Māori and Pacific Filmmaking from Aotearoa at imagineNATIVE 2023

Māoriland Film Festival ,

The 24th imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival has opened in Toronto, Canada with over 30 artists from Aotearoa in attendance. 13 works from Aotearoa will be presented at the festival celebrating the rich cultural heritage and unique narratives of Māori and Pacific storytellers. 

Projects from Aotearoa at imagineNATIVE 2023 include:

  • Muru (dir. Tearepa Kahi) presented by Ngā Aho Whakaari
  • Inky Pinky Ponky (dir. Damon Fepulea’i and Ramon Te Wake) 
  • Red, White and Brass (dir. Damon Fepulea’i) 
  • He Pounamu Ko Au (dir. Tia Barrett)
  • Plastic – A Love Letter to the Estranged (dir. Va’a  Magalogo)
  • Whirlflow (dir. Kathleen Mantell)
  • Fast Eddie (dir. Keely Meechan)
  • No Māori Allowed (dir. Corinna Hunziker)
  • Untold Tales of Tuteremoana (dir. Hiona Henare)
  • Brolesque (dir. Libby Hakaraia)
  • He Karu He Taringa (dir. Tahuaroa Ohia)
  • The River (Todd Karehana & Piata Gardiner Hoskins)
  • Alteration (FAFSWAG)

View Schedule

imagineNATIVE is one of the largest presenters of Indigenous content in the world, with 14 feature films, 70 short films, alongside audio, digital and interactive works and a series of exhibitions included in this year’s festival.

Māoriland Film Festival Director and Ngā Aho Whakaari Board Member Madeleine Hakaraia de Young was honoured to be a member of the programming selection committee for 2023, alongside imagineNATIVE Festival Director Lindsay Monture, Adam Piron – Director of the Sundance Indigenous Program and filmmaker and actor Elle-Maija Tailfeathers. 

‘The films at imagineNATIVE in 2023 represent a vast array of Indigenous voices, experiences and perspectives. At this year’s festival we wanted to create a feeling of warmth and home – like a visit to Grandma’s house. The exciting thing about being here with so many creatives from Aotearoa is that it really is like going away to big whānau retreat. To reunite with our brothers and sisters from across Te Ao Taketake to celebrate Indigenous storytelling through film.’ – Madeleine Hakaraia de Young

Filmmakers have been supported to participate in the festival by Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga – NZ Film Commission, Ngā Aho Whakaari & Māoriland Film Festival. 

imagineNATIVE runs in person in Toronto, Canada until Sunday 22 October and online until Sunday 29 October.

Alteration by FAFSWAG continues at Trinity Square Video until 25 November.