Biography

Yonatan Nir is an award winning producer and director and former photojournalist, known for Dolphin Boy (2011), My Hero Brother (2016) and The Essential Link - The Story of Wilfrid Israel (2017).

Nir grew up on a Kibbutz in northern Israel, where he developed his passion for nature and adventure. After his service in an elite IDF commando unit, he embarked on a seven-year journey around the world, during which he began to write and photograph for leading national and international newspapers and magazines. In 2009, Nir received the prestigious "Asian Geographic Best of the Decade Award" for his work in photojournalism.

His debut documentary film Dolphin Boy (2011), co-produced with ARTE and Channel 4, has been broadcast in more than thirty different countries and screened in over 130 film festivals worldwide. It premiered at Hot Docs and received the Special Jury Mention Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival and the Woodstock Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award at the Millennium Film Festival and the First prize at the World Festival for Underwater Images. It was nominated for the Israeli Academy Awards, for the International Green Film Awards (Cinema for Peace) and for the Mind Media awards at the British Film Institute. Dolphin Boy's remake rights were acquired by Disney Pictures.

Nir produced and directed My Hero Brother (2016) which amongst other awards, won the Best Documentary Award and Audience Choice award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Best International Director Award at the Doc Edge Film Festival, the Social Awareness Award at the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival, the Special Mention Award at the Bosifest Film Festival and the Audience Choice Awards at the Philadelphia JFF and the Cherry Hill JFF.

His film Amos - The Impossible Shot - a French Television NDR/ARD co-production, was shot in the Canadian High Arctic, featuring a wildlife photographer who attempts to swim with Polar Bears. Its TV version has been broadcast in Germany, France, The Netherlands and Japan. Its theatrical version is in the post-production stage.

Nir also Directed and co-produced "Cutting the Pain" (2012) which aired on Israel's CH2 and "The Essential Link - The Story of Wilfrid Israel" (2017) which premiered at the DocAviv film festival, and was the Closing Night film at the Berlin Jewish Film Festival.

Nir is a highly sought after speaker, who talks to thousands of people around the world every month about storytelling as a tool for rehabilitation, empowerment and personal growth.

He teaches filmmaking at universities in Israel, and serves as a judge in various international film festivals.

Nir is a co-owner of Hey Jude Productions, a production company based in L.A. and Israel.

He holds dual (German-Israeli) nationality and resides in Israel with his wife and three daughters.
- IMDb mini biography by: Omer Har Shai