Doxa Film Festival

The DOXA Documentary Film Festival features screenings of captivating documentaries in Vancouver. It’s in May at the VIFF Centre and a couple of other theatres.

In 2024 the films run from May 2nd to 12th (the last of which is Mother’s Day).

Other events that take place in the first half of May include Chor Leoni choir concerts, shows with the Royal Canadian Circus, and tulip festivals in the Fraser Valley.

To learn about other events happening around the same time this year, see our May Events Calendar. To learn more about the DOXA Film Festival, continue reading.

This article includes the following information about the festival:

DOXA 2024 Festival | Tickets and How to Watch | Full Programming | Other Information

Vancouver’s DOXA Documentary Film Festival

The DOXA Documentary Film Festival is an annual event that showcases creative documentaries to audiences in Vancouver. The event is put together by The Documentary Media Society which is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver.

The festival has been running since 2001. It features public screenings, live discussions, forums and more. Various awards are usually up for grabs too, as a panel of judges critique all the documentaries and decide on the winners each year.

In 2024 the DOXA Documentary Film Festival runs from Thursday, May 2nd, until Sunday, May 12th.

DOXA 2024 Festival

In 2024 there are over 80 films to enjoy. Most are mid-length or feature films, but there are 34 short films as well. Some of the screenings include live discussions and question and answer sessions.

Tickets and How to Watch

Since the movies have not been assessed by Consumer Protection BC, everyone who attends the in-person screenings must be ages 18+ and a member of The Documentary Media Society. A membership costs $2 and the card has to be shown at the theatre.

On top of the membership (which you just buy once) tickets for in-person screenings cost $16 for adults. Seniors and students cost $14. You can also buy a five-ticket pack for $70 which is valid for any five non-special presentation screenings. Full festival passes for access to all film screenings (except for the Opening Gala) cost $195 per person.

2024 Full Programming

The 2024 in-person screenings take place at four different venues in Vancouver. They are the Vancouver Playhouse, VIFF Centre, the Cinematheque and the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. Meanwhile, the social events take place at SFU’s World Arts Centre and The Post at 750.

Featured films this year include Adrianne & the Castle, nanekawâsis, Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, Anna, The Real Superstar, and many more. There are films from Canada, USA, France, India, Italy, and other countries across the globe.

There are also various in-person events held throughout the run of the festival. These include case studies, discussions, lectures and more with filmmakers and other festival members.

For the full schedule of in-person film screenings and events, click 2024 programming.