By Webfit News | 15 October 2026 A Māori woman’s journey into the shadows of colonial England is taking another step onto the international stage, with Mārama selected as New...
By Webfit News | 15 October 2026
A Māori woman’s journey into the shadows of colonial England is taking another step onto the international stage, with Mārama selected as New Zealand’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
The debut feature from writer-director Taratoa Stappard, who affiliates to Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, combines gothic horror with history and Māori storytelling.
The selection follows an international festival run that began with the film’s world premiere in the Discovery programme at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025.
A Māori story set in Victorian England
Set in Victorian-era Yorkshire, Mārama follows a young Māori woman summoned from Aotearoa New Zealand to England, where she uncovers a devastating truth about her colonial heritage.
For Stappard, the film is a way of reclaiming that history through a Māori perspective, rather than allowing others to define it.
“Mārama is my Māori gothic love letter to our land, our ancestors and the stories that live in the shadows,” he said.
He described being chosen to represent Aotearoa as a significant moment, saying the response from audiences overseas had made him proud to see the story reach a wider stage.
Recognition from festival juries and audiences
Since its Toronto premiere, Mārama has screened at festivals including Zurich, Sitges, Chicago, AFI FEST and Palm Springs.
According to the New Zealand Film Commission, its awards include:
|
Festival |
Recognition |
|
Seattle International Film Festival |
Official Competition Grand Jury Prize |
|
imagineNATIVE |
Dramatic Feature Award and Audience Choice Feature Award |
|
Imagine Film Festival, Amsterdam |
Best Fantastic Feature Film |
|
Abertoir International Horror Festival, Wales |
Audience Award for Best Film |
The recognition spans both jury decisions and audience votes, adding momentum to the film’s international journey.
Film Commission praises Stappard’s vision
New Zealand Film Commission chief executive Annie Murray said the selection recognised the ambition and craft behind Stappard’s debut.
She praised the film’s cultural grounding and cinematic approach, saying its director had brought a powerful Māori perspective to the screen with confidence and originality.
The Commission announced the selection on 12 October.
An official submission, not yet a nomination
Mārama’s selection means it is New Zealand’s official entry for consideration in the International Feature Film category. It does not mean the film has secured an Oscar nomination.
The Academy’s timetable schedules shortlist announcements for 15 December 2026, followed by nominations on 21 January 2027. The 99th Oscars ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027. These are the Academy’s published US dates and remain subject to change.
For Stappard and the team behind Mārama, the submission is nevertheless a significant milestone: a distinctly Māori story, told through gothic horror, has been chosen to represent Aotearoa in the international Oscar race.
