Culture Vultures

A carte blanche of documentaries surrounding the many cultural pursuits around the world, Culture Vultures at the Documentary Edge Festival 2011 is a selection of programming that highlights the many facets and diverse aspects of the broader arts community.

Fishbone have long been a hallowed alternative rock group that have fused together ska, punk, rock and funk to critical acclaim and a worldwide fan base. Everyday Sunshine - The Story of Fishbone (USA) charts the band’s 25 year history – from their early beginnings in South Central, Los Angeles, through to their rise to prominence and subsequent influence on the music scene.

Hey, Boo - Harper Lee and To Kill A Mockingbird (USA) explores through interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, James McBride, James Patterson, and Wally Lamb the relationship of legendary author Harper Lee with her equally legendary friend, author Truman Capote (In Cold Blood) and other people on whom the characters in the fictional Macomb, Alabama were based.

Set in the quirky subculture of magic, Make Believe (USA) is a coming of age story surrounding six of the world’s best young magicians on the hunt for the title of Teen World Champion. Rather than focusing on the competition itself, filmmaker J. Clay Tweel instead concentrates on the personal journeys of the competitors and their transformation through magic.

Sound of Mumbai - A Musical (UK/India) is the emotional story of a group of children living in a slum in Mumbai, India, who get a chance to experience a different world; performing The Sound of Music with a classical orchestra, fostering hopes that it could change their lives.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS (USA) follows three theatre troupes on their creative journey to the "Super Bowl" of high school musical theatre; The “Freddy” Awards. A live television event that recognizes excellence in local high school musical theatre, the “Freddy” awards illustrate that arts education encourages the same teamwork, camaraderie and confidence as sports.

Karen Carey is Director of Music at a Sydney girls school, and every two years puts on a concert at the Sydney Opera House - Mrs Carey’s Concert (Australia). Believing in the transformative power of great music, Carey insists upon a classical repertoire, sets a dauntingly high performance standard and requires the participation of all 1200 girls in the school. But not everyone shares her passion.

• The Documentary Edge Festival is on in Auckland (February 17– March 6) and Wellington (March 10 – 27).