Kōkā (Matriarch)

Worlds collide when Māori Elder Hamo accidentally hits Jo, a rough-around-the-edges wahine, with her car. Feeling responsible for her care, Hamo tries to help Jo back on her feet, only to find herself entangled in Jo’s antics after Jo lost her only home and family — a group of misfits who outlived their stay in an encampment. Hamo reluctantly agrees to take Jo under her wing, bringing her along on the trip back home. While on the road, the women form an unlikely bond that leads them to face the past and lean on each other on the path to healing. Kath Akuhata-Brown is an award-winning filmmaker known for her culturally poetic and meaningful storytelling. Her acclaimed works include the short films Washday and Purea. A graduate of the Binger Film School in Amsterdam, Kath has also shaped the industry as a screenwriting lecturer, script assessor, and advocate for Indigenous storytelling. Available in-person only.