THE NATIVE SLAM

What happens when you gather together 15 experienced Indigenous Filmmakers from all over the globe and give them 72 hours and just $800 each to make a film?

The Native Slam, held in March 2016 was an New Zealand Indigenous filmmaking challenge that aimed to encourage collaboration beyond borders. 

In just 72 hours, this challenge produced five stunning short films.

Now we need your help to finish these films so that we can take them to the world!

THE NATIVE SLAM

The dream for the Native Slam was born 14 years ago, on a Canadian road trip, snow falling; a Maori and an Aboriginal woman driving in a convertible - lid down, heater on 10, music blaring. True story! They even imagined themselves as Thelma and Louise of the Southern Hemisphere. They got plenty of stunned reactions from passing truck drivers and others on their long trip from Toronto to Ottawa but on that winters road trip a Trans Tasman Indigenous relationship was forged.

In March of this year, Australian producer Pauline Clague and M?oriland Film Festival Director, Libby Hakaraia, with support from the NZFC, brought that dream of New Zealand indigenous collaboration to life in The Native Slam.

TIKANGA

This New Zealand indigenous collaboration had some unique tikanga associated with it.

- The film's title must be in a Native language.

- Every film must have some spoken and un-translated native language.

- Every film must heal.

- Creative and managerial control of the film will be Indigenous. A portion of the intellectual property will lie with any tribal owners of the story. A portion of the profits of the film will be held in trust for Indigenous film education.

These films are proof that when passion, skill and a willingness to collaborate is combined, magic happens.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

M?oriland Film Festival and the Native Slam Filmmakers want to take these films to festivals around the world so that they can be shared with the communities they were born from and so that they can inspire further Indigenous collaboration.

What we are seeking is a total of $22,000 to sound mix each film and polish the post production. The Native Slam films will then be ready for submission to film festivals around the world.

Please help us to reach our target by making a tax deductible donation to our campaign.

THANK YOU

The Native Slam is a forum to encourage creativity and New Zealand collaboration amongst Indigenous filmmakers. We intend this series of works to be only the beginning.

Want to see them for yourself? We will provide an opportunity to all funders to see the work once they have been finished. We have already received an invitation to bring these films to Skabmagovat Film Festival in Finland in January and we aim to have them programmed for other film festivals.

Please remember - Boosted is an all or nothing platform - if we don't reach our target in 30 days, we won't receive a single dollar so we need your help! Please donate, share this page with your networks and spread the word.

When you donate to our Boosted campaign you are supporting the voices of Indigenous people in film.

THE FILMS

SKOHA

A cry for the ones we miss.

Tainui Stephens - Te Rarawa
Zoe Hopkins - Mohawk
Rima Tamou - Bulgunnwarra, Ng? Ruahine

TAWHAOWHAO

A man must face a harsh reality in his attempt to fix an estranged relationship between him and his 16 year old daughter.

Himiona Grace - Ngati Toa, Ngati Porou
Blackhorse Lowe - Navajo
Sunna Nousuniemi - Sapmi

ARA

A visual poem with music and painting seeks a pathway of discovery about the world and ourselves.

Kath Akuhata Brown - Ng?ti Porou
Sara Margreth Oskal - Sapmi
Echota Killsnight - Northern Cheyenne, Cherokee Keetowah

RA'SATSTE

What is supposed to be the most inspiring moment in a woman's life soon becomes the most terrifying as complications to the delivery occur.

Mike Jonathan - Te Arawa, Ng?ti Awa
Sonia Boileau - Mohawk
Jeremiah Tauamiti - Samoa

SACH'EL

"Sometimes loneliness makes the loudest noise." A friendship is altered forever when the courage of one is not reciprocated by the other.

Chelsea Winstanley - Ng?ti Ranginui
Cornel Ozies - Yawuru, Goonyland
Trevor Mack - Tsilhqot'in