Dark Sky Films and Watermelon Pictures are teaming up to bring Mārama—a standout gothic horror film from the Toronto International Film Festival—to North American audiences. Directed by Taratoa Stappard and starring Ariāna Osborne and Toby Stephens, the film blends indigenous stories, gothic style, and historical drama. With its unique vision and strong production team, Mārama is set to make waves in the indie horror scene. North American audiences can expect the film’s theatrical debut in the first quarter of 2026.
Mārama features a compelling ensemble led by Ariāna Osborne, who plays the haunted protagonist Mary. Opposite her is Toby Stephens as Nathaniel Cole, adding gravitas to the film’s gothic tension. The cast also includes Umi Myers as Peggy, Evelyn Towersey as Anne, and Erroll Shand as Jack Fenton, each contributing to the eerie atmosphere of the story. Rounding out the lineup are Jordan Mooney as Arthur Cole, Mihi Te Rauhi Daniels as Hinemoana, and Turia Schmidt-Peke as Arorangi—bringing depth and cultural resonance to this chilling tale of identity and survival.
Taratoa Stappard, the film’s writer-director, explained, “Mārama is the first of my planned trilogy of Māori gothic horror stories about colonising violence being met with Indigenous retribution. I can’t wait to share my film with the world.”
Producers: Sharlene George leads the production under The Sweetshop. Ricky Russell-Waipuka and Rouzie Hassanova also serve as producers, with Paraone Gloyne contributing as Māori language and culture producer. The executive producers of Mārama include Victoria Dabbs and Gal Greenspan from Sweetshop Entertainment, Jill Macnab and Phil Bremner from Vendetta Films, and Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, and Greg Newman from MPI Media. These teams helped bring the film to life behind the scenes.
Set in Victorian England, 1859, Mārama follows a young Māori woman who is far from home and haunted by disturbing visions. As she struggles to preserve her identity in a foreign land, she uncovers gruesome secrets hidden within a grand English manor. The film weaves together gothic horror, colonial reckoning, and indigenous storytelling, creating.
Global exposure and support came via programs like imagineNATIVE, The Black List, TIFF’s Writers’ Studio, the Toronto International Film Festival development, the Zurich International Film Festival, and the Berlinale Co-Production Market
Producer Sharlene George emphasized that Mārama is fully shaped by Indigenous leadership production. “It’s a film that not only challenges conventions, but also puts Indigenous voices and worldviews at the heart of its storytelling.”