Te Rerenga: The Journey

This year we are delighted to present special festival artwork created for Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2023. Light artist Angus Muir and photographer Alistair Guthrie, together with Arch MacDonnell and the team at Inhouse have so strikingly visualised our name, Whānau Mārama

Whānau Mārama describes the celestial bodies which light up the heavens—the moon, stars and sun, coupled with the double meaning of “family of light”; connecting us all via the light of cinema in the depths of Aotearoa winter.

Whānau Mārama also alludes to traditional star navigation, where we open each year beneath the starlit ceiling of The Civic in Auckland, where films from around the world light up our pathways and help us navigate these ever-changing times.

As Whānau Mārama, we cherish our place in the Pacific under the southern constellations and acknowledge the wonder of sharing the same sky with cultures from around the globe—a universally binding notion.

To us, Whānau Mārama represents the anticipation, of rushing in from the cold to the offering of a warm cinema, of sitting in the dark—alone yet together—and the feeling that comes from that first flicker of light of the screen, transporting us all to that new world. We look forward to sharing it with you this winter.

Tiramarama mai ngā whetū

Tūramamara mai ngā aorangi ki tua

Kei ngā pō atarau, kei ngā pō ahoroa

Ka here tonu ngā tangata ki te rangi

Te rangi ki te pito tāngata

E aro ki runga!

Te Whānau Mārama e!

Our Festival Patrons

In 2023 we launched the Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival Patron Programme—an opportunity for those who love the festival to come on board and support us. In 2023 the NZIFF Patrons will be providing the Best Film Award for New Zealand’s Best 2023. A HUGE thanks to our founding year patrons:

Gold Star

Christine & Richard Didsbury, Matakana

John & Jo Gow, Auckland

Silver Screen

David & Sally Inns, Wellington

Red Carpet

Colin Cheyne, Dunedin

Martyn & Carol Collings, Wellington

Dale & Joan Furbish, Auckland

Chris Hormann, Wellington

Jacquie Kean, Wellington

Jane Kominik, Wellington

Anouk Minnaar, Christchurch

Trish Clark Gallery, Auckland

Festival Whānau

David North, Gore Anonymous (1)

Patrons are a special part of the film festival whānau and enjoy a range of benefits including an early preview of the festival programme and booking priority. Find out more about how you can be a festival patron at nziff.co.nz/patrons