Wairoa Takes Flight!

PRESS RELEASE 23 OCTOBER 2014: On November 1, Wairoa Maori Film Festival will take flight across the world with a selection of nine Maori-made and Maori-themed short films screening inflight on Air New Zealand. "Kia Ora Shorts is a new venture for the Wairoa Maori Film Festival and newly established Nuhaka Films," says Leo Koziol, Festival Director. "Discerning international travelers will be able to sample Maori culture in new contemporary short films, many of which screened at NZIFF Nga Whanaunga co-curated with Pollywood."

The selection of films screening inflight are:

BUTTERFLY Director Renae Maihi

HOME Director Apirana Ipo Te Maipi

TOHUNGA Director Rebecca Collins

AHI KA Director Richard Curtis

IN THE RUBBISH TIN Director Riwia Brown

MAUMAHARA Director Tamati Ihaka

FOOTSTEPS Director Lennie Hill

DOG ON DUTY Director Lennie Hill

RISING DUST Director Jack Woon

"These films profile the cultural issues of Aotearoa as well as presenting the stunning beauty of places such as the Hokianga and Rotorua," says Mr. Koziol.

Along with 8 Maori-themed films, Lennie Hill's FOOTSTEPS is a Maori / Pasifika film, director of Maori descent filmed in the stunning beauty of the Cook Islands.

NZIFF Nga Whanaunga is presented annually at the New Zealand International Film Festival. In 2014, the programme was curated by Wairoa Maori Film Festival Director Leo Koziol with guest curator Craig Fasi of the Pollywood Film Festival.

These films all go inflight on Air New Zealand long haul flights on November 1 2014.

ENDS