Stappard’s ‘Mārama’ set to Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
DEGANZ member Taratoa Stappard‘s debut feature film Mārama is celebrating its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as part of the Discovery programme.
Mārama is a Māori gothic and tells the story of a young woman’s fight to reclaim her identity and indigenous culture in Victorian-era Britain. TIFF describes it as “A bold, unsettling gothic tale of identity, memory, and colonial reckoning.”
The film was developed with the support of NZFC through TIFF’s industry initiatives, alongside imagineNATIVE, The Black List, the Zurich Film Festival, and the Nerlinale Co-Production Market.
In the NZFC press release, Taratoa said,
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.
TIFF is one of the world’s highest-regarded film festivals, and the Discovery Programme is a leading showcase for emerging cinematic directors, launching many careers. This year, 23 films from over 30 countries are screening in the programme.
Congratulations to Taratoa on the impressive selection!
Last updated on 6 August 2025
