Jared Flitcroft is an award-winning Deaf Māori filmmaker whose work bridges te ao Māori, the Deaf community, and cinematic storytelling. Fluent in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), te reo Māori sign language concepts, and spoken English, he is one of Aotearoa’s leading trilingual filmmakers and a passionate advocate for authentic, inclusive and accessible storytelling.

Jared co-directed the internationally recognised short film Tama (2017), the first NZSL film to premiere at the New Zealand International Film Festival, Show Me Shorts, and ImagineNATIVE in Toronto. Tama won four awards at the Wairoa Film Festival and was praised for its powerful visual language and emotional resonance. Deeply rooted in kaupapa Māori and Deaf identity, Jared’s storytelling reflects a nuanced understanding of sensory experience, cultural trauma and ancestral connection.

He regularly collaborates on projects that integrate NZSL and tikanga Māori into genre filmmaking, drama, and documentary work, including The Kids of Kōrero Lane (2023, Attitude TV) and Being Turi (2024, Ingot Film + Whakaata Māori), which has been accepted into the 2025 Webfest Festival in NZ and Australia. Being Turi recently won Honourable Mention at the 2025 Sydney Web Fest.

Jared is a trusted mentor, having served as access coordinator on Tangata Pai (2024, Warner Bros. Discovery-backed), advocating for the inclusion of Deaf and disabled actors and crew.

Jared’s work is guided by a commitment to elevating Deaf and Māori voices on screen, ensuring stories are told with nuance, dignity and authenticity. He recently received Catalyst funding from the New Zealand Film Commission to co-direct Tama and Mahuika, which is now in post-production.

Jared is also a member of the New Zealand Writers Guild.

Links 
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6509787/
Tama: https://vimeo.com/201638950
Being Turi: https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/being-turi-deaf-maori/play/6362808156112
Access Coordinator: https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/being-turi-deaf-maori/play/6362808156112