THE Walk The Doc Festival, a highly anticipated international documentary film event, is back for its third edition at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur from Nov 19 to 21.
This year's festival will feature a captivating theme, 'Kuala Lumpur: Old Charm', celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia's capital city and its emergence as a vibrant creative district.
The decision to host the festival at Stadium Merdeka carries special significance.
As a national heritage site where Malaysia's independence was declared in 1957, the stadium serves as a powerful symbol of unity, history and progress — ideals that align with the festival's vision to amplify diverse voices and foster connections across borders.
"Stadium Merdeka is a place of historic pride and has witnessed many milestones in our country's history," said festival director Nurashikin Zaharuddin.
"We're proud to host this year's festival at a place that embodies the spirit of storytelling and history."
A platform for global storytelling and local innovation, the Walk The Doc Festival celebrates more than 30 documentaries from across the globe, exploring a wide range of topics from environmental conservation to cultural preservation.
According to Nurashikin, this year's programme will also introduce a new Community Meet-Up initiative which has been designed to encourage networking among filmmakers, creatives and documentary enthusiasts, to foster a sense of community.
"The festival will also include the launch of Walkabout Asia the first travel documentary streaming platform that highlights the diverse landscapes, cultures and stories of Asia.
"It will provide a space for travel enthusiasts and filmmakers to share and explore documentary content focused on the beauty and complexity of the Asian continent.
"With Walkabout Asia, we are building a learning community where filmmakers and audiences can explore stories from all corners of Asia, sparking curiousity and dialogue.
"It's about creating opportunities for learning and connection through the power of documentaries," she said.
Mentoring new voices
This year's festival also includes the Small Story Big Impact Programme, which aims to support emerging filmmakers in telling meaningful local stories.
Special workshop by mentor Chris Schueler, an Emmy award-winning director had been conducted last month, from which selected grantees received RM5,000 to produce a micro-documentaries focusing on downtown Kuala Lumpur.
These micro-documentaries will be premiered during the festival, shining a light on the heart of the city through personal and impactful storytelling.
"The Small Story Big Impact Programme is a fantastic opportunity for new filmmakers to develop their craft while highlighting unique narratives of Kuala Lumpur," said Nurashikin.
"It's about fostering talent and giving a platform to stories that might otherwise go untold."
Nurashikin is also grateful to the festival partners, saying: "This festival would not be possible without the generous support of partners which include PNB Merdeka Ventures, Think City, Canon, the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas), Bernam, and Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union.
"Their contributions have been instrumental in making this event a reality and helping us promote Kuala Lumpur as a creative and cultural district."
Amplifying untold stories
Walk The Doc Festival is an annual international documentary festival dedicated to amplifying untold stories, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and promoting documentary filmmaking as a tool for change.
Each edition highlights diverse voices from around the world, bringing global stories to local audiences through the lens of creative documentary storytelling.
Festival highlights include:
• Special SSBI Theme Screenings: Films that celebrate the old-world charm of Kuala Lumpur, its people, and its culture.
• Industry Panels & Workshops: Sessions featuring discussions on documentary production, distribution, and funding, led by top industry professionals.
• Launch of 'Walkabout Asia': A groundbreaking new streaming platform that offers a curated collection of travel documentaries focused on Asia's cultural and natural beauty.
• International Documentary Exchange Programme: A gathering of international broadcasters and screening of documentaries for exchange with Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union.