Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab

The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is for Māori filmmakers with the aim to create exceptional feature films for local and international audiences.

With funding from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga (NZFC) and support and mentoring from International Indigenous Screen partners and filmmakers we are building teams of Māori Writers, Directors & Producers on five feature film projects, to become finance and production-ready.

For Writers

Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator (MISA) (Pou Tuatahi)
and Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab (Pou Tuarua – Pou Tuawhā)

Key Dates:

Applications open 13 August
Applications close 6 September
Participants notified 15 September

Start Date 1 October

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MORE INFORMATION

For Producers & Directors

Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab (Pou Tuarua – Pou Tuawhā)

Key Dates:

Applications open 15 September
Applications close 15 October
Participants notified 15 November
Start Date 1 December

Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab Overview

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POU TUATAHI: Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator

1 October – 20 December 2024

The Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator; MISA is a 12-week paid residency program for Māori screenwriters from Aotearoa.
Located at the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki, the program will include workshops with experienced international Indigenous screenwriters and filmmakers.
All participants will receive wrap-around pastoral care and support while working in a kaupapa Māori environment.

Five participants will be selected for the program.

Each writer will complete a first draft by the end of the program that runs from 1 October – 20 December 2024

The Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator is for Māori screenwriters with original scripts that have no attachments (no producer or director). This accelerator program aims to support the development of original Māori stories for the screen.
POU TUARUA: Key Creative Teams
POU TUATORU: Project Packaging

In Pou Tuatoru, the five creative teams will work to package their project for international markets utilising the new skills and information delivered in Pou Tuarua.

Mentors will continue working with each team throughout this period to support the preparation of pitch materials including their budget and creative materials.

Both domestic and international assessors will be available to each team to provide feedback on their projects.
Participants will also take part in pitch training with international mentors.

A project showcase will be held at the Māoriland Film Festival 2025 for invited industry funders, distributors and sales agents.

Co-Production opportunities will be actively explored.
POU TUAWHĀ: Market Ready

In Pou Tuawhā, teams will receive market training and support as they travel to international markets and festivals to showcase the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab.

The program will officially conclude at Matariki following a showcase in Toronto, Canada at imagineNATIVE Film Festival 2025.

Māoriland will work with its established network of Indigenous film festivals, film market and Industry partners to create further showcase opportunities for the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab projects at International markets and film festivals.

Information for Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator Applicants

The Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator; MISA is for Māori screenwriters with an existing writing credit on at least one film that has screened at a film festival.

You must have a first draft feature film script to apply.

Five scripts and their writers will be selected for the program.

OUTCOME

Through a fully supported Indigenous collaboration, writers will have completed a Draft Script by the end of 12 weeks

LOCATION & STIPEND

MISA will be based at the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki. Participants will benefit from working in a Māori creative whare. All participants will be paid a weekly stipend based on 30hrs.

Wrap-around pastoral care and support while working in a kaupapa Māori environment.

Accommodation and travel will be provided.

About Māoriland Charitable Trust

The Māoriland Charitable Trust has leveraged its successful Māoriland Film Festival, and extensive work in film training and production, into strong relationships with the Indigenous film community, worldwide. This unique global network, combined with our decades of experience in nurturing and showcasing authentic Māori screen stories, underpins our kaupapa: Maiangitia Te Mana Ataata – Towards Māori Screen Success

Enquiries: Email kiaora@maorilandfilm.co.nz

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NATIVE Slam III Filmmakers at Māoriland Film Festival: Amberley Jo Aumua, Richard Curtis, Courtney Montour, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Jesse Raine Littlebird, Shaandiin Tome, Trevor Solway, Lanita Ririnui, Razelle Benally, Asia Youngman, Isaac Te Reina & Ken Are Bongo

OTHER PROGRAMS

M.A.T.C.H – The Māoriland Tech Creative Hub

M.A.T.C.H Creative Intensifiers are 12-week workplace training programs for Māori to pathway into the film and creative industries.

A unique opportunity to learn in a kaupapa Māori environment, M.A.T.C.H identifies and supports Māori potential.

FIND OUT MORE

Puritia Incubator

The Puritia Incubator (2022-2023) A year-long, intensive production-based training programme for rangatahi Māori to enter the screen industry.

Over 10 Wānanga, Puritia Incubator Participants developed skills in camera, sound, editing, assistant direction, lighting, and production and gained experience on short film sets.

Ngā Pakiaka Incubator Program

The Ngā Pakiaka Incubator Program was developed in 2020 with support from Māoriland Charitable Trust, Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga (New Zealand Film Commission), the Sundance Institute Respond & Reimagine Plan, Department of Post and Indigenous filmmakers worldwide.

Following a competitive selection process, eight projects were “greenlit” Aree Kapa from Te Kao, Bailey Poching from Tāmaki Makaurau, Keeti Ngātai-Melbourne from Te Araroa, her elder sister Tioreore Ngātai-Melbourne, Te Mahara Tamehana from Kaitaia, Tiana Trego-Hall from Mitimiti, Te Waiarangi Ratana from Kirikiriroa and Oriwa Hakaraia from Ōtaki.
Over 18 months, the rangatahi filmmakers received one-on-one mentorship from industry experts and script and craft development workshops. Production was supported by professional crew.

Each film is ambitious and truthful, and all celebrate the types of stories that can be explored when rangatahi are given the freedom to create.

The completed films are screening globally, resonating with audiences and winning awards.

NATIVE Slam

The NATIVE Slam is an international Indigenous collaboration challenge initiated by Māoriland Film Festival in 2016.

Over 72 hours, four teams of 3 Indigenous filmmakers work together to produce a short film to screen at the MFF.

Since 2016, five NATIVE Slams have produced 21 short films and involved 60 Indigenous filmmakers. It has also led to creating strong and enduring filmmaker networks across the Indigenous world.

Talent Development