A landmark moment for New Zealand storytelling on the global stage
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is proud to announce that Mārama, will have its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as part of the 2025 Discovery programme, one of the world’s leading showcases for emerging cinematic voices.
This striking Māori gothic film is the debut feature from Māori filmmaker Taratoa Stappard (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa). Set in North Yorkshire, England, Mārama tells the story of a young Māori woman’s fight to reclaim her identity and indigenous culture in Victorian-era Britain. With its striking visual style and emotionally resonant narrative, the film marks a significant moment for New Zealand cinema on the world stage.
“To share my first feature with international audiences in the Discovery programme at TIFF is a huge honour. Mārama is my Māori gothic love letter to our whenua, our tīpuna and the stories that live in the shadows.” says Stappard.
Mārama returns to TIFF after being developed, with support from the NZFC, through the festival’s industry initiatives, alongside imagineNATIVE, The Black List, the Zurich Film Festival, and the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Its selection for the Discovery programme marks a full-circle moment for the film and its creative team.
TIFF’s Discovery programme is internationally renowned for spotlighting bold new voices in global cinema. Mārama joins a powerful lineup of debut and sophomore features from over 30 countries, offering audiences a first look at the filmmakers shaping the future of storytelling.
“Mārama’s selection for TIFF’s Discovery programme is a clear reflection of the NZFC’s kaupapa to champion bold and authentic storytelling. Taratoa’s vision, deeply grounded in te ao Māori, is the kind of work that resonates globally while retaining a distinctly New Zealand voice. We’re proud to see this story take its place on the world stage,” says Annie Murray, NZFC CEO
Mārama is one of 23 world premieres in the Discovery programme, which holds a legacy of championing some of the world’s most acclaimed filmmakers, such as Alfonso Cuarón, Julie Dash, Barry Jenkins, and Yorgos Lanthimos. The 50th edition of TIFF runs from September 4–14, 2025, in Toronto, Canada.
The film has been made in association with the NZFC, NZ On Air, Whakaata Māori, and Images & Sound. Vendetta Films will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand. MPI International will manage global rights sales.
Produced for The Sweetshop by Sharlene George, Rickylee Russell-Waipuka, and Rouzie Hassanova, Mārama features Paraone Gloyne as Pou Tiaki Reo and Tikanga. Executive producers include Victoria Dabbs and Gal Greenspan for Sweetshop Entertainment, Jill Macnab and Phil Bremner for Vendetta Films, and Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, and Greg Newman for MPI Media.