To return to the main page please click HERE

View the full Māoriland Film Festival programme and film details online at mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz

Opening Night Screening

World Premiere - The Reprocity Project

Wednesday 20 March 2023 | 8:00 PM

Ngā Purapura

Facing a climate crisis, Reciprocity Project embraces Indigenous value systems that have bolstered communities since the dawn of humanity. To heal, we must recognize that we are in relationship with Earth, a place that was in balance until the Industrial Age. The second season of this project invites learning from time-honored and current ways of being across seven Indigenous communities, including the mountainous Tayal homelands of Taiwan, the nightless nights and deep snows of Sámi Nation in Finland, and the forested Limba homelands in Sierra Leone. The Season Two storytellers and community partners are creating projects in response to a question: “What does a return to land, language, practices, and reciprocal relationships mean to you and your community?”

Ma ŋaye ka Masaala a se ka Wɔmɛti - From God To Man dir. Lansana Mansaray (Limba)
Tentsítewahkwe dir. Katsitsionni Fox (Mohawk)
TAYAL FOREST CLUB dir. Laha Mebow (Tayal)
Tahnaanooku' dir. Justin Deegan (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations)
ENCHUKUNOTO (The Return) dir. Laissa Malih (IL-Laikipiak Maasai)
ARMEA dir. Letila Mitchel (Rotuman)
ÁHKUIN dir. Sunná Nousuniemi, Tuomas Kumpulainen (Sámi)

Māoriland Keynote Address

5:30 PM, Wed 20 March

Rangiātea Church

The Māoriland Keynote address is a personal and historical perspective given by a prominent Māori filmmaker. Past keynote speakers were Tainui Stephens, Lawrence Makoare, Larry Parr, Julian and Mabelle Dennison, Rawiri Paratene, Heperi and Awatea Mita, Temuera Morrison, Rena Owen, Waihoroi Shortland and Libby Hakaraia.
Highly recognised Māori artists have responded to the theme of this year’s MFF Kia Tau Te Rongomau with captivating work in the Ōtaki township.

The Māoriland Film Festival Arts Installation project is curated by Rachael Rākena, an Associate Professor of Māori Art and a celebrated Kai Tahu Video Installation artist.

The project is made possible through the generous support of an Arts Grant from Creative New Zealand. The captivating installations feature the exceptional works of Regan Balzer, Tame Iti, Ngātaiharuru Taepa, and Johnson Witehira. We are immensely proud to have these esteemed artists as the MFF2024 Keynote Address.

Closing Night Screening - Fry Bread Face & Me

6:30 PM, Sun 24 Mar

Ngā Purapura

2023 | 83 mins | Billy Luther | | English

It’s 1990. Benny is a Native American boy growing up in San Diego who plays with dolls and listens to Fleetwood Mac. Everything Benny thinks he knows about himself and his family is turned upside down when his parents force him to spend the summer at his Grandma Lorraine’s sheep ranch on the reservation in Arizona. There he meets his cousin Dawn— AKA Frybread Face, a pudgy 11-year-old vagabond, tough-as-nails tomboy. Benny has never met anyone like her, and he is equally intimidated and impressed by her knowledge of Navajo language and tradition. Benny is introduced to Navajo life on the Rez, and his unruly uncle Marvin. Together, Benny and Fry create a memorable summer.

Preceded by

Ranginui & Papa-tu-a-nuku

2023 | 2 mins | Nathaniel Oliver Robert Hinde | Aotearoa | English

The moonsets as the sunrises, while a young girl narrates the story of Ranginui & Papa-tu-a-nuku.

Māoriland Red Carpet Party

8 pm, Sun 24 March

Māoriland Hub

Put on your most glam outfit and walk the glittery walk for the annual Māoriland Red Carpet Party. A celebration of all the filmmakers and their collaborators at MFF2024 with surprise musical guests.

An award is given to the film voted as ‘the people’s choice for MFF2023’. There are also prizes for Red Carpet attendees in the following categories:

Best Regalia
Most Sequins & Best ‘Suit’
Best outfit purchased from a local Op shop (must show receipt of sale).

About the Māoriland Film Festival

Each March, Māoriland Film Festival brings the world of Indigenous cinema to Ōtaki for five days of screenings, workshops, art exhibitions and special events. Māoriland operates year-round from the Māoriland Hub and is operated by Māoriland Charitable Trust.

68 Main Street Ōtaki

He whare taketake – a home for the Indigenous

He whare tapere – a home for the imagination

He whare kōrero – a home for conversation

Ko Te Kawa Nui Ia He Manaaki i Te Tangata

Ko Te Kawa Nui Ia, He Manaaki i te Tangata

Māoriland is committed to creating a safe environment for all our kaimahi and visitors.

The values and functions of Māoriland are derived from cornerstone principles of celebration, unity, vigilance, and respecting the mana of every person and taonga in our whare.

We ask that manuwhiri and visitors alike respect the mana of all who you may encounter.

Some of our spaces are small and lack airflow, so consider wearing a mask while watching a film. If you are feeling sick, please stay home.

Everyone including Kaumatua and Rangatahi, filmmakers, artists and industry, and members of the public have the right to be free of harassment, discrimination, sexism, and threatening or disrespectful behaviour - either in-person or online from others attending Māoriland events.

To return to the main page please click HERE

View the full Māoriland Film Festival programme and film details online at mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz

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