Director: James Napier Robertson Main cast: Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Kirk Torrance, Wayne Hapi Synopsis: During its highly successful theatrical release, box office hit The Dark Horse evoked powerful, emotional audience responses and spontaneous standing ovations in theatres throughout the country...Reviewers have consistently declared the film "A New Zealand classic..." and "One of the greatest NZ films ever made..."

The Dark Horse is an inspiring drama based on the true-life of a brilliant, eccentric but little known New Zealand hero, Genesis Potini (Cliff Curtis). Once a local chess champion, Genesis has since spent years in and out of mental institutions. On the condition that he must be monitored by a family member, Gen is released from his latest stint in the ward into the home of his estranged gang-member brother, Ariki (Wayne Hapi) and Ariki's son Mana (James Rolleston), who is soon to be initiated into the gang.

Seeking purpose, Gen approaches a local youth club and manically announces that he will lead them to the National Chess championship in Auckland in only six weeks' time. As the tournament approaches, Gen must lead them while dealing with violent gang conflict and impending homelessness. As tensions arise over Mana's growing interest in the Chess Club, Gen's hopes unravel in a dangerous way. To avoid the darkness he has been working so hard to avoid, Gen must face some unavoidable truths, and be willing to sacrifice his own safety to keep hope for himself and the kids alive.