Fascinating portrait

South Auckland-set film Matariki, directed by Reefton-born Michael Bennett, has been selected to screen at the opening weekend of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Contemporary World Cinema section on September 11. Matariki is Bennett’s first feature film. The official TIFF site describes the film: “Just as the stars of the Pleiades constellation come together to mark Matariki — Maori New Year and a time of new beginnings — so too do the five intersecting stories of Bennett’s film merge into a fascinating portrait of a community.” Matariki includes Go Girls’ Alix Bushnell, Outrageous Fortune’s Sara Wiseman, Sione’s Wedding’s IaHeto Ah Hi and recent Romeo Michael Whalley. (25 August 21)