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Captain James T. Kirk interviewing Picard, Janeway and Sisko and the latest work of celebrated documentary maker Nick Broomfield are two more highlights announced for the Documentary Edge Festival 2012, as popular culture, politics, human rights and redemption become strong themes on offer in this year’s programme.

Indulge yourself in conversations between Starfleet Captains. The Captains see’s the original commander of the U.S.S Enterprise, William Shatner, interview fellow Star Trek captains about their lives and careers before, during and after their roles. Featuring Sir Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard), Avery Brooks (Benjamin Sisko), Kate Mulgrew (Kathryn Janeway), Scott Bakula (Jonathan Archer) and Chris Pine (James Kirk, Star Trek reboot), The Captains give a frank portrayal of the pressures, stigmas and sacrifices involved with playing captain to a sci-fi dynasty.

Prolific British documentarian Nick Broomfield (Kurt & Courtney, Biggie & Tupac, Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam) targets one of America’s most infamous political candidates in recent years. Sarah Palin: You Betcha! sees Broomfield in hot pursuit of the former Governor of Alaska, interviewing her friends and family for a decidedly unauthorized perspective on this fascinating force in American Politics.

Twenty-three thinkers, advisors and Wall Street money-men break their silence and explain how the world turns. The Four Horsemen lifts the lid on how the global economy really works; as younger generations sense something is wrong, disillusionment and unhappiness are far reaching throughout the developed world. Those interviewed explain how we will never return to “business as usual” – and how capitalism hasn’t failed. It’s worked perfectly according to the rules the system creators have established.

On January 25th 2011, Egyptians woke up not expecting that a public holiday would turn into a revolution aimed to overthrow Egypt’s political regime. Tahrir 2011: The Good, the Bad and the Politician chronicles the lives of the protestors, the police forces and profiles Hosni Mubarak by several political figures. Mixing interviews with footage from the demonstrations, Tahrir playfully debunks the misconceptions and stereotypes that have risen from this important day in Egypt’s history. Tahrir is part of a curated selection of works by exciting new and emerging Arab filmmakers giving audiences an unprecedented, valuable and unexpected insight into the Arab World.

Described by many as “a golden bird in a cage”; Aung San Suu Kyi has on several occasions been offered the opportunity to leave Burma, yet she chooses to stay in captivity instead of going into exile. Aung San Suu Kyi: Lady of no Fear details this heroine representing freedom and democracy of which the suppressed population of Burma hopes for. Standing as a symbol for peace and reconciliation in Western cultures and awarded countless prizes for her effort, the documentary reveals who the woman is. The Documentary Edge Festival is proud to bring this year’s latest and most revealing civil and human rights documentaries reminding us of the priceless nature of these rights.

When three-time felon Lemon Andersen held a Tony award for his work in Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, he thought he’d finally made it - out of the projects, off the streets and onto the right side of the law. But in no time, he was back to the ‘hood and back to the hustle. Lemon brings Andersen’s struggles to free his family from poverty and pain as he exposes his most shocking secrets on the New York stage. In an exciting selection of documentaries on performance poetry, Documentary Edge Forum will take you into the world of contemporary performance word as you have never seen or experienced it.

Documentary Edge 2012

Auckland – 26th April – 13th May 2012, Event Cinemas, Newmarket

Wellington – 17th May – 3rd June, Angelika at Reading Cinemas, Courtney Place

Screen Edge Forum:

Auckland – 2nd – 4th May, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)