Indigenous Cinema Alliance Strengthens Aotearoa Partnerships With 2026 Membership, Market Strategy & Fellowship Cohort

Canada | Sápmi | Ecuador | Aotearoa | Australia | USA | Greenland — The Indigenous Cinema Alliance (ICA) has announced its 2026 membership, strategic market priorities, and ninth Fellowship cohort, with Aotearoa New Zealand taking a leading role through the return of Māoriland Film Festival and the addition of Ngā Aho Whakaari / Māori in Screen. The ICA’s renewed slate reflects a major expansion of Māori presence, leadership, and global industry engagement within its international network.

Aotearoa Front and Centre in 2026 Membership Network

The ICA proudly welcomes the Māoriland Film Festival (Ōtaki, Aotearoa) back into the Alliance after six years. A founding ICA member, Māoriland has grown into the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Indigenous film festival and a powerhouse creative hub for Māori and international Indigenous storytellers.

For the first time, the ICA also welcomes Ngā Aho Whakaari / Māori in Screen, Aotearoa’s national organisation representing Māori across film, television, and digital media. As a leading advocate for Māori practitioners and cultural integrity in screen storytelling, its joining marks a powerful expansion of Māori representation and influence within the Alliance.

Returning ICA members include:

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (Canada) – ICA project lead

• International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) (Sápmi/Norway)
• 4th World Media (Turtle Island)
• MULLU (Abya Yala)
• Winda Film Festival (Australia)
• Film.gl (Greenland)
• Pacific Islanders in Communications (Hawai‘i)

2026 Market Strategy Focuses on TIFF: The Market, While Maintaining EFM Presence

Following a decade of activity at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, the ICA will prioritise the inaugural TIFF: The Market (10–16 September 2026) as its central market hub. The new Toronto-based event spans film, series, and innovation, and is set to become a significant global platform for Indigenous producers, rights-holders, and storytellers.

The ICA will continue its long-standing partnership with EFM, maintaining collaborative pathways for co-production, distribution, and industry networking built over more than ten years.

In addition, the ICA will attend the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market (France) for the first time, responding to the fast-growing demand for Indigenous short-form content and professional opportunities.

2026 Fellowship Cohort: Strong Māori & Aotearoa Representation

The ICA’s ninth Fellowship cohort includes several prominent Māori creatives and Aotearoa-affiliated leaders. Fellows participate in skills development, networking, and targeted engagement at key markets including TIFF: The Market, EFM, and Clermont-Ferrand.

Confirmed Fellows include:

• Libby Hakaraia (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kapu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) – Māoriland
• Brooke Collard (Ballardong Whadjuk Noongar) – Winda Film Festival
• Jacqueline Olivé (Tongan) – 4th World Media
• Johannes Vang (Sámi) – ISFI
• Katsitsionni Fox (Mohawk Nation from Akwesasne) – 4th World Media / Indigenous Screen Office
• Marc Fussing Rosbach (Inuk) – Film.gl / Arctic Indigenous Film Fund
• Princess Daazhraii Johnson (Neets’aii Gwich’in) – 4th World Media / Arctic Indigenous Film Fund
• Sadetło Scott (Tłıchǫ Dene) – imagineNATIVE / Arctic Indigenous Film Fund
• Sara Beate Eira (Sámi) – ISFI / Arctic Indigenous Film Fund

Aotearoa’s presence is notably expanded, with Hakaraia and Ngā Aho Whakaari newly shaping ICA strategy and future collaborative opportunities.

More Fellows will be announced ahead of TIFF: The Market.

Partnerships & Funding

The ICA continues to receive support from the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), and Telefilm Canada, working closely with these funders as preparations advance for TIFF: The Market.

Quotes

David Morrison, Associate Director of imagineNATIVE and ICA Project Lead:

“Indigenous storytelling does not wait on the sidelines. The strengthening of our partnerships in Aotearoa—through both Māoriland’s return and the addition of Ngā Aho Whakaari—expands opportunities for Indigenous producers and ensures our stories are seen and traded on equitable terms.”

Kay Ellmers, Executive Director of Ngā Aho Whakaari:

“Ngā Aho Whakaari is honoured to join the Indigenous Cinema Alliance. This is a pivotal moment as Indigenous storytellers reshape narratives, reclaim language and culture, and challenge colonial frameworks. We look forward to contributing to this collective and building a vibrant Indigenous screen future together.”

Frida Muenala, Film Coordinator at MULLU:

“In Ecuador, Indigenous peoples face enormous challenges—yet we continue to create and defend our ways of life. ICA’s support strengthens our commitment to justice, representation, and self-determination in cinema.”

About the Indigenous Cinema Alliance

The ICA strengthens global Indigenous cinema by cultivating culturally safe professional spaces, supporting co-production and distribution opportunities, and fostering international networks for Indigenous filmmakers. The Alliance also assists producers in securing appropriate international sales representation to ensure Indigenous-led works reach audiences worldwide with care and integrity.

ICA Member Profiles (Aotearoa Partners Highlighted)

Māoriland (Aotearoa New Zealand)

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest Indigenous screen showcase, Māoriland, is a global leader in Indigenous cinema and a founding ICA member. With an expansive year-round creative hub in Ōtaki, it champions Māori storytelling, talent development, and international collaboration.

Ngā Aho Whakaari / Māori in Screen (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Aotearoa’s national organisation for Māori working in film, television, and digital media. It advocates for cultural integrity, industry growth, and Māori-led storytelling across the screen sector.

Other ICA Members:

• imagineNATIVE (Canada)
• International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI), Sápmi
• 4th World Media (Turtle Island)
• Film.gl (Greenland)
• MULLU (Abya Yala/Latin America)
• Pacific Islanders in Communications (USA/Pacific Islands)
• Winda Film Festival (Australia)

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