Exciting 2026 Lineup Announced for DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Featuring Over 75 Films and Several World Premieres
DOXA Documentary Film Festival Announces Lineup for 25th Anniversary Edition
Vancouver’s DOXA Documentary Film Festival, the largest nonfiction film event in Western Canada, has unveiled its lineup for its 25th anniversary, set to take place from April 30 to May 10.
The festival will kick off with a live cinematic performance, Bella Sutra, directed and narrated by OK Pedersen. This piece, accompanied by musicians Eden Glasman and Jakob Tokarczyk, is described as a personal essay reflecting on life as an innkeeper in Bella Coola, BC. The performance addresses themes such as the current communication crisis and the philosophical divide between rural and urban perspectives.
A highlight of the festival is the BC premiere of Concrete Turned to Sand, directed by local filmmakers Jessica Johnson and Ryan Ermacora. This documentary follows oyster farmers on Cortes Island, exploring the challenges posed by ocean warming and acidification. The filmmakers will also engage in an Industry Panel discussion on May 2.
The festival will conclude with the BC premiere of Time and Water, an Oscar-nominated documentary directed by Sara Dosa. This National Geographic feature, which first screened at Sundance, examines the consequences of melting glaciers in Iceland through the lens of author and filmmaker Andri Snær Magnason.
The 2026 edition will showcase several world premieres, including Under the Red Roof by Yushi Nagamatsu, Illustrated Legacies: Graveyard of the Pacific by Tanner Zurkoski, and The Flower and the Flood by Elisa González along with Bubba by Kayli Koonar.
Noteworthy films in this year’s lineup include American Doctor, directed by Poh Si Teng, Bouchra by Orian Yani Barki and Meriem Bennani, and Who is Still Alive by Nicolas Wadimoff, among others. The local features will also spotlight films such as Namesake təm kʷaθ nan, Green Valley, and In Tyee Country, with attending filmmakers.
Artistic Director Sarah Ouazzani expressed enthusiasm for the milestone event, stating, “We are excited to celebrate 25 festival editions highlighting important, entertaining and relevant documentary films.” She emphasized the diversity of the program, which includes international and Canadian features, innovative short films, and a range of industry events.
Returning this year is DOXA’s Justice Forum, now in its 16th year, featuring films that focus on themes of resistance, environmental justice, and human rights. The Justice Forum Special Presentation will be Saigon Story: Two Shootings in the Forest Kingdom, directed by Kim Nguyen.
The festival will also honor South Korea as its 2026 Country of Honor, with guest curation by Byungwon Jang of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. This segment includes features such as Beyond Now, Nyein and short films like The Silent Bearers and Last May in Theatres.
Additionally, DOXA will host its Rated Y for Youth program, designed to foster media literacy in young audiences. The paraDOXA program will return for its second year, focusing on experimental documentaries, complemented by a robust series of industry panels, masterclasses, workshops, and a surprise screening in partnership with VPL’s Central Library.
The festival’s full lineup promises to deliver an engaging and thought-provoking experience for documentary enthusiasts and the Vancouver community alike.
