“an intelligently and sensitively made film.”
“an important cinematic document”
IN CINEMAS 13 NOVEMBER
SEE LOCATIONS BELOW
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
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.
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KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON
LIDO
SPECIAL Q&A session
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TE PAPAIOEA PALMERSTON NORTH
Silky Otter Cinema Palmerston North
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WHAKATŪ NELSON
Silky Otter Richmond
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TAIRĀWHITI GISBORNE
ODEON THEATRE
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TARANAKI
GOVETT Brewster theatre
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ŌTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH
Silky Otter Wigram
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ROTORUA
Basement Cinema
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WHANGANUI - A - TARA WELLINGTON
In association with The Dowse Museum
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TAHUNA QUEENSTOWN
Silky Otter Cinema
in association with Te Atamira
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WĀNAKA
Cinema Paradiso
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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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TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty 2025
Unprecedented insight into the curation of the Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art exhibition reveals the struggle for Māori artistic sovereignty within the structures of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural institutions.
READ MORE -
Chelsea Winstanley: TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty
Award winner Chelsea Winstanley on how her documentary about an Auckland Art Gallery exhibition put her at the centre of a modern day stand for sovereignty.
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Chelsea Winstanley: 'Don't put your own dreams aside'
In her debut feature documentary TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty, award-winning film producer Chelsea Winstanley goes behind the scenes of a landmark Māori art exhibition.
READ MORE
