MĀORILAND FILM FESTIVAL
March 26-30 2025
Māoriland Film Festival is Aotearoa’s international Indigenous Film Festival, held each March in the vibrant community of Ōtaki.
The MFF is the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous storytelling through film with five days of screenings, interactive installation and art exhibitions, industry events and more.
At the heart of Māoriland is manaaki.
We are committed to nurturing talent and supporting genuine connections for everyone who participates in the festival.
Māoriland Film Festival exists to celebrate and amplify Indigenous voices through film and arts, fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.
The MFF aims to present an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable festival that showcases Indigenous films and arts, educates and engages communities, and builds a global network of support for Indigenous filmmakers and artists.
The MFF has a focus on discovery and connection. We actively seek out new voices to participate in the festival and curate environments that nurture deep connection and collaboration.
Māoriland Film Festival is the showcase event of the Māoriland Charitable Trust.
Our vision is to be a self-sustaining, world-renowned centre for Māori and Indigenous film and creative excellence. In doing this, the MCT grows social, economic and cultural opportunities for Māori film and creative excellence.
Māoriland Charitable Trust is a Māori organisation that delivers the Māoriland Film Festival alongside a year-round film and creative programme from the Māoriland Hub in Ōtaki.
Māoriland Charitable Trust (MCT) was formed in 2016 to facilitate the operation of the Māoriland Film Festival (founded 2014) and its growing programme of year-round activities.
Over the past eleven years, the festival has grown to be the largest presenter of Indigenous screen content in the Southern Hemisphere, with a year-round programme of events that include; industry events, emerging technology (VR/AR/XR), lecture series – NATIVE Minds, sound and stage performances, and a full visual arts programme – Toi Matarau.
These activities were enabled through the establishment of the Māoriland Hub – Ōtaki’s largest building – purchased in 2017 by the Māoriland Charitable Trust – an independent Māori non-profit social enterprise mandated by Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki – the five sub-tribes of Ōtaki.
NGĀ POU O TE WHARE
Hou mai koe ki roto i te whare kōrero o Māoriland. Ko tōna tāhuhu ko te iwi, ko te poutāhu ko te mana o te kupu, ko te poutuarongo ko te ira tangata. Kei waenga ko te poutokomanawa o te aroha noa. Ka mutu, ko ngā pou koko ka titi iho ki te whenua ko ēnei:
We bid you entry into our house of stories. The ridgepole is the people, the front post is the authority of the word, the rear post is the essence of our humanity. Between them, we find the support pillar of love. The posts that anchor the corners to the land are these:
CELEBRATION
Māoriland celebrates the rise of Indigenous cinema. It invites filmmakers from around the world to share their compelling big screen stories with us, and with each other.
INSPIRATION
Māoriland upholds the mana and inspiration of our storytellers. We are guided by our elders, and taught by our children. The festival assists our community to expand their perspectives and to connect with those from other cultures.
RESPECT
Māoriland is rooted in the traditions and language of the hapū and iwi of Ōtaki. It is our honour to extend manaakitanga to the many visitors to the festival.
INCLUSION
Māoriland provides a portal to the Indigenous world for ALL people. It assists social cohesion, a sense of pride, and the informed well- being of our community.
TĀRIA TAKU MOKO MĀORI KI NGĀ KIRIATA O TE WĀ
EMBED MY NATIVE SOUL IN FILM
Click on the images below to visit the festival program for each year
