ARTMATTAN FILMS ACQUIRES ALL US RIGHTS TO "WHITE LIES," NEW ZEALAND 2014 OSCAR SUBMISSION!

Based on a novel by "Whale Rider" writer Witi Ihimaera, White Lies – New Zealand’s entry in the 2014 Oscar competition for best foreign-language film – is an intense drama that explores with great humanity and sensitivity such difficult topics as race relations, bleaching and abortion. Paraiti is the healer and midwife of her rural, tribal people – she believes in life. But new laws in force are prohibiting unlicensed healers, making the practice of much Maori medicine illegal. She gets approached by Maraea, the servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca, who seeks her knowledge and assistance in order to hide a secret which could destroy Rebecca’s position in European settler society. This compelling story tackles moral dilemmas, exploring the nature of identity, societal attitudes to the roles of women and the tension between Western and traditional Maori medicine.

Directed by Dana Rotberg, 2013, New Zealand, 96mins, Drama, English and Maori with English subt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND SCREENERS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Diarah N’Daw-Spech, ArtMattan Productions
Tel (212) 864-1760, e-mail: Info@africanfilm.com

ABOUT ARTMATTAN FILMS
ArtMattan Films celebrates in 2015 twenty three years of exposing US audiences to a large variety of films about the human experience of people of color in many parts of the world. Films released by ArtMattan Films include Kirikou and the Sorceress, The Tracker, Gospel Hill, Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story, The Pirogue and most recently Jews of Egypt and Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango. More info at http://www.AfricanFilm.com