Wairoa Maori Film Festival Programme Launched

Wairoa Maori Film Festival Programme Launched

15 May 2013

The festival programme of the Wairoa Maori Film Festival for 2013 has now been completed and is online at: www.manawairoa.com

The festival will be at Kahungu Marae, Nuhaka, Wairoa District, from May 30 to June 3 2013. A weekend pass is $120 able to be booked by emailing maorimovies@gmail.com with the number of passes requested.

The focus once again is the best of Maori film and film making, as well as a diverse selection of international indigenous works.

New Maori short films from Maori directors Michael Reihana, Lennie Hill, Tamati Ihaka, Renae Maihi, Catherine Bisley and Lauren Jackson will make their kiwi debut at the festival in-competition for the audience award.

Award winning Maori film maker Tearepa Kahi has three films in this year's festival. Tearepa's box office hit MT ZION opens the film festival on Friday. Also screening are two of his documentaries, THE FLIGHT OF TE HOOKIOI and ALLAN BALDWIN IN FRAME.

An extensive selection of Maori documentaries will be presented over the weekend. MAORI BOY GENIUS by Pietra Bretkelly focuses on the story of Nga Rauuira Puumanawawhiti who will be a guest of the festival. TATARAKIHI CHILDREN OF PARIHAKA by Paora Joseph tells the story of the ancestors of Te Whiti who follow his trail of tears to a cave in Otago where he was unjustly jailed as a peaceful protestor.

The international centrepiece of the festival will be BUSONG by Auraeus Solito. This film won the Merata Mita award at the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival in Washington DC last year. Award winning indigenous film maker Auraeus Solito hails from the Philippines, and is planning to attend the festival as a special guest.

Also a special guest is Jenny Fraser from Australia. Artist and curator Jenny Fraser (Yugambeh) works in film and technology and was the founder of cyberTribe, an online gallery that encourages the production and exhibition of Indigenous art.

From Germany is Stefanie Reis. Stefanie has been programming short films at festivals since 2002 and was a World Sales Agent for international shorts at KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg from 2007-2012. She is currently travelling New Zealand and producing a documentary on kiwi short film for French/German broadcaster arte TV.

"Our goal is to explore over one long weekend the strength and beauty of the indigenous storytelling imperative," says Festival Director Leo Koziol. "What is native? Who are indigenous? What makes a person aboriginal? Who are the gate keepers at the door of film making and film promotion for our Maori people?"

Following the festival in Nuhaka, the Wairoa festival team will be assistng and curating Maori film works for audiences in Auckland, Wellington, Invercargill, Raglan, Sydney, London and Hamburg.

- Leo Koziol me te roopu whakaata Maori I Te Wairoa

FESTIVAL JURY MEMBERS ANNOUNCED
The Festival Jury members for Wairoa M2013 are:

Claudette Hauiti - film maker - Aotearoa
Hana Whaanga - educator and kaumatua - Nuhaka
Huia Koziol - educator and kaumatua - Nuhaka
Jobie Weekaluktuk - film maker - Canada

The Festival Jury will deliberate and make recommendations on the following prizes:

Best Documentary - Aotearoa
Best International Indigenous Entry
Best Overall Entry - Mana Wairoa Award

The Wairoa Maori Film Festival wishes to thank the jury members for taking the time to review and recommend films from the Wairoa Maori Film Festival 2013 programme. Mauriora!

Wairoa Maori Film Festival
Ancient Spirits Beckon * Kahungunu Marae, Nuhaka May 30 - June 3 3013

Join us for a full weekend of kai korero films and film making. Over fifty films exploring the indigenous storytelling imperative. Documentary short films and features from established and emerging Maori film makers. Special guests from the Philippines and Australia. Film works from Australia, Mexico, Finland, USA, Canada, Philippines, France, Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa and Fiji. Join us!

BOOK YOUR FESTIVAL PASS NOW FOR ONLY $120. Includes all meals, screenings, marae accommodation, Morere hot pools shuttle, Awards gala, closing night celebration at Morere, Contact our booking team at: manawairoa@gmail.com

ENDS

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