Special Screening: Prisoner T
Special Guests Director Michael Bennett and Investigator Tim McConnell
A special screening of CONFESSIONS OF PRISONER T will take place at the Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Kahungunu Marae,
Nuhaka, this Sunday.
Michael Bennett: “In my fiction and documentary work, I am drawn to stories that address social issues concerning Māori
in New Zealand society today. In Teina Pora's story, there is an opportunity to explore many pressing questions – are
Māori more vulnerable to false convictions? If so, why? Do Māori have equal access to justice? What will it take to make
change?
As a filmmaker of Māori descent, I feel both a sense of privilege and of responsibility to be able to use my craft to
portray the story of a young Māori man who I believe has been tragically failed by a flawed justice system.”
With both the original documentary director Michael Bennett and Teina Pora's investigator Tim McConnell present, there
will be an opportunity to update the audience about the case, the recent release of Teina Pora from prison, and the
challenges of getting on with life after having so much of it taken from you.
Check out the Wairoa Maori Film Festival programme here.
ends