WARU

BRIAR GRACE SMITH, CASEY KAA, AINSLEY GARDINER, KATIE WOLFE, RENAE MAIHI, CHELSEA COHEN, PAULA JONES, AWANUI SIMICH-PENE
MĀORI – AOTEAROA
2017 | 98 MINS
M

Eight female Māori directors have each contributed a ten-minute vignette, presented as a continuous shot in real time, that unfolds around the tangi (funeral) of a small boy (Waru) who died at the hands of his caregiver. The vignettes are all subtly interlinked and each follows one of eight female Māori lead characters during the same moment in time as they come to terms with Waru’s death and try to find a way forward in their community.

This screening will be followed with an extended Q&A.

SCREENING TIMES: 

Thursday 22 March
8 PM
Ngā Purapura

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM FEB 13 VIA iTICKET.CO.NZ

DIRECTORS

BRIAR GRACE SMITH 

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hau

Briar is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. She has worked for the NZ Film Commission and is a Sundance Alumni. Briar is the writer of feature films The Strength of Water and Fresh Meat Film. Her television credits include Fishskin Suit, Being EveKaitangata Twitch and Maori Television drama This Is Piki.

CASEY KAA

NGĀPUHI, TAINUI

Casey’s passion for children and Māori language led her to producing children’s TV and web content in Te Reo and English. Casey was the director/producer for Kete Korero -My Maori Myths and Kia Mau, which led her to start her own production company, Takitini Productions ltd. Waru is her directorial debut.

AINSLEY GARDINER

Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Pikiao, Whakatōhea

Notably Ainsley produced the short films Two Cars, One Night and Tama Tu written and directed by Taika Waititi and his feature films, Eagle vs Shark in 2005 and his (original) No. 1 Box Office hit, BOY in 2009. Ainsley has produced other features, including The Pā Boys with writer/director Himiona Grace and The Breaker Upperers written/directed by Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek. She also works as a script advisor. Waru is her 2nd film as writer/director.

KATIE WOLFE

Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama

Katie works across acting, directing, producing, writing and development in the theatre and screen industries. Her directorial credits include the short films This is Her and Redemption. Her first tele-feature, Kawa was an adaptation of Witi Ihimaera ’s book, Nights in the Gardens of Spain.

RENAE MAIHI 

Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāpuhi

Renae is an award-winning and critically acclaimed writer & director in theatre and film. Her film directorial credits include the shorts Butterfly, Mannahatta, Ka Puta Ko Au & Waru. She also co-wrote the short film Redemption with Katie Wolfe & currently has three films on the global film festival circuit

CHELSEA COHEN

Ngāti Ranginui

Chelsea is a filmmaker with over 10yrs experience in the industry. With a background in documentary, she is currently producing Heperi Mita’s film MERATA and produced the award-winning 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. Waru is her directorial debut.

PAULA JONES

Te Whakatōhea, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou

Paula has worked in Television Production for 20 years specialising in directing, research and writing, mainly in the field of documentary. She has a Masters in Creative Writing. WARU is her film directorial debut.

AWANUI SIMICH-PENE

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Apakura, Croatian, Belgian

Awanui has worked on set as a Script Supervisor and Director for more than 10 years. She has directed for television drama as well as Māori-language programmes including children’s shows and documentary series. For Awanui, directing is an extremely rewarding outlet for creativity, exploration, connection and heart. For WARU, she collaborated with writer Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu.

Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu

Ngāpuhi

Josephine is an Auckland based writer and actor across film, television and theatre. Josephine was one of eight filmmakers selected to participate in Script to Screen’s 2016 FilmUp Mentorship Programme and her most recent play was awarded Runner Up at the prestigious Adams Play Awards 2016. When she isn’t writing or acting, Josephine is a casting assistant for Film, TV, and Advertising. Waru is her screenwriting debut.