The Sydney Film Festival announced their winners at the closing night last week, and a film from Aotearoa was among them, First Horse, which screened as part of the inaugural First Nations Award, and was directed by Awanui Simich-Pene, received the $35,000 prize. The story was co-written and produced by WIFT member Heperi Mita.
Set in 1826 with Aotearoa on the cusp of colonisation, the film follows a young Māori girl who encounters a dying man and his horse, exposing her to the best and worst of her rapidly changing world.
Congratulations to the team involved in bringing this project to screens.