Actor and filmmaker Madeleine Sami has received New Zealand’s Toi Kō Iriiri Queer Arts Award, as one of this year’s Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates.

The foundation announced its eight 2026 Laureates on 16 October. Each receives NZ$50,000. Sami’s award, gifted by Hall Cannon, recognises a queer artist whose work represents the community and contributes to social change.

Her screen credits include Deadloch and Our Flag Means Death, as well as The Breaker Upperers, which she co-wrote and co-directed. The foundation’s selection panel singled out her contribution to expanding queer roles on screen.

In her official award profile, she says the acknowledgement makes the hard times in her career feel worthwhile.

In a February 2025 ABC interview, she spoke about impostor syndrome and finding her place as a brown, queer woman. “This industry doesn’t often reflect who I am,” she said. Friends including filmmaker Jackie van Beek had helped her back herself.

Asked what she would say to other brown queer people trying to make it, she urged them to support one another and keep telling their stories.

Her reaction to the new honour: “It’s buzzy to win an arts award!”