The Convert
Book Tickets
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Guy Pearce stars as a British preacher caught up in 1830s Māori wars in Lee Tamahori’s (Once Were Warriors, 1993; Mahana, SFF 2016) sweeping historical drama. Toronto 2023.
When Thomas Munro (Pearce, excellent) arrives in the tiny coastal settlement of Epworth in 1830, he finds discontent, suspicion and friction. After saving the life of a chief’s daughter, Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Munro is thrust into political intrigue during the devastating Musket Wars between Māori tribes. Tamahori paints a meticulously detailed portrait of Māori communities and culture in the early days of colonialism, whilst expertly weaving in Munro’s troubled past which intrudes on the increasingly bloody conflict surrounding him. Stunningly filmed in widescreen on location, including Whatipū beach, The Convert delivers gripping drama and extraordinary action.
Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.Special Guests
Lee Tamahori
Director, Screenwriter
Lee Tamahori is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker of Ngāti Porou descent. Based in New Zealand, Tamahori's Hollywood credits include Next (2007) and The Devil’s Double (2011). His acclaimed debut feature Once Were Warriors (1994) won the Anicaflash Prize at Venice in 1994, and the Best Director Award at the NZ Film and Television Awards.
Te Kohe Tuhaka
Producer
Te Kohe Tuhaka is a te reo Māori-speaking actor and presenter, renowned for his television credits in New Zealand. A graduate of New Zealand’s leading drama school, Toi Whakaari, Tuhaka first appeared in Taika Waititi’s short film Tama Tū, and has appeared on the series Shortland Street. Tuhaka also starred in Lee Tamahori’s The Patriarch.
Andrew Mason
Producer
Andrew Mason is a producer with credits across both local and international films, including The Matrix (2010) and Tomorrow, When the War Began. More recently, he produced the acclaimed Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe and feature film Lee starring Kate Winslet (also screening at the Festival).
Troy Lum
Producer
Troy Lum is a producer and founder of Brouhaha Entertainment. His career began in film distribution at Dendy Films in 1998. Lum later launched the independent Australian distributor Hopscotch Films. His producer credits include The Water Diviner (2014) and Nekrotronic (2018). He was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019.
Robin Scholes
Producer
Robin Scholes is a New Zealand-based producer. She was one of the founding partners and executive directors of Communicdo, where she developed a number of both docu-dramas (Heros, Magic Kiwis) and fictional dramas (Greenstone, The Chosen). Scholes has previously collaborated with Lee Tamahori on Once Were Warriors, and The Patriarch.
Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
Cast
Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne is a Māori storyteller and actress of Ngāti Porou and Ngai Tūhoe descent. A graduate of Toi Whakaari, Ngatai-Melbourne’s performance credits include We Are Still Here (SFF Opening Night 2022), Cousins (2021), and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), and she has recently expanded into filmmaking with her short film E Rangi Rā, supported by Māoriland Film.
- Program Strand
- Special Presentations, First Nations Award, Special Presentations, First Nations Award
- Year
- 2023
- Classification
- Unclassified 15+
- Country
- New Zealand, Australia
- Language
- In English and Māori with English subtitles
- Director
- Lee Tamahori
- Producer
- Robin Scholes, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Andrew Mason, Troy Lum
- Cast
- Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Guy Pearce, Antonio Te Maioha
- Screenwriter
- Lee Tamahori, Shane Danielsen
- Cinematographer
- Gin Loane
- Editor
- Luke Haigh
- Premiere
- Australian Premiere
- Genre
- Australian Films, First Nations, Religion & Belief
- Company Credits
- Australian Distributor: Kismet Movies
- Official Website
- Visit →
