world’s newest cities offering filmmakers an eclectic mix of brand-new structures and heritage listed buildings. The city has also become the new home for the Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival in 2024. This significant move to New Zealand’s largest region, Canterbury, marks the first time in 19 years that the festival has ventured beyond Auckland and Wellington. Representatives from Screen CanterburyNZ see this as a mutually beneficial development for both the festival and the region.
Profiling Christchurch’s Vibrant Screen Sector
Petrina D’Rozario, Head of Screen CanterburyNZ, highlights the strategic timing of Doc Edge’s arrival in Christchurch, noting that it culminates the city’s efforts to bolster its screen sector. “We started off with announcing a screen grant to attract producers, focused on showcasing our beautiful locations and regional talent, and now we’re tying it all together with a film festival,” D’Rozario explains. Since its inception, the Screen Incentive Grant, offered by Screen CanterburyNZ supported 11 productions. This contributed to 240 days of production in the region with 135 FTE roles. This series of initiatives not only positions Christchurch as a prime filming destination but also enhances its cultural and economic landscape.
Helen Castelow, Screen Facilitator at Screen CanterburyNZ, shares D’Rozario’s enthusiasm, expressing excitement about the festival’s potential to rejuvenate the city. “It’s important to showcase Christchurch as a place where you can experience a world-class festival. The timing is perfect for Christchurch,” she says.
The Mutual Benefits of Hosting Doc Edge
For Doc Edge, co-founded by Alex Lee and Dan Shanan in 2005, expanding to Christchurch offers a fresh opportunity to diversify its brand and explore new territories. “It’s good for them to explore and diversify,” D’Rozario notes. The festival’s presence in Christchurch not only benefits the local film industry but also enriches the city’s cultural fabric, attracting both filmmakers and audiences to the region. For its 2024 edition, Doc Edge invited a record 60 international guests to take part in the festival and industry days.
Reviving Christchurch’s Urban Vibe
Hosting significant events like Doc Edge contributes to the city’s vibrancy, ensuring Christchurch remains dynamic and appealing. “Our team works really hard to ensure the city remains lively. The vibe here is just brilliant,” D’Rozario remarks. It’s interesting to note that Christchurch has just been placed 32nd in the world in the 2024 Happy City Index, the only city in NZ to reach the ‘gold’ category.
Castelow adds that Christchurch’s accessibility plays a crucial role in its appeal. “It’s such an accessible city. We can walk to the cinemas showing Doc Edge films, which you don’t get in Auckland and Wellington,” she points out. This ease of movement within the city definitely enhances the festival experience for attendees.
Competitive Advantages and Strategic Growth
Screen CanterburyNZ recognizes that while Auckland and Wellington boast established infrastructures and larger skill bases, Christchurch offers unique advantages. The region’s diverse locations, from urban landscapes to beaches and mountains, provide filmmakers with versatile environments within a short distance. “The locations here are incredible. Within 30 minutes you can be at the beach or forest, two hours you have spectacular alpine vistas or be in a Far West-like landscape, and breathtaking glaciers are only 4 hours away,” Castelow says.
Moreover, the streamlined permitting process in Christchurch is a significant draw for producers. “Permitting here is more straightforward and flexible. The South Island doesn’t have as many restrictions, making us more ready for fast turnarounds,” D’Rozario elaborates.
All in all, the estimated GDP output for Canterbury is $98.4m with approximately 700 people directly employed in the screen sector.
Showcasing Success Stories
To attract more productions, Screen CanterburyNZ leverages the success of past projects filmed in the region. Notable examples include Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, filmed in mid Canterbury, and more recent projects like Bookworm (Ant Timpson, 2024) and Head South (Jonathan Ogilvie, 2024). “We use these huge productions as magnets to attract even bigger ones,” D’Rozario says. These success stories serve as powerful testimonials to the region’s potential.
Looking Ahead
As Christchurch continues to grow its screen sector, Screen CanterburyNZ remains committed to enhancing its infrastructure, developing local talent, and attracting significant projects. D’Rozario acknowledges that it’s a long-term plan, but the region is making steady progress. “We’re getting there. It’s going to take a while,” she admits.
With the Doc Edge Festival now in Christchurch, the city stands poised to become a major player in New Zealand and the Asia Pacific film ecosystems, offering unique opportunities for filmmakers and enriching the cultural landscape for residents and visitors alike.
At a reception hosted by ChristchurchNZ during the 19th edition of Doc Edge in Christchurch, Petrina D’Rozario announced the revival of the grant, welcomed enthusiastically by numerous local filmmakers. Screen CanterburyNZ has secured additional funding from the Christchurch City Council for its Screen Production Grant, aimed at supporting both local and international production partners. This boost includes $100,000 allocated until June 2025 and an additional $300,000 from July 2025 to June 2026, supplementing the existing $200,000 grant. These funds total over half a million dollars, enhancing Canterbury’s appeal as a filming destination and reinforcing Screen CanterburyNZ’s role in bolstering the local screen sector.
We are thrilled to be covering Doc Edge 2024 on the ground in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. Explore our exclusive coverage here.
