Taika David Cohen ONZM (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi (/ˈtaɪkəˈwaɪtɪti/ TY-kə WY-tee-tee), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian. He is known for directing quirky comedy films and has expanded his career as a voice actor and producer on numerous projects. He has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. His feature films Boy (2010) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) have each been the top-grossing New Zealand film. Waititi's 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. He co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the horror comedy film What We Do in the Shadows (2014) with Jemaine Clement, which was adapte...read more