Māoriland Charitable Trust and Kiwi film producer among winners at Cannes awards
The NZ Film Commission says the win shows our film sector's reputation for celebrating indigenous storytelling and exceptional leaders.
Aotearoa has taken home two awards from the Global Production Awards (GPA) in Cannes, France.
The GPAs celebrate people who work behind-the-scenes in the world of TV and film.
Māoriland Productions & Film Festival emerged as the economic and social impact award winner among seven nominees, including Screen CanterburyNZ’s grant for local drama We Were Dangerous and Gambit Film’s Netflix drama Blood Legacy, at the ceremony on 19 May.
Māoriland Film Festival opened with the debut feature film Kōkā (pictured), directed by Kath Akuhata Brown and starring Hinetu Dell and Darneen Christian, on 26 March, 2025.
Supplied / Māoriland Film Festival
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The social impact leadership award went to Kiwi Craig Gainsborough of the Greenlit website, which provides tools and resources for film crews to minimise their project's environmental impact.
Māoriland Productions head of content Libby Hakaraia told Midday Report it was amazing to have this recognition in Cannes, the epicentre of the film universe.
“We built something from the ground up in a small town, in Ōtaki, in Aotearoa, and it’s been given this huge award here in Cannes so it’s amazing. We’re really excited."
Hakaraia says the hadn't prepared a speech because they didn't think they stood a chance of winning.
Their application included details on their efforts to grow the indigenous filmmaking community in Aotearoa and its audience reach.
“For me, to see our marae, Raukawa in Ōtaki, as the key pic up on the big screen in front of about 4-500 people at this event and then to be announced as the winner of this award, we were so excited, we were so thrilled, not just for our community but also the wider community within the Māori and indigenous world. It’s quite mind-blowing.”
She hopes the award opens more doors for indigenous filmmakers and the community.
In a statement, NZ Film Commission chief executive Annie Murray said the wins show our film sector's reputation for celebrating indigenous storytelling and exceptional leaders.
“These awards celebrate those behind the scenes of what we see on screen. It’s incredibly heartening to see New Zealanders ranked alongside some of the most well-regarded international names in the industry.”
The government agency, which supports and promotes New Zealand’s screen industry, missed out on the film commission of the year award, which went to Spain.
Auckland film producer Craig Gainsborough champions sustainable production practices in the screen industry.
Supplied
There were 16 categories in the GPAs.
Canterbury and Selwyn District were shortlisted as ‘emerging location’ and location of the year, respectively. The awards were won by Frøya in Norway and the United Kingdom’s Ravenscourt Park Hospital.
GFC Films’ Never Look Away documentary, which covers the life of Kiwi war video journalist Margaret Moth, also missed out on the diversity, equity and inclusion award, which went to Ireland’s A Quiet Love.
Among the other companies shortlisted were Netflix (for Bridgerton), Universal (for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, and Wicked, among others), and Paramount (for Mean Girls).
