Waru

WARU

Waru is a feature film made up of eight 10 minute short films each written and directed by Māori women film makers.

waru signature.jpg
 

winner - Best Feature Film Screenplay

- 2017 Screen Writers Guild of New Zealand Awards

Waru poster with rating.jpg
The subject could hardly be heavier, but this is a hugely important film. It’s a film everyone in the family should see and talk about.
— Mihingarangi Forbes, Māori Issues Correspondent, RNZ/The Hui
 

Synopsis: Eight female Māori directors have each contributed a ten minute vignette, presented as a continuous shot in real time, that unfolds around the tangi (funeral) of a small boy (Waru) who died at the hands of his caregiver. The vignettes are all subtly interlinked and each follow one of eight female Māori lead characters during the same moment in time as they come to terms with Waru's death and try to find a way forward in their community. In Māori, waru means 8. 

Producers: Kerry Warkia & Kiel McNaughton

Directed by: Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe, Renae Maihi, Chelsea Cohen, Paula Jones, Awanui Simich-Pene.

Written by: Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe, Renae Maihi, Chelsea Cohen, Paula Jones, Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu (writer of Titty & Bash).

Director of photography: Drew Sturge

Production designer: Riria Lee

Costume designer: Lindah Lepou

Music by: Lauren King

Distribution in New Zealand & Australia: Vendetta FIlms

The eight directors talk about 'Waru'

film festivals

Hawaii-International-Film-Festival.jpeg
download (1).png
logo-primary-desktop.png
TIFF_logo_CMYK.jpg
 
We’re thrilled to host the world premiere of Waru in Auckland, an event that promises to be moving and memorable.
— Bill Gosden, NZIFF Director
 

press

reviews

Waru email banner.jpg