Biography

Yonatan Nir (born April 22, 1977) is an Israeli documentary film director and producer and a former photojournalist. Yonatan Nir grew up in Kibbutz HaZore'a, in Northern Israel. He served in an elite commando unit, and was injured during the 2006 Lebanon War, in which he participated as a reserve soldier. This experience led him to take an interest in post-trauma and rehabilitation; recurring themes in his films.Nir began his professional career as an underwater photographer and photojournalist, working for a number of media outlets including Haaretz, Yedioth Ahronoth and Asian Geographic. Nir is a graduate of the Camera Obscura School of Art in Tel Aviv, where he specialized in film and television.Nir co-produced and co-directed his debut film Dolphin Boy (2011), together with Dani Menkin. The film’s remake rights were acquired by Disney Pictures in 2012.Nir’s films have won several awards, including Best Documentary Film Award and Audience Choice Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Honorary Mention Award at the Woodstock Film Festival, and Best International Director Award at the Documentary Edge Festival in New Zealand.Nir has given over 1,200 lectures around the world. In January 2020 he spoke at TEDxSavyon about docutherapy and the power of film in post-traumatic growth. Nir resides in Kibbutz Ramot Menashe with his wife and three daughters.