The 2023 Castlemaine Documentary Festival (C-Doc) is set to captivate audiences from June 16 to 18.
Celebrating the art of documentary storytelling, C-Doc will take place at the historic Theatre Royal in Castlemaine, Australia’s oldest continuously operating cinema. Now in its ninth year, the festival promises an impressive lineup of eight Australian and international feature-length films, engaging panel discussions, and conversations with filmmakers and industry experts.
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Under the theme No One Has The Last Word, this year’s program aims to challenge viewers’ perceptions and invite them into diverse worlds. From the gripping exploration of the unseen depths beneath the ice caps to a thought-provoking documentary about an Elvis-singing teacher imparting philosophical wisdom to his students, C-Doc offers immersive storytelling that delves into both the local and global, past and present.
Among the highlights are the premieres of several Australian films, including Trained To See – Three Women and the War, Equal the Contest, The Thief Collector and Weed & Wine. In addition to the screenings at the Theatre Royal, selected films will be available for online viewing, allowing broader accessibility for audiences.
In an exciting expansion, C-Doc introduces The Yurt, a charming micro-cinema located within walking distance of the Theatre Royal. The Yurt will feature family-friendly sessions during the weekend mornings, engaging programs for young people in the afternoons and evenings, and a thrilling immersive parlour game called Werewolves for the more daring attendees.
The festival’s closing night promises an extraordinary experience with a screening of the 1925 silent film masterpiece, Grass. Accompanied by a live music score by the Ballarat-based duo ZÖJ, featuring Gelareh Pour’s exquisite vocals and the Persian Kamancheh instrument, the film takes viewers on a mesmerising journey alongside the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe as they brave treacherous terrains and raging rivers during their annual migration.
With its rich selection of films, interactive sessions, and the addition of The Yurt as a second venue, the 2023 Castlemaine Documentary Festival offers a unique opportunity for audiences to delve into captivating stories, challenge their perspectives, and celebrate the power of documentary filmmaking. Whether attending in person or exploring the films online, C-Doc promises a memorable and enriching experience for all documentary enthusiasts.
Films screening at C-Doc at The Theatre Royal
- Trained to See – Three Women and the War (2022, Germany/Italy, dir. Luzia Schmid)
- Equal the Contest (2023, Australia, dir. Mitch Nivalis)
- Young Plato (2021, Ireland, dir. Declan McGrath and Neasa Ni Chianain)
- The Thief Collector (2022, USA, dir Allison Otto)
- Watander My Countryman (2022, Australia, dir. Jolson Hoff)
- Weed & Wine (2022, USA/France, dir. Rebecca Cohen)
- Into the Ice (2020, Denmark, dir. Lars Henrik Ostenfeld)
- Grass (1925, USA, dir. Merian C.Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack). Presented with a live musical performance by ZÖJ
To keep up to date with all things C-Doc, check out their website.
In partnership with C-Doc
