Sweetshop & Green’s Mārama, written and directed by Taratoa Stappard, has been selected as one of 33 feature films chosen from 26 countries to attend Berlinale’s Co-Production Market. From a pool of over 300 applicants worldwide, Mārama is the only New Zealand feature film to be selected.
Mārama was developed with the support of the BFI, New Zealand Film Commission, Edinburgh IFF’s Talent Lab, TIFF’s Writer’s studio, ImagineNATIVE Indigenous Screenwriting Intensive and The Black List New Zealand Project.
The gothic thriller’s synopsis is: When a young, Māori woman is summoned under mysterious circumstances from New Zealand to North Yorkshire, she uncovers the horrifying truth of her colonial heritage and must destroy the titled Englishman who has devastated her family.”
Producer, Sharlene George stated, “We are thrilled to be selected for the co-production market in Berlin 2023 with writer/director Taratoa Stappard and our feature film Mārama. It is an honour for us to bring this indigenous story to such a prestigious international festival.”
Taratoa Stappard is of English and Māori descent and based in London. He worked previously with Sweetshop & Green on Taumanu, a 1 x 22-minute supernatural thriller episode that formed part of TVNZ’s 2022 anthology of supernatural, indigenous stories, Beyond the Veil.
He has also directed six shorts that have won numerous awards and screened in festivals including Angers Premiers Plans, Berlin British Shorts, Busan, Edinburgh, BFI London, and Māoriland, and also acquired for broadcast on the BBC, Film4, SVT and Canal+.
Berlinale’s Co-Production Markets are set to take place in February and provide a unique opportunity to pair excellent feature scripts with partners looking to provide funding. See Here for more information.
