Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab Opens Applications

28 January 2026
Ōtaki, Aotearoa 

Māoriland Charitable Trust has announced the return of the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab (MICL), a Māori-led advanced development programme supporting Indigenous feature film projects to move confidently toward production and the global screen stage.

Following the successful inaugural Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab delivered in 2024–2025, applications are now open for the 2026 programme, which will support a new cohort of Indigenous creative teams to develop feature films that are culturally grounded, industry-ready, and globally connected. 

For the first time, the Co-Lab will accept participants from Western Australia – supported by Minderoo Pictures – while continuing its longstanding partnership and support from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga – the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC).

“Māoriland have made significant impact in the film community with their programmes for filmmakers, from rangatahi to emerging filmmakers. The first MICL cohort has been a great success with those participants progressing their projects closer to production. We are proud to support the second iteration of the programme that seeks to connect culturally specific stories to the world,” said Ainsley Gardiner (Head of Funding, NZFC). 

“The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is an exciting pathway for talented First Nations storytellers from WA. Minderoo Pictures is thrilled to partner with Māoriland Charitable Trust and Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga – the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) on this unique opportunity to support and amplify distinctive voices and narratives that deserve to be celebrated on the world stage”.

Applications open on 28 January 2026 and close on 8 March 2026. .

Delivered by the team behind the Māoriland Film Festival – the world’s largest Indigenous film festival – the Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is designed for Indigenous writers, directors, and producers with feature film projects that are ready to enter advanced development. 

The programme combines kaupapa Māori frameworks, international Indigenous mentorship, and practical industry pathways to strengthen creative vision, build financing-ready materials, and produce proof-of-concept scenes.

The MICL is structured around three interconnected pou (pillars):

• Pou Tuatahi – Māoriland Indigenous Script Accelerator (MISA): an eight-week paid writers’ residency at the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki, focused on developing an advanced draft feature film script.
• Pou Tuarua – Pitch Packaging: a development phase supporting teams to refine their scripts, sharpen pitching skills, and produce professional pitch decks, budgets, and visual materials.

   

• Pou Tuatoru – Director’s Lab: an intensive ten-day directing lab where teams rehearse, shoot, and edit a proof-of-concept scene with professional crew and Indigenous advisors.

By the end of the programme, each team will leave with an advanced draft script, a complete pitch package, and a proof-of-concept scene – key assets for financing, co-production, and market engagement.

The inaugural 2024–2025 Co-Lab supported Indigenous feature film teams from Aotearoa, strengthening creative development, deepening international relationships, and laying the foundation for long-term collaboration across the Indigenous screen sector. 

The 2026 programme builds on this momentum, expanding pathways between Aotearoa, Australia, and Canada while embedding Indigenous producing practices to protect Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.

Grounded in Puritia, Māoriland’s kaupapa Māori framework for the screen sector, the Indigenous Co-Lab centres Indigenous values, rangatiratanga, and collaboration, ensuring Indigenous storytellers retain ownership and control of their stories while being equipped to operate confidently within both Indigenous and international screen industries.

“The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab is about creating the conditions for Indigenous stories to thrive – creatively, culturally, and economically,” says Māoriland Charitable Trust. “It is a pathway for Indigenous filmmakers to develop bold feature films, supported by community, culture, and global Indigenous networks.”

Applications for the 2026 Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab are now open.

Applications open: 28 January 2026
Applications close: 11:59 pm NZT, 8 March 2026

For programme details and application information, visit maorilandfilm.co.nz