Earlier this month Māoriland presented the international launch of The Māoriland Indigenous Co-Lab (MICL) feature film slate at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada. We are thrilled to see the evolution of this project on the world stage. Congratulations to our members and everyone involved in this potent initiative.
The MICL is Aotearoa’s first Indigenous feature film development lab, grounded in the Māori principle of tuakana-teina—a reciprocal model of mentorship that connects emerging and established Indigenous filmmakers to share knowledge, skill, and expertise.
Over a nine-month intensive process, the MICL has developed eight bold and original feature film projects from Māori storytellers. Congratulations to all the teams selected for this incredible opportunity — and a special shoutout to our talented members! See the list below.
Mahuika by Paula Whetu Jones, produced by Sandra Kailahi – The love between mothers and daughters in one family is tested when a 14-year-old girl is sexually violated, forcing them to come together to heal or lose each other in the flames of rage and blame.
Don Te Haute by Kirk Torrance, produced by Angela Cudd – Lost in a haze of talking lizards, goddesses, alcohol and depression, Don teeters on the edge of oblivion. But when the daughter he long ago abandoned knocks on his front door, he must make a choice: Take on the world or watch her walk in his footsteps.
Disco Kuini by Libby Hakaraia, produced by Madeleine Hakaraia de Young – A Indigenous girlhood anthem set in 1980s Aotearoa with a Polynesian funk soundtrack.
This year-long project guides Māori filmmakers from concept to market through a four-stage process—script development, team formation, project packaging, and industry engagement.