First Horse

New Zealand Production
Short 2024 Drama 11.00 minutes
Fhorse12028129
It’s 1826, and Aotearoa is on the cusp of colonisation. A young Māori girl’s encounter with a dying man and his horse exposes her to the best and worst of her rapidly changing world.
2024: Sydney Film Festival
Winner First Nations Award
Santa Fe International Film Festival
Winner Jury Award for Best Short by an Indigenous Director
Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival – New Zealand’s Best
Hawai’i International Film Festival
Wairoa Māori Film Festival – Movies at the Marae
Melbourne International Film Festival
Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival
Darwin International Film Festival
2025: Māoriland Film Festival

Directors

Awanui Simich-Pene

Producers

Mia Marama Henry-Teirney
Heperi Mita
Putiputi rā Simich

Screenplay Writers

Awanui Simich-Pene
Heperi Mita

Crew

Fred Renata | Cinematographer
Cushla Dillon | Editor

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