VARIETY: Taratoa Stappard begins 'Mārama', Māori Gothic Horror in New Zealand

Set in North Yorkshire, England, in 1859, 'Mārama' is the story of a young Māori woman’s fight to reclaim her identity and indigenous culture in Victorian-era Britain. The film title comes from the woman’s name.

The film features Māori actor Ariāna Osborne ('Madam,' 'In A Flash') in the lead role, alongside British actor Toby Stephens ('Black Sails,' 'Die Another Day,' 'Percy Jackson and The Olympians') who has recently wrapped principal photography on the project.

The cast also stars Umi Myers ('Bob Marley: One Love,' 'Dope Girls') along with New Zealanders Erroll Shand ('Savage,' 'The Luminaries') and Jordan Mooney ('The Bluff,' 'Pike River').

'Mārama'  is produced by Sharlene George ('Taumanu,' 'Testify,' 'Birds Eye View'), co-CEO and founding partner of production company The Sweetshop. 

The film’s other producers are Rickylee Russell-Waipuka ('Taumanu,' 'The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana'), Rouzie Hassanova ('Radiogram,' 'Song for Serbia') with Paraone Gloyne as Pou Tiaki Reo & Tikanga (Māori language & culture producer). Executive Producers include Victoria Dabbs and Gal Greenspan for Sweetshop Entertainment, Jill Macnab and Phil Bremner for Vendetta Films and Badie Ali, Hamza Ali and Greg Newman for MPI Media.

'Mārama' was developed with support from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga (The New Zealand Film Commission), imagineNATIVE, The Black List, Toronto International Film Festival, the Zurich Film Festival and the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

The film is being made in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, Whakaata Māori and Images & Sound. Vendetta Films will distribute the completed film in Australia and New Zealand. MPI International will manage global rights sales.

“This film will be confronting, bloody and entirely unique, and I’m excited to be forging a new genre: Māori gothic horror,” said Stappard.

Stappard's lineage includes the Māori tribes Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tuwharetoa.

“We are bringing something truly different to the screen because this film is both a cultural statement as well as a fusion of distinct story worlds that rarely intersect,” said George.

“I couldn’t be happier that we are shooting and doing all our post-production here in Aotearoa to anchor the story on the land.”