The Untold Tales Of Tūteremoana
Acclaimed writer and director Hiona Henare brings Māori oral stories to life in the fantasy fiction anthology 'The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana.' Three inspiring stories follow three young lead protagonists chosen by their ancestors to protect their families and tribal practices. The all-Māori cast includes veteran actors of stage and screen; Lawrence Makoare, Mere Boynton, Tanea Heke, and Helen Otene-Pease, alongside emerging talents who bring heart to each story. The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana' celebrates the renaissance of the endangered Māori language and offers a glimpse into Māori traditions and culture for a new generation.
TOIROA
A father's tranquil nomadic lifestyle is upended when his daughter unearths a human footprint in their secluded mountainous territory.
ORIORI
Tiaki's older brother sets out to locate a reclusive tohunga in the mountains, and a supernatural force compels Tiaki to follow on this quest.
WHIRO
After her grandmother's burial, strange occurrences in the sand dunes lead the villagers to blame Whiro for bringing a curse upon them.
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Hiona HenareDirector
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Hiona HenareWriter
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Sharlene GeorgeProducer
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Gal GreenspanProducer
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Rickylee Waipuka-RussellProducer
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Hiona HenareProducer
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Lawrence MakoareKey Cast
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Isis BradleyKey Cast
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Whirimako BlackKey Cast
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Ngahuia KopaKey Cast
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Mere BoyntonKey Cast
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Helen Pearse-OteneKey Cast
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Tanea HekeKey Cast
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Mairehau GraceKey Cast
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Poroaki McdonaldKey Cast
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Paku FernandezKey Cast
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Fred RenataCinematographer
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Riki GoochMusic Composer
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Ani O'NeilCostume Designers
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Feeona WallCostume Designers
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Josh O'NeilProduction Designer
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Rakai KingiArt Designer
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Jon BaxterSpecial Effects Director
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Project Type:Television, Other
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Genres:Drama, Fantasy
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Runtime:1 hour 15 minutes
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Completion Date:October 14, 2022
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Production Budget:1,000,000 NZD
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Country of Origin:New Zealand
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Country of Filming:New Zealand
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Language:Maori
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Shooting Format:Digital, H.264 MP4 AND DCP
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Hiona Henare
New Zealand born writer, director and editor, Hiona trained in classical theatre and spent her early years in performing arts. She directed her first stage play in Wellington at Taki Rua depot with a contemporary adaptation of Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. She's credited as a writer and co-writer of four New Zealand stage plays and a producer of several international theatre and contemporary dance tours across Europe, Australasia, Asia and the US. She returned back to school and graduated from Southseas film school in Auckland and earned a master's degree in maori and indigenous studies at the university of Canterbury. She is a returning alumni of Berlinale talents and a graduate of the interdoc masterclass programme of Serbia. Her films are representative of 4th cinema and indigenous epistemology and have won several awards and accolades including a solid screen arts award in Australia, a special jury prize from the international oceanian documentary film festival in Tahiti and a screenwriting award from the New Zealand film commission. She is the writer and director of the Untold Tales Of Tuteremoana, a new fantasy trilogy series 100% in te reo Maori based on her own oral tribal histories. Hiona is protege of celebrated filmmakers Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Tusi Tamasese. She is developing her first feature film with dame Jane Campion.
"I wanted to honor my Muaūpoko heritage by sharing the incredible stories that have been passed down through generations. These three shows include tales of the Toiroa people and their pet Moa, the mystical Hapuakorari lake believed to be a portal to another dimension; and the ancient graveyards of the Komokarau sand dunes, have all remained untold until now. Through the 'Untold Tales of Tūteremoana' series, I hope to capture the imagination of younger generations by presenting these stories in a visually stunning and contemporary way, while keeping them fully in te reo Māori. I believe that these stories have strong international appeal and offer valuable insight into indigenous knowledge."