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 CLOSED
Start Date 1 October
For Producers & Directors
Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab (Pou Tuarua – Pou Tuawhā)
Key Dates:
Applications open 9 October
Applications close 31 October
Participants notified 15 November
Start Date 1 December
NGĀ KAITUHI
Paula Whetu Jones
Sins of the Mother
A powerful, character-driven family drama exploring the generational impact of trauma, guilt, and the bond between mothers and daughters.
Aroha Awarau
Hidden
A tense, emotionally charged crime thriller following Pere, a rural Māori cop, and Lupe, a determined Sāmoan mother, as they search for their missing gay relatives.
Tainui Tukiwaho
Hemo is Home
A darkly comedic fantasy that follows 9-year-old Hemo, raised by the ghosts of his ancestors in an ancient urupā. Tainui Tukiwaho is an award-winning playwright and director with a 20-year career in the performing arts.
Rafer Rautjoki
The Jade Stars
A vibrant exploration of ambition, cultural identity, and family dynamics set in 1960s New Zealand. Rafer Rautjoki began his filmmaking journey inspired by his mother, pioneering Māori filmmaker Merata Mita.
Kirk Torrance
Don Te Haute
A darkly humorous yet heartfelt story of redemption, centering on a man struggling with his mental health. When his estranged daughter is deported to his address, he devises a wild plan to help her return to her kids in Australia and hopes to make up for a lifetime of absence.
NGĀ TUAKANA
TEINA
Kath Akuhata Brown
The Ugliest Woman in the World
A poignant exploration of self-worth, identity, and societal expectations wrapped in a comedic and dramatic narrative. The story follows Adi, a Māori widow who is thrust into a bizarre legal battle following the death of her wealthy husband, Joseph.
Libby Hakaraia
Disco Kuini
An energetic, vibrant coming-of-age story set in 1980s New Zealand, following two spirited Māori teenage girls, Miriama and Kararaina, navigating the complexities of race, culture, and identity through their love of disco.
Bronson Price
Pressure
A visually powerful drama exploring the societal and familial expectations placed on three Auckland teenagers.
Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab Overview
Information for Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator Applicants
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.
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.