Awa Films

Awa Films Project Development
Script Writing
Full Production
Post Production Awa Films is a creative development company working in visual and audio mediums.

Awa Films is a leading indigenous production company led by award winning filmmakers Julian and Becs Arahanga. The company draws its storytelling inspiration from its name Awa which is the Māori word for river that weaves connections of people, water and land. There is a real passion at Awa Films to tell Māori stories to a global audience and is capture in the companies internal mantra "Indigenous

ly inspired for all”. Recently Julian was awarded SPADA Independent Producer of the Year, and Becs was award the SPADA New Film Maker of the Year. Awa Film's credits: Series Colonial Combat and Songs from the Inside, short films Hinekura, Laundry and documentaries Pixie and Beyond the Battalion. They are currently developing several high end drama TV Shows for local and International audiences, including Fox and I Am Māui. We create and develop stories that can be expressed through cinema, television, interactive, music and print. The company is built around the development and creation of a film and media catalogue, that is branded with our unique voice. We are building our brand around Maori themes and ideologies that will be accessible to a global audience.

Thank you, Verity Johnson for keeping the pressure on the government to make good on its promise. The Stolen Children of...
27/10/2025

Thank you, Verity Johnson for keeping the pressure on the government to make good on its promise. The Stolen Children of Aotearoa is a hard watch but necessary to be conscious of the story many of the survivors went through.

OPINION: The Government’s move to make it harder for some victims of abuse in state care to access compensation is disgusting.

TONIGHT ON MĀORI TV! 8.30 pm OUR NEW FILM - Mana Moana Mana Tangata
18/08/2025

TONIGHT ON MĀORI TV! 8.30 pm OUR NEW FILM - Mana Moana Mana Tangata

The Stolen Children of Aotearoa now on TVNZ+
21/07/2025

The Stolen Children of Aotearoa now on TVNZ+

📍 Auckland – Bridgeway Cinema, The Capitol🕖 Sunday 13 July, 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM📍 Wellington – The Roxy🕐 Sunday 16 July, ...
08/07/2025

📍 Auckland – Bridgeway Cinema, The Capitol
🕖 Sunday 13 July, 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
📍 Wellington – The Roxy
🕐 Sunday 16 July, 8:15 PM
📍 Christchurch – Lumière Cinemas
🕐 Sunday 18 July, 8:15 PM
We'd love to see you and your whānau there.
Grab your tickets: Link in bio or https://docedge.nz/events/mana-moana-mana-tangata/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkPTE2BOQzk

A gripping feature length documentary chronicling Māori in a defiant struggle against systematic racism and colonial injustice to reclaim their fishing right...

Behind the Brush - Seasons 1 & 2 are now streaming on YouTube!Step into the world behind Gottfried Lindauer’s iconic por...
30/06/2025

Behind the Brush - Seasons 1 & 2 are now streaming on YouTube!

Step into the world behind Gottfried Lindauer’s iconic portraits of Māori. This powerful docuseries brings the painted ancestors to life - sharing the stories, whakapapa, and mana of the tūpuna who sat for the artist over a century ago.

Created with the funding from Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air

Watch now! Link to our YouTube in the bio

From the bounty of the sea, we sustain our future generations.A gripping film chronicling Māori in a defiant struggle ag...
31/05/2025

From the bounty of the sea, we sustain our future generations.

A gripping film chronicling Māori in a defiant struggle against systemic racism and colonial injustice to reclaim their fishing rights. Through resilience and legal strategy, they secured their place in the industry, marking a landmark victory for Indigenous sovereignty. Thirty years later, the fight for equity and environmental stewardship continues.

A universal story of justice and perseverance, the film captures both triumph and ongoing struggle, revealing how Indigenous communities worldwide navigate power, reclaim their culture, and resist colonisation.

Directed by Sonny Arahanga and Toby Mills.
Screening Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and virtually at Doc Edge festival.

Get your tickets here:

In this compelling film, the battle to save Māori fishing rights unfolds as a powerful tale of resilience and determination. 

Our editor and good human Danny Mulholland aka Edmund Skillary suggested we put these films on YouTube for all to see. T...
24/04/2025

Our editor and good human Danny Mulholland aka Edmund Skillary suggested we put these films on YouTube for all to see. They are a collection of ANZAC films we've made for NZ television that centre around stories of individuals caught in the ugly world of war.

06/04/2025

🎧 The Stolen Children of Aotearoa — a powerful new podcast airs TOMORROW on RNZ.

Investigative journalist Aaron Smale and filmmaker Julian Arahanga dive deep into the untold stories of Māori survivors who faced abuse in state care. This gripping series traces the trauma that continues to haunt many, and uncovers the generational impact of an unjust system.

Tune in to hear the voices of those who lived through it, as they demand justice and raise awareness for a chapter in Aotearoa's history that must never be forgotten.

🔗 Listen now: https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/the-stolen-children-of-aotearoa

Made with the support of NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho, and created in partnership with Māori TV.

31/03/2025

The Stolen Children of Aotearoa TELEVISION PREMIERE tonight at 8:30pm on maoriplus.co.nz

Nau Mai Haere Mai ki Maoriland Film Festival.Stolen Children is premiering at this Friday 28th 1pm. Be great to see you...
26/03/2025

Nau Mai Haere Mai ki Maoriland Film Festival.
Stolen Children is premiering at this Friday 28th 1pm. Be great to see you there in person to honour the brave survivors of state care and celebrate this beautiful important documentary.
Māoriland Film Festival, 1pm Friday March 28th - https://mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz/

BTS – Stolen Children of AotearoaNgā mihi aroha to the courageous survivors who have so generously entrusted us with the...
26/03/2025

BTS – Stolen Children of Aotearoa
Ngā mihi aroha to the courageous survivors who have so generously entrusted us with their stories. Deep thanks also to all the participants and our hardworking crew, who have poured their time, heart, and energy into creating this powerful documentary.

Join us for a special screening and premiere at – 1pm, Friday 28 March:
🎟️ https://mff.maorilandfilm.co.nz

Then airing on at 8:30pm, Monday 31 March,
and available afterwards on the Māori+ platform (NZ audiences only):
📺 https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/the-stolen-children-of-aotearoa
Made with the Support of , on Air and

The Stolen Children of Aoteroa,Premiering at Māoriland Film Festival, Friday 1pm March 28th. Buy your tickets at iTicket...
05/03/2025

The Stolen Children of Aoteroa,
Premiering at Māoriland Film Festival, Friday 1pm March 28th. Buy your tickets at iTicket/Maoriland/Documentaries

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127 Park Road, Miramar
Wellington
6010

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Awa Films is a creative development and production company working in visual and audio mediums. We create and develop stories that can be expressed through cinema, television, interactive, music and print. The company is built around the development and creation of a film and media catalogue, that is branded with our unique voice. We are building our brand around Maori themes and ideologies that will be accessible to a global audience. Company Director Julian Arahanga has 20 years experience in the film and television industry. He has worked on a range of productions with some of the world's most influential filmmakers. His experience provides the foundation and gives Awa Films an insightful perspective in the development and management of projects.