Helmed by Māori writer-director Taratoa Stappard, known for his work on Taumanu and Emkhatsini, this project takes a new approach to cultural storytelling in the horror genre.
Set against the backdrop of North Yorkshire in 1859, MĀRAMA follows a young Māori woman's struggle to reclaim her identity and indigenous heritage. The film's production will transform various Auckland locations, including the striking landscapes of Te Henga, into a 19th-century English setting.
"This film will be confronting, bloody and entirely unique," says Stappard, who proudly claims Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tuwharetoa ancestry. "I'm excited to be forging a new genre: Māori Gothic Horror."
The production boasts an impressive international cast, featuring rising Māori talent Ariāna Osborne in a lead role. She stars alongside renowned British actor Toby Stephens, fresh from his work on Percy Jackson and The Olympians, and Umi Myers, recently seen in Bob Marley: One Love. New Zealand actors Erroll Shand and Jordan Mooney round out the ensemble, bringing local talent to the forefront.
MĀRAMA is produced by Sharlene George, co-CEO and Founding Partner of Auckland-based international production company The Sweetshop, responsible for producing Taumanu, Testify and Birds Eye View.
"We are bringing something truly different to the screen. I couldn't be happier that we are shooting and doing all our post-production here in Aotearoa to anchor the story on the whenua (land)," says George.
MĀRAMA has support from the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, and Whakaata Māori.
As MĀRAMA continues filming in and around Auckland, it not only promises to deliver a chilling and culturally rich viewing experience but also highlights the region's capacity to host and support innovative, world-class productions.
Writer-Director Taratoa Stappard
Producer Sharlene George
Umi Myers
Toby Stephens
Ariāna Osborne
