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Talent Development

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bronson Price

Pressure

A visually powerful drama exploring the societal and familial expectations placed on three Auckland teenagers.

Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab Overview

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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
The NATIVE Slam III filmmakers stand in front of the NATIVE Slam logo at Māoriland Film Festival 2018. They are holding a pipi shell carved out of wood and look happy.
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.

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.