Post-Production 1978

1978 is a heartwarming, coming-of-age comedy-drama set in rural Aotearoa, interwoven with the true history of Māori land protests. Set in 1978, it tells the humorous and moving story of 9 primary school friends, and the Ropata family,  fighting for their land, their community, and a little country school. We’ve worked on this self-funded film for the past 3 years and are now 80% complete.

1978 is directed by Isaac Lee, who also created the viral short The Haka, honouring the Māori Battalion (viewed over 2.3 million times on YouTube). He is joined by award-winning filmmaker April Phillips, with Jess Denise leading as Producer. 

Our dedicated team of creatives and crew – many of whom have worked on major productions like Avatar, The Hobbit, and King Kong – came together to support this uniquely Kiwi story. We’re a passionate collective of filmmakers, artists, and community members committed to storytelling that reflects Aotearoa’s heart.

We are raising funds to complete post-production – specifically:

• Visual Effects (VFX): Enhancing scenes that reflect the historical protests and school competitions.
• Colour Grading: Giving the film its final professional look to bring the 1970s setting to life.
• Final delivery costs: Preparing the film for cinemas and festivals.

This is the final leg of a 3-year journey on a film that has been entirely self-funded. Your support will directly help us cross the finish line and get 1978 in front of audiences.

1978 is a feature film that blends humour, history, and heartfelt storytelling. Set in the titular year, it follows the lives of a rural Māori-Pākehā family fighting on two fronts: the loss of ancestral land and the closure of their small country school. Inspired by real events and Isaac Lee’s own childhood, this film shines a light on the strength of community and identity in the face of change. With a cast of rising talent and beloved Kiwi actors like Mark Hadlow, 1978 celebrates the spirit of resistance, belonging, and the value of standing up for what you believe in.

We’re so close! 1978 is 80% complete, and after three years of tireless work from our dedicated team, we’re in the final stretch. Post-sound and score are currently underway, and the momentum is strong—but we need your help to get over the finish line. 

The film is fully self-funded, and while we’ve come this far with sheer determination and passion, the remaining Visual Effects and final Grade still need to be completed. In today’s tough economic climate, pulling together the last bit of funding has proven to be a challenge. But we believe in this story, and we’re doing everything we can to see 1978 light up the big screen. 

If you can support or share this campaign, you’ll be helping to bring an independent film dream to life.

1978 tells a distinctly Aotearoa story that resonates across generations and cultures – about land, legacy, and standing strong as a community. It highlights a part of our history often left untold, through a lens that’s humorous, heartfelt, and deeply human. We’ve already brought together hundreds of people across rural regions, local iwi, schools, and families. Now we’re inviting you – our wider community – to help us bring it home. With your support, we can share 1978 on the big screen and give this important story the platform it deserves.