Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu

Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) is an Auckland-based Māori filmmaker, writer and actor. She was one of the writers and directors of the collaborative feature Waru (2017), in which she also acted, and wrote the short Krystal (2018). Her short drama Ani (2019) premiered in the Berlinale's Generation Kplus section and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her short When We Were Kids won two awards at the 2021 New Zealand International Film Festival. Her debut feature, We Were Dangerous (2024), set in a 1950s reform school for girls, premiered at South by Southwest, where it won a Special Jury Award; Taika Waititi was an executive producer. Her acting credits include Find Me a Māori Bride and Mahana.