Māoriland Film Festival

Ōtaki on the Kāpiti Coast is set to host the largest Indigenous film festival in the world. Māoriland Film Festival is now in its twelfth year and continues to grow both in size and influence. Over 130 feature films, short films, video works, and documentaries will be screened from 26 to 30 March 2025. Wellington is a UNESCO City of Film, so this festival is an ideal fit. The initiative encourages cooperation between cities and allows visual storytellers to connect with the international creative community.

Some highlights this year include opening night feature ‘Kōkā’. This road-trip movie follows the unlikely bond between Māori elder Hamo and troubled teen Jo. ‘The Lost Tiger’ is by Chantelle Murray. She makes history as the first Indigenous Australian woman to write and direct an animated feature. The closing night film ’Te Puna Ora‘ is a documentary by Virginie Tetoofa intertwining mythology and reality on the lush island of Mo'orea.

Māoriland Film Festival was founded in 2014 with the express purpose of celebrating Indigenous voices and storytelling in film. The unique theme continues to attract international submissions and eager film-goers. Filmmakers and producers from overseas regularly attend, network, and share stories. This year’s festival has multiple satellite events. Visitors can attend a lecture series, explore the festival's interactive exhibition, enjoy live music performances, and Toi Matarau’s annual exhibition of leading Indigenous visual artists.

See films you won’t see anywhere else in Aotearoa. It’s a chance to learn about a different culture, celebrate your own, or simply enjoy world-class storytelling.