Mike Jonathan is an award-winning Māori filmmaker, director, and producer from Aotearoa, New Zealand. His work celebrates Māori and indigenous identity, resilience, and storytelling through acclaimed films such as Ka Whawhai Tonu and soon-to-be-released Whales, Rats & Kauri, co-directed with long-term friend Kim Webby.

As the founder of Haka Boy Films, his creative home for nearly two decades. Mike weaves stories grounded in te ao Māori, guided by whakapapa and the voices of iwi, hapū, and whānau.

A director of photography, storyteller, and cultural advocate, he champions authentic indigenous representation both on screen and behind the camera. His filmmaking embodies aroha, integrity, and a deep respect for the land, language, and ancestors that inspire every frame.

Tohorā Films

Tohorā Films is an Aotearoa-based production company co-founded by directors and producers Mike Jonathan and Kim Webby. Dedicated to telling Māori and indigenous stories that connect people across cultures, Tohorā Films creates authentic, visually rich works grounded in ancestral wisdom and te ao Māori values.

The company’s slate begins with Whales, Rats & Kauri, a landmark feature exploring the relationship between people, nature, and the enduring spirit of Aotearoa, followed by a growing catalogue of projects celebrating identity, history, and reconnection.

In partnership with Mike’s long standing production house Haka Boy Films, Tohorā Films collaborates closely with iwi, hapū, and indigenous creatives worldwide to ensure every story remains true to its people and purpose, championing a vision of cinema that heals, educates, and empowers future generations.

Mike Jonathan attends AIDC 2026 with NZFC-supported delegate Kim Webby.