Mārama (film)
Mārama is a New Zealand gothic horror film written and directed by Taratoa Stappard and starring Ariāna Osborne, Toby Stephens, Umi Myers and Errol Shand.
Article
Mārama (film)
Mārama is a New Zealand gothic horror film written and directed by Taratoa Stappard and starring Ariāna Osborne, Toby Stephens, Umi Myers and Errol Shand.
Premise
Mārama (film)
Upon receiving a letter from a mysterious stranger claiming to have information about her parents, orphan Mary Stevens (Mārama) arrives in Yorkshire, England to find out more about her whākapapa.
On her arrival at Hawkser Manor she is eagerly met by Nathanial Cole who offers her a position as governess for his granddaughter Ann, but the house does not feel right. What must Mārama do to discover her tūpuna, and how far will she go to protect them?
Cast
Mārama (film)
• Ariāna Osborne as Mary Stevens/ Mārama & Emilia/Te Haeata • Toby Stephens as Nathanial Cole • Umi Myers as Peggy • Errol Shand • Jordan Mooney
Production
Mārama (film)
The film is from writer-director Taratoa Stappard and has Sharlene George producing for The Sweetshop. Ricky Russell-Waipuka and Rouzie Hassanova are also producing with Paraone Gloyne as Māori language and culture producer. Executive Producers include Victoria Dabbs and Gal Greenspan for Sweetshop Entertainment, Jill Macnab and Phil Bremner for Vendetta Films and Badie Ali, Hamza Ali and Greg Newman for MPI Media.
The cast is led by Ariāna Osborne, Toby Stephens, and Umi Myers and also features Erroll Shand and Jordan Mooney.
The film was developed with support from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga (The New Zealand Film Commission), imagineNATIVE, The Black List, Toronto International Film Festival, the Zurich Film Festival and the Berlinale Co-Production Market. The film is made in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, Whakaata Māori and Images & Sound. Principal photography took place in late-2024 in Auckland and in the Otago region.
Release
Mārama (film)
Mārama had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday September 5, 2025. Before the premiere, North American rights were negotiated by Dark Sky Films and Watermelon Pictures, with a release set for the first quarter of 2026.
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 13 critics' reviews are positive.