Mārama
Mārama, Taratoa Stappard’s feature debut, is an anti-colonial horror story confronting oppression while honoring the strength and resilience of Māori women.
Tickets
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Friday, May 8, 2026
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
“A phenomenal debut, a confident piece of work that takes a familiar genre and makes it feel perfect for the story it’s telling.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
Mārama is the striking directorial debut of Taratoa Stappard, a stunning period piece and an anti-colonial psychological horror story that confronts the brutal legacy of British oppression and its attempts to fracture culture. Yet at its core, the film is a powerful reflection on the strength, resilience, and enduring leadership of Maori women. Through fear and resistance, Marama reclaims space for ancestral knowledge, survival, and the force of women who continue to rise.
—Tracy Rector
- Director: Taratoa Stappard (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa me Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
- Principal Cast: Ariana Osborne, Toby Stephens, Umi Myers, Erroll Shand, Evelyn Towersey
- Country: New Zealand
- Year: 2025
- Running Time: 89 min.
- Producer: Sharlene George, Rickylee Russell-Waipuka, Rouzie Hassanova
- Screenplay: Taratoa Stappard
- Cinematographers: Gin Loane
- Editors: Dan Kircher
- Music: Karl Solve Steven, Rob Thorne
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Imagine Film Festival 2025 (Best Fantastic Feature Film), Abertoir Horror Festival 2025 (Audience Award for Best Film)
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: English, Māori
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- US Distributor: Watermelon Pictures, Dark Sky Films
- International Sales: MPI Media Group
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