UPROAR by Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett & Sonia Whiteman

Uproar is a coming-of-age film set against New Zealand’s volatile 1981 Springbok Tour protests. At its center is Josh Waaka (Julian Dennison), a 17-year-old caught between a family legacy steeped in rugby and a growing inner voice pushing him toward theatre, activism and personal truth. As he navigates school pressures, racial tensions and personal identity, Josh must decide whether to sit quietly or stand up - for his whānau, his beliefs and his future.

Produced by Firefly Films, Caravan Carpark Films & Kingston Productions, Uproar is rooted in identity and place, unafraid to ask big questions of culture, resistance and belonging. 

Key Specifications

Title: Uproar

Genre: Drama / Comedy / Coming-of-age

Runtime: 110 minutes

Country: New Zealand

Language: English (with Māori & Samoan language elements)

Starring: Julian Dennison, Minnie Driver, Rhys Darby, Erana James & James Rolleston

Directors: Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett

Writers: Hamish Bennett, Sonia Whiteman

Producers: Emma Slade, Angela Cudd, Sandra Kailahi

Made in association with: NZ Film Commission, NZ Screen Rebate & Kiwibank

International Sales Agent: Blue Fox Entertainment

Australasian Distributor: Kismet Movies

Festivals: Toronto International Film Festival 2023, SXSW Sydney 2023, Brisbane International Film Festival 2023, Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2024, Hawai'i International Film Festival 2024, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival 2024, SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival for Children & Young Audiences 2024, Leiden International Film Festival 2024, Wairoa Film Festival 2024, Māoriland Film Festival 2024, Birrarangga Film Festival 2025.

Awards: Septimus Awards 2024 - Best Oceania Film, Buenos Aires International Film Festival 2024 - Best Cinematography, APRA Silver Scrolls 2024 - Best Original Music in a Feature Film Nominee, BUFF Malmö 2025 - Church of Sweden Youth Film Award.