DOXA Film Festival 2025 Watchlist

the inside scoop on my favourite films at DOXA this year

Do you like documentaries? Have you heard of DOXA Film Festival? If yes, then I can’t wait to see you there. If not, then let’s get you invested!

DOXA Film Festival is Western Canada’s largest documentary festival, now going on it’s 24th year. It is a week long Vancouver event dedicated to showcasing the best in documentary filmmaking from around the world. Every year, the festival brings together powerful and thought-provoking films that illuminate stories from diverse perspectives; with a keen focus on social justice, human rights, culture, and innovation, DOXA offers a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to share their visions and explore the world through the lens of real-life narratives.

This year’s festival promises an exciting slate of films, featuring both local and international talent. From immersive explorations of pressing global issues to intimate portraits of individuals navigating the complexities of everyday life, DOXA is where cinema meets activism, experimentation, and creativity. Whether you're a long-time fan of documentaries or new to the genre, DOXA offers something for everyone—an unmissable experience for those who seek stories that move, challenge, and inspire.

Here’s a wonderful article from The Tyee [click here] featuring an interview with the new programmer, Marianne Thodas (who also happens to be my fiancée!). I pulled a quote from the piece and included it below—it felt especially worth sharing as I find it encapsulates the program as a whole for this year.

“Something that many of our films showcase is that resistance isn’t just about struggle—it’s also about resilience, survival and the strength found in community, history and art,” Thodas says.

“Documentary creates space for empathy, encouraging audiences to engage with larger political and social issues in a way that feels immediate.”

Information

Dates: May 1-11th, 2025

Where: Vancouver, BC (screenings to be held at various local theatres like the Playhouse, VIFF, The Cinematheque, and more)

DOXA’s overarching theme for this year’s festival is resistance and resilience.

I had the pleasure of volunteering for DOXA this year, writing and copyediting film notes. This opportunity gave me access to a wide selection of films since I had to watch them in order to write the corresponding summaries. I wrote around 13 notes myself and edited about 30 more, which means I’ve seen a good chunk of what the festival has to offer this year—and let me tell you, it’s incredibly exciting. I’m relatively new to documentaries—being engaged to an experimental documentary filmmaker certainly helps—but this experience has really deepened my appreciation for the craft. I wanted to write this blog article a little bit early to give you a sneak peek, but also to inspire you to go buy tickets now that you’ve heard someone talk about how amazing these films are. The program this year is very promising.

The films are all captivating, with some standout highlights which I will get into later, including, but not limited to, the opening gala screening of Aisha’s Story, the closing gala with Saints and Warriors, and the three distinct programs: paraDOXA, Justice Forum, and Rated Y for Youth. I will get into a list and review some of my favourite films, but let me tell you a bit about their specialized programs first.

Programs

paraDOXA is celebrating its inaugural year, dedicated to showcasing experimental films that 'push the boundaries of documentary form.' Each screening is followed by a discussion with the respective director, hosted by a local film collective or arts organization. It’s a fantastic opportunity to engage broader audiences with experimental documentaries and explore the creative processes behind them. Created from the ground up by lead programmer Marianne Thodas, paraDOXA was born from her vision. At the media launch, she noted that while many shy away from experimental cinema, in documentary, pushing form can mean anything beyond traditional talking-heads narratives—and the films in this program go far beyond that in new and exciting ways.

Justice Forum has been running for 15 years, showcasing films that spark dialogue around social issues with an emphasis on action and change. Each screening is followed by a live or prerecorded discussion featuring experts, academics, or community activists relevant to the film’s themes. Some of my favourite films are from this forum!

Rated Y for Youth is DOXA’s longest-running program, now in its 16th year. Its main goal is to 'facilitate media literacy through thought-provoking documentaries,' fostering a greater appreciation for cinema and social issues among high school students and younger audiences. Each film will also be followed by a live discussion.

My Recommendations

Now that you’re feeling inspired after reading about DOXA’s main programs, let me give you a list of my favourite films. I’ll go slightly in depth on my top 5 movies at the very end. You can find the 2025 program guide here to peruse at your own leisure and/or buy some tickets.

My favourite movies that I’ve watched (in no particular order besides alphabetical):

1. Among Mountains and Streams

2. The Cats of Gokogu Shrine 五香宮の猫

3. Citizen-Inmate (shorts program 5: Sentenced to Light and Loss)

4. Coexistence, My Ass!

5. Correct Me If I'm Wrong 如你所愿 (shorts program 1: What’s Left to Form)

6. Entretierra (shorts program 5: Sentenced to Light and Loss)

7. GEN_

8. Mistress Dispeller

9. Nechako

10. No Past to Long For (shorts program 5: Sentenced to Light and Loss)

11. Paris to Pyongyang (shorts program 4: Distance Between Stones)

12. The Pickers

13. Pitoteyihtam / They Are Sacred

14. Predators

15. Saints and Warriors

16. Semi-precious (shorts program 1: What’s Left to Form)

17. Songs of a Slow Burning Earth

18. Sudan, Remember Us

19. To Use a Mountain

20. UNEARTH

21. Wall

22. Who Loves the Sun (shorts program 6: Threadbare)

23. You May Laugh At Me A Little (shorts program 1: What’s Left to Form)

Now you might say: 23 films, Ciara, that is so many! But don’t forget, some of these are short films. The short films are separated into different shorts programs you can go watch; Curated Shorts, What’s Left to Form, Subterra, Safe Keeping, Distance Between Stones, Sentenced to Light and Loss, and Threadbare. You can obviously tell which programs are my favourite, haha.

Movies on my watchlist that I haven’t seen yet (in no particular order):

I know these movies to be phenomenal, but I wasn’t in charge of writing for them so I haven’t pre-watched them! I will definitely be seeing them at the festival though.

1. Aisha’s Story

2. Direct Action

3. HUAQUERO

4. Messengers (shorts program 2: Subterra)

5. Mr. Nobody Against Putin

6. Paul

Opening Gala, Closing Gala, and My Top 5 Films

It goes without saying that you should absolutely make time for the opening and closing galas: Aisha’s Story and Saints and Warriors. These are cornerstone events of the festival, featuring powerful films followed by thoughtful post-screening discussions and lively receptions. The galas are always a highlight—an incredible way to experience the energy of DOXA, engage with important stories, and celebrate with the community.

Aisha’s Story - Opening Gala

Directed by Elizabeth Vibert, Chen Wang

Aisha’s Story traces the history of Palestinian displacement using food as an expression of cultural heritage and resistance. The film follows Aisha, a matriarch running her family’s grain mill in Jordan, who preserves Palestinian history by passing down traditional cuisine to generations that have been displaced from their homeland. Through interviews and archival footage, Vilbert and Wang’s film tells the complex story of Palestine and the colonial incursions that have ignited tensions between Palestinian and Israeli peoples.

Filmed over two years amidst ongoing violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces, the film maintains hope: The preservation of food sovereignty contributes to generational healing. Palestinian food is presented as a symbol of longing, resistance, and joy, carefully sustained by Aisha.

I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this film yet, but you will see me at the opening gala. Come say hi! Get your tickets before they sell out.

Saints & Warriors - Closing Gala

Directed by Patrick Shannon

For the people of Xaayda Gwaay.yaay (Haida Gwaii), basketball is more than a game—it’s an arena for leadership, resistance, and cultural preservation. Saints and Warriors tells the powerful story of how the game became a lifeline for carrying Haida traditions through generations. Under colonial rule, Indigenous peoples were banned from gathering—except for church or sports. The Haida chose the court, turning basketball into a battleground for community, identity, and survival.

Set during the 2023-24 season, the film follows the legendary Skidegate Saints as they fight to defend their dynasty at the All Native Basketball Tournament. But their battle extends beyond the scoreboard, as players navigate tensions, shifting allegiances, and the long-standing struggle for Indigenous land rights.

Going beyond the court, this film captures the heart and soul of Haida Gwaii’s struggle for cultural preservation and resilience. The film intertwines the history of colonial oppression with the story of the Skidegate Saints, a basketball team that has become a symbol of leadership, resistance, and community strength. The tension on the court reflects the ongoing fight for Indigenous land rights, making the film a poignant reminder of the ways sports can serve as a battleground for survival and cultural identity. I adored this film. It is incredibly engaging, shot beautifully, and interspersed with interviews from players and the people of Haida Gwaii.

My Top 5 Films (in no specific order):

1. The Pickers

2. To Use a Mountain

3. Mistress Dispeller

4. UNEARTH

5. Coexistence, My Ass!

The Pickers

Directed by Elke Sasse

From Italy to Spain, Greece to Portugal, The Pickers follows the migrant workers who keep Europe’s farms running—without contracts, fair wages, or basic rights. Many live in makeshift camps without water or electricity, trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation. Seydou from Mali picks oranges in Italy, Naveed from Pakistan has spent eight years harvesting olives in Greece without papers, and Bahija from Morocco works in Spain under a contract that still denies her a fair wage. Through candid testimonies and stark contrasts between idyllic supermarket produce and the hidden suffering behind it, the film exposes the systematic exploitation at the root of Europe’s agricultural supply chain.

A part of DOXA’s Justice Forum, The Pickers is a devastating, beautifully constructed documentary that lays bare the human cost behind Europe’s agricultural abundance. With unflinching honesty and care, it amplifies the voices of the workers most often erased—revealing not only exploitation, but resilience. This was one of my favourite films I watched while volunteering—powerful, unflinching, and deeply relevant. It is a must-see, especially when considering the realities of BC agriculture and the imported fruits we consume so casually. The parallels are impossible to ignore, and the film offers a necessary lens into the global systems that feed us.

To Use a Mountain

Directed by Casey Carter

In To Use a Mountain, the fight against a nuclear waste dump becomes a battle for survival and identity in six rural American communities. When the U.S. government quietly proposes burying almost 70,000 tonnes of radioactive waste beneath their land, it sparks decades of environmental devastation, and the ensuing resistance and grassroots activism. Through a blend of real and imagined spaces, personal stories, data visualization, and archival materials, the film explores the clash between government power and environmental justice. The film’s intricate structure pulls us into a struggle that continues to shape these communities long after the crisis has faded from the headlines.

Part of the paraDOXA program, To Use a Mountain is easily one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It is haunting, visually arresting, and deeply informative—offering a layered portrait of resistance in the face of environmental injustice. Though classified as experimental for its innovative blend of archival footage, speculative imagery, personal storytelling, and data visualization, it feels more immediate and emotionally resonant than many traditional talking-heads documentaries. paraDOXA is in its first year, and with films like this, it is already proving itself to be a vital and urgent program.

Mistress Dispeller

Directed by Elizabeth Lo

Desperate to save her marriage, a wife hires Teacher Wang, a “mistress dispeller,” to drive a wedge between her husband and his new lover. As part of China’s growing industry dedicated to saving marriages through emotional manipulation, Wang’s methods expose the deep complexities of infidelity. Elizabeth Lo's observational style provides unscripted access to candid conversations, revealing each person's motivations through Wang’s subtle interventions. While the premise suggests scandal, Lo shifts focus to a compelling character study exploring marriage, loyalty, and the lengths people go for love and control.

Mistress Dispeller offers a lot to reflect on—not just the fascinating world of China’s mistress dispeller industry, but the ethics and craft of documentary filmmaking itself. Elizabeth Lo’s unobtrusive style, often leaving a camera running in the room, captures incredibly intimate, raw moments. I was stunned by the level of access, especially knowing the subjects entered under false pretenses and still consented after everything came to light. It is a complex, quietly provocative film that peers into the minds of everyday people and what they are willing to do for love.

UNEARTH

Directed by John Hunter Nolan, Dunedin Strickland, Auberin Strickland

In the pristine waters of Bristol Bay, Alaska—home to one of the world’s last great salmon runs—Native Alaskan activists, commercial fishermen, and the Strickland brothers fight against a Vancouver-based mining company’s plan for North America’s largest open-pit copper mine. As corporate greed clashes with environmental and cultural survival, UNEARTH exposes the reckless tactics of the mining industry and the devastating cost of materials essential to modern technology. Blending investigative grit with moments of spy-thriller intrigue, the film unravels the deep ties between power, politics, and resource extraction. Amidst systemic exploitation, UNEARTH is a story of resilience—a testament to those who fight to protect the land, their way of life, and the future of Bristol Bay.

UNEARTH completely took me by surprise—and moved me to tears, in the best way. What begins as a story of environmental resistance becomes something much bigger: a testament to community, resilience, and the fierce love people have for the land they call home. Its style is unexpectedly gripping, at times feeling more like a thriller than a documentary, especially as the Strickland brothers go undercover in increasingly tense situations. Part of the Justice Forum program, UNEARTH is both a call to action and a celebration of solidarity in the face of corporate greed. An absolute must-watch. Fun fact: UNEARTH was produced by Erin Brockovich (yes, that Erin Brockovich, as in the Julia Roberts movie).

Coexistence, My Ass!

Directed by Amber Fares

Noam Shuster Eliassi has spent her life fighting for coexistence—first as a UN diplomat, now as a fearless stand-up comic. Raised in Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom, a rare Palestinian-Israeli cooperative village, she once believed peace was possible. But as the politics grew darker, she traded diplomacy for razor-sharp satire, calling out injustice with fearless wit. Earning admiration and outrage across the Middle East, her act turns her into an unexpected political force.

Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression at Sundance, Coexistence, My Ass! follows Noam over five turbulent years, as she uses humor to confront brutal realities, even when it makes her a target. Noam isn’t afraid to name what she calls “the elephant in the room”— genocide. Her voice is provocative, unflinching, and deeply necessary.

A powerful and deeply necessary documentary, Coexistence, My Ass! offers an unflinching look at the realities of occupation and the myth of peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel—long before the current war. Noam Shuster Eliassi, raised in Oasis of Peace (Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom in Arabic and Hebrew respectively), brings a rare, personal perspective to the conversation. Once a UN diplomat, she turns to comedy as a way to reach broader audiences with her razor-sharp critique of power, violence, and complicity. The film is funny, devastating, and incisive—showing how satire can be a form of resistance, and how one woman’s voice can cut through the noise with clarity and courage. For anyone looking to learn about Palestine, this is an interesting film that discusses the history and tensions that came long before what’s happening today.

Special Mentions

1. Wall

2. Sudan, Remember Us

I could not possibly pick just five—there are too many incredible films this year, and I am far too indecisive. Simone Bitton’s film, Wall, exposes how colonial architecture becomes a tool of subjugation through examining the construction of the wall between Israel and Palestine. Sudan, Remember Us, directed by Hind Meddeb, follows the aftermath of the 2019 uprising, following artists and revolutionaries who refuse to be silenced. Both stunning films.

So technically, this is a top seven...sorry! I highly recommend checking out the films above and reading about the ones I don’t describe. It is definitely worth it.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you at the festival. Let me know your favourite movies in the comments.

xx,

Ciara

All images taken from the DOXA Film Festival website.