TOITŪ: VISUAL SOVEREIGNTY

Indigenous curator Nigel Borell’s groundbreaking Māori art exhibition becomes both a cultural triumph and a battleground for power, captured with extraordinary behind the scenes access in Chelsea Winstanley’s directorial debut feature, TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty.

TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty, the debut directorial feature from Academy Award nominated producer Chelsea Winstanley, goes behind the scenes of the largest Māori art exhibition in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. Following curator Nigel Borell’s vision for Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art, the film captures both its record-breaking success and the behind the scenes conflicts that arise when Indigenous sovereignty challenges institutional power. Featuring rare access and the voices of celebrated artists such as Shane Cotton, Emily Karaka, Taika Waititi, Brett Graham, Ngahina Hohaia, the Mataaho Collective and Reuben Paterson, this is a powerful portrait of cultural resilience and authorship.

  • “That’s not up for grabs, that is ours to own, and if it’s not then I don’t want to be part of that conversation.”

    NIGEL BORELL

  • “When we brought Te Maori (te hokinga mai) home the gallery was chocker for weeks and I can see the same with this show… I just think this is way overdue.”

    EMILY KARAKA

  • “Because that’s what it celebrates, is us empowering ourselves and empowering our children to be able to move through and operate on all levels with our life”

    CHARLOTTE GRAHAM

  • “The best thing about this is recognition and an understanding that we’ve been doing this and trying to convey messages through art, and not just carving or traditional ways but since the beginning”

    TAIKA WAITITI

  • “I came past Merata Mita’s footage and there was a swarm of people in front of her work and I just took that in, and people’s transformation. Transformation of people’s understanding, people’s hearts, you can never underestimate the impact that that has on us as a nation and as a country”

    NGAHINA HOHAIA

NZIFF SCREENINGS

  • AUCKLAND

    Wednesday 6th August
    SkyCity Theatre

    Friday 8th August
    Lido Cinema, Epsom (SOLD OUT)

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  • CHRISTCHURCH

    Sunday 17th August
    Bernhardt

    Thursday 21st August
    Bardot

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  • WELLINGTON

    Saturday 23rd August
    Massey University

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  • DUNEDIN

    Sunday 24th August
    Rialto

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PRESS ENQUIRIES

Director
Chelsea Winstanley

Producers
Desray Armstrong, Chelsea Winstanley

Cinematography
Mike Jonathan

Editors
Huhana Ruri-Panapa, Cushla Dillon, Brendon Chan

Music
Maree Sheehan

Featuring curator Nigel Borell, and Māori artists: Shane Cotton, Emily Karaka, Brett Graham, Taika Waititi, Charlotte Graham, Reuben Paterson, Shona Rapira-Davies, Elizabeth Ellis, Mere Lodge, Ani Iti, Maureen Lander, Mataaho Collective – Sarah Hudson, Terri Te Tau, Erena Baker & Bridget Reweti.

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