Whānau Mārama: NZ International Film Festival; Ngā Whanaunga

Check out the best Māori and Pasifika short films in this year's Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts Competition.

Six short films from Aotearoa and the Pacific have been selected by co-curators Leo Koziol (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rakaipaaka), Director of the Wairoa Māori Film Festival, and Craig Fasi (Niue), Director of the Pollywood Film Festival.

Ngā Whanaunga is a competitive section of the Festival and films are eligible for the Wellington UNESCO City of Film Award for Best Film ($3000 cash prize), as judged by a jury. Audience members at Auckland and Wellington screenings will also vote for the winner of the Letterboxd Audience Award, a cash prize of $1000.

“Every year the Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika collection of short films showcases both emerging talent and those at the top of their game working towards a first feature. This year is no exception, with filmmakers of New Zealand Māori, Tongan, Samoan and Cook Island origins. We are excited to present this year’s collection, diverse in genre – drama, thriller, sci-fi, experimental – and diverse in viewpoint. Mauri Ora!” — Leo Koziol