Mārama

Set in the Victorian era, horror film Mārama has been touted as venturing into "bold new cinematic territory: Māori Gothic". In this trailer, a young Māori woman, Mary (Ariāna Osborne), travels to a grand English manor in search of her missing parents at the invitation of its owner, Nathaniel (Toby Stevens). Within its dark halls, she is haunted by visions hinting at something sinister and violent beneath the surface. The debut feature of London-based Kiwi Taratoa Stappard, Mārama wrestles with themes of colonisation, Māori oppression and the spiritual realm. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. 

This film will be confronting, bloody and entirely unique...

– Director Taratoa Stappard in the film's press release, Scoop Media website, October 2024

Key Cast & Crew

Toby Stephens

As: Nathaniel Cole

Karl Sölve Steven

Composer

Ariāna Osborne

As: Mary (Mārama)

Taratoa (Toa) Stappard

Director, Writer

Dan Kircher

Editor

Rouzie Hassanova

Producer