Beth Knights on CDoc's wild truths

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The Nugget
July 04, 2025

★ Beth Knights on CDoc’s wild truths ★

Beth Knights loves a documentary and we are all the richer for it.

Beth Knights writes TV shows. But since getting involved in the Castlemaine Documentary Festival, real life, the shit you can’t make up, has got under her skin in the best of ways.

“I was seeing the most exciting stories (at CDoc). Documentaries are just as entertaining, if not more than, scripted films. Some of my favourite content of the last few years has been documentaries,” Beth says.

“Our tagline this year is: ‘Truth, you couldn’t make this stuff up’ because you can’t script real life. You know, you just wouldn’t write this shit... life is so absurd. Dramas become so sort of boring and I’m loving delving into actual people, actual stories.” 

The Castlemaine Documentary festival (CDoc) returns for its 10th year this weekend, 4-6 July, at the Theatre Royal.

Friends, I bloody love a film festival. (It’s me, Shelley, btw).

I like to get a pass and see three films in one day. You step out of the cinema dazed, inspired, grab a bite, a glass of wine, have a spirited conversation with a fellow movie-goer, then head back in for another mind-bending film – one that would never get picked for a wide release.

I return to the world changed.

CDoc is such a sweet opportunity on our doorstep to do just this. Did you know CDoc is one of only two documentary film festivals in Australia? How wild, and how very Castlemaine.

Packed with thought-provoking international and local films, many making their Victorian premiere, plus live music (including an original score!) and of course, the beloved LOCALS shorts, CDoc 2025 is one to get along to.

The festival kicks off tonight with a screening of the 1929 masterpiece Man with a Movie Camera by director Dziga Vertov (Russia.)

“This is a silent film that was very influential in documentary making,” Beth says.

“There are editing tricks and stylistic elements that we learned from this filmmaker which, in turn, influenced other filmmakers. It is a Soviet-life film, but it has lots of repetition, movement and machinery. It lends itself to having a soundtrack,” Beth says.

“It’s inspired more than twenty scores over the years, and for this CDoc edition, Underground Lovers’ Moda Discoteca were commissioned to create an original score.  They will be performing it live. It's so fun. And then they're going to be doing a post-movie set.”

At last check, tickets were close to selling out for Man with a Movie Camera, so get online now if you are keen.

Beth’s top picks

There are nine films (not including LOCALS) showing over the weekend (all at Theatre Royal). Beth’s favourites are both directed by women and having their Victorian premieres.

Reas (Saturday, 5 July, 8:00 PM) directed by Lola Ariaste (Argentina) is a hybrid musical, where former inmates of a Buenos Aires prison write a different future for themselves and perform it as a musical.

“This is an exceptional film,” Beth says.

Sugar Fed Leopards will keep the party going with a post-movie gig.

“It's an incredible deal, too. The film and the concert,” Beth says.

Her other top pick is Look Into My Eyes, directed by Lana Wilson (USA) (Sunday, 6 July, 8:00 PM).

It offers a behind-the-scenes look at mediums and seekers where belief is secondary to the power of empathy.  It is an exploration of what it means to be truly seen by another.

“This is not a film that is asking you to believe in in psychics,” Beth says.

“This is a film about the fact something beautiful happens in spite of your belief. It's a film about wonder.”

LOCALS

One of the most anticipated sessions of the festival is the LOCALS screening – already sold out – which showcases short films made by filmmakers from central Victoria.

The top-12 films will be shown this Saturday at 4.30pm, and there will be a screening of all 18 submitted short films at the Theatre Royal on 26 July.

I also spoke with Sam Downing, last year’s LOCALS Judges Award winner, whose story – and filmmaking process – is so inspiring.  We will bring you her story in an upcoming edition of the Nugget.

Happy film watching, everyone.

  • CDoc starts today. Browse the program, watch the trailers and book your tickets

  • Follow CDoc for updates on film screenings and workshops where you can learn how to make your own documentary

❀ C’Maine Wutherers Dance Workshop ❀

The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is coming to Castlemaine, bébé.

Yesssss. On 20 July, we are all are invited to don red dresses and dance Kate Bush's iconic Wuthering Heights choreo in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.

Purely for the drama, the delight and the LOLs.

This Saturday is your chance to learn the (easy) steps before the big day so you can really really go wild in the gardens.

All shapes, sizes, ages, genders and abilities are warmly encouraged to join in.

Our Daylesford neighbours have had a couple of these Kate Bush dance parties and people are still talking about it.

You can study choreography tutorials online OR you can join Gen from Flashdancercise this Saturday at the Campbells Creek Community Centre for a pre-gathering dance class to learn the steps. See. You. There. 2:00 PM.

♡˖ EVENTS ˖♡

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  • all about your upcoming event, and

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