Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand drama film directed by Niki Caro

Niki Caro

Niki Caro is film director, producer and screenwriter who was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her 2002 film Whale Rider was critically praised and won a number of awards at international film festivals....

, based on the novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera

Witi Ihimaera

Witi Tame Ihimaera-Smiler, DCNZM, QSM , generally known as Witi Ihimaera , is a New Zealand author, and is often regarded as one of the most prominent Māori writers alive.-Biography:...

. The film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes

Keisha Castle-Hughes

Keisha Castle-Hughes is a New Zealand film actress who rose to prominence at the age of eleven when playing Paikea "Pai" Apirana in the 2002 film Whale Rider...

 as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a 12-year-old girl struggling to become the chief of the tribe. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role reserved for males only.

The film was a co-production between New Zealand and Germany. It was shot on location in Whangara

Whangara

Whangara is a small community in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Located between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay, five kilometres southwest of Gable End Foreland and 2km east of State Highway 35, it was the location for the successful New Zealand novel and film Whale Rider...

, the setting of the novel.

The world premiere was on 9 September 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...

.