Send TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty to the World!

My documentary has been invited to screen at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival - this will be it’s first foray into the world beyond our shores.

I will then travel to the European Film Market to pitch the film to Sales Agents and Distributors and hope to get a worldwide distribution deal. 

Its just me and Nigel Borell who will be attending the Festival but of course there has been an amazing team involved in the making of the documentary - and showcasing it in cinemas and galleries across the nation since its premiere in November 2025 at the New Zealand International Film Festival.

This Boosted campaign which is aiming to raise $20K in conjunction with an in-person event at the Auckland Art Gallery: Toi o Tāmaki on 29 January - I want those who can't be there with us on the night to still be able to support!

These funds will go towards flights, accommodation, a publicist and more - whatever is raised will continue to support sending this film around the world. 

Please donate if you can, every dollar helps - and please share across whānau, friends and your networks.

TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty, the debut directorial feature from Academy Award nominated producer Chelsea Winstanley, goes behind the scenes of the largest Māori art exhibition in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. 

Following curator Nigel Borell’s vision for Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art, the film captures both its record-breaking success and the behind the scenes conflicts that arise when Indigenous sovereignty challenges institutional power. 

Featuring rare access and the voices of celebrated artists such as Shane Cotton, Emily Karaka, Taika Waititi, Brett Graham, Ngahina Hohaia, the Mataaho Collective and Reuben Paterson, this is a powerful portrait of cultural resilience and authorship.

We are fundraising to take this important film to its first international screening where it will hopefully be picked up for wider distribution across other festivals around the world.

What interested me as a filmmaker, alongside the magnitude and scale of the exhibition was the show should have travelled around the world, much like the phenomenal exhibition "Te Māori" did in 1984. Sadly it did not. Interested parties were told “The moment had passed”. I am hoping with my film being seen on a global stage that it will ignite that conversation again and allow Māori Art to be seen everywhere, as it should have been. 

It's so important for films that are invited to screen at overseas film festivals to be able to attend - this raises awareness for our artists and hopefully obtains a sale to distribute the film internationally. 

There are so many artists in the film who have been the recipients of the Art Foundation Te Tumu Toi in one way or another. My film even followed several awarded artists (both Laureates and Icons) all the way to the 2024 Venice Biennale.

This film showcases our talent to the world on screen and get artists’ in front of an international art loving audience.