Castlemaine Documentary Festival claims love is the antidote

This winter, Castlemaine opens its arms to the human heart.

From 26 to 28 June, the Castlemaine Documentary Festival (CDoc) returns with Love — the antidote, a theme that explores the ties that bind us and the ways connection persists amidst complexity. Across three days and nights, audiences will gather at the Theatre Royal for a curated program of nonfiction cinema, accompanied by music, conversations, and communal gatherings that stretch the experience far beyond the screen.

CDoc 2026 brings together a selection of Australian and international documentaries that traverse the personal and the political, the intimate and the collective, revealing the threads that connect us all.

Castlemaine Documentary Festival

When: 26 – 28 June 2026

Where: Theatre Royal, Castlemaine

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The Love Compilations

A new highlight this year, The Love Compilations invites Castlemaine locals into a simple recording booth to share three-minute reflections on love. Shown unedited, these intimate recordings form a collective portrait of the community, presented alongside archival footage from Wendy Clarke’s ongoing Love Tapes project, which began in the 1970s. The resulting work will be archived at the University of Wisconsin, marking the first Australian contribution to this landmark global collection.

LOCALS Returns

Now in its fifth year, LOCALS celebrates the region’s creative voices with a short-form documentary competition that champions grassroots storytelling. The 2026 jury, featuring Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Katie Mitchell and Sundance-recognised director Noora Niasari, reflects both the calibre of entries and the growing profile of this festival cornerstone.

Beyond the Screen

CDoc 2026 spills into the town with food, music, and gatherings woven throughout the weekend. Saturday morning offers audiences a chance to brave the winter chill for porridge and congee prepared by Castlemaine icon Duang, ahead of The Golden Spurtle, a charming culinary documentary exploring the World Porridge Making Championship. Friday night’s LOCALS screening culminates in the Theatre Royal afterparty, while Saturday night celebrates the birth of house music with Move Ya Body: The Birth of House and a late-night set by local DJ legend Jen Moore. The festival closes on Sunday at local brewery Love Shack with drinks, laughter, and reflection.

Festival Director Claire Jager explains, “Love — the antidote is both a theme and a call to action. These films don’t look away from complexity or conflict — they face hard truths while holding onto connection as something worth fighting for.”

Highlights of the 2026 Program

• Rod Quantock: Comedy Warrior (FRI 26 JUN) – Fiona Cochrane’s portrait of one of Australia’s most influential comedians explores a life where humour and conscience are inseparable.
• Agridulce (Bittersweet) (FRI 26 JUN) – Frank Pavich’s Dominican Republic-set documentary follows young bachata musicians as they navigate heritage, migration, and identity.
• The Golden Spurtle (SAT 27 JUN) – Constantine Costi’s affectionate chronicle of Scotland’s annual porridge-making championship celebrates ritual, community, and legacy.
• How Deep Is Your Love (SAT 27 JUN) – Eleanor Mortimer plunges into the uncharted deep sea, uncovering strange creatures while confronting threats from deep-sea mining.
• The Bend in the River (SAT 27 JUN) – Robb Moss revisits friends filmed decades earlier, revealing how memory, friendship, and life evolve over time.
• Move Ya Body: The Birth of House (SAT 27 JUN) – Elegance Bratton traces the rise of house music from Chicago’s underground scene, celebrating its roots in Black and queer communities.
• We Are Not Powerless (SUN 28 JUN) – Jolyon Hoff and Muzafar Ali document a refugee-led initiative in Indonesia, where a school grows from a $200 donation into a vital community hub.
• Buck’s Harbor (SUN 28 JUN) – Pete Muller’s observational lens captures life on Maine’s coast, portraying generations of fishermen navigating a demanding, unforgiving world.
• Coexistence, My Ass! (SUN 28 JUN) – Amber Fares follows Israeli comedian and activist Noam Shuster Eliassi as she uses satire to confront intolerance and inequality.
• Secret Mall Apartment (SUN 28 JUN) – Jeremy Workman explores a secret home tucked inside a public mall, blurring boundaries between private life and public space.

CDoc 2026 remains a highlight of the regional arts calendar, bringing world-class documentary storytelling to a town defined by its creative spirit and vibrant community.

For full details, screenings, and the 2026 trailer, visit cdocff.com.au.