In 2011, Wairoa Māori Film Festival director Leo Koziol and his mother Huia Koziol approached WIFT NZ to initiate a new award in recognition of wāhine toa in the Aotearoa screen industry.
This became the WIFT Mana Wāhine Award which recognises and supports the achievements of Māori Women in film and television who work tirelessly and with vision to support and promote Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Māori and wāhine Māori and their stories.
Since 2011 the Mana Wāhine Award has recognised: Ainsley Gardiner, Christina Asher, Rachel House, Nancy Brunning, Chelsea Winstanley, Kay Ellmers, Kēri Kaa (CNZM), Dr Ella Henry, Katie Wolfe, Whetu Fala, Nicole Hoey, Briar Grace Smith, Desray Armstrong, and Karen Sidney.
Leo’s genuine alignment with WIFT and his passion for this award demonstrated his lifelong commitment to progressing wāhine Māori filmmakers. His love for the craft shone through in his work at the Wairoa Māori Film Festival, at the NZIFF, and through his involvement with the global indigenous filmmaking community.
We thank him for supporting WIFT and giving a stage to the fantastic wāhine we were able to recognise together. We will miss his presence in our universe, however we are confident he will be cheering us all along from the other side.
Ngā mihi maioha e Leo, Moe mai rā e te rangatira, moe mai rā.
Picture: Leo Koziol with Diana Hegan at the 2024 WIFT Awards