Whina directed by James Napier Robertson, Paula Whetu Jones will open the Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival which will take place from September 23 until October 1, 2023 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Note: The opening ceremony will also feature “Tale of Three Mountains in Sarawak” by Sze Ting Teo (Malaysia | 2022 – 4 minutes)

Whina by Paula Whetu Jones, James Napier Robertson – New Zealand | 2022 – 115 minutes
On 13 October 1975, a historic land march reached the grounds of Parliament in Wellington and its elderly, articulate leader became Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation).  WHINA tells Dame Whina Cooper’s life story, from her achievements as a leader in her Māori electorate to the famous hikoi (march) that made Māori land rights a key national issue. Dame Whina Cooper was a beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, especially women. Flawed yet resilient, WHINA tells the story of a woman formed by tradition, compelled by innovation, and guided by an instinct for equality and justice whose legacy as the Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation) was an inspiration to an entire country. (KKIFF 2023)

Trailer:

For more information, please visit: https://www.kkiff.com/