Taika Waititi is a New Zealand writer, director, producer and actor best known for winning an Academy Award for adapting the screenplay of the film Jojo Rabbit. Born in Raukokore, Taika was raised by his mother following the divorce of his parents. He wanted to be an artist from an early age and following his parents’ support, he pursued acting in his high school. Also joining comedy troupes, he began making films when he attended the Victoria University of Wellington. After winning acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for his short film Two Cars, One Night, Taika made his feature film debut with Eagle Vs Shark. With his subsequent feature films such as Boy and What We Do in the Shadows, he earned a huge critical and commercial success. Directing 2017’s hugely successful Thor: Ragnarok was his career’s major turning point. He followed with another critically acclaimed film Jojo Rabbit, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition to writing and directing, Taika has also acted occasionally, in his own films and other directors’ works. He also associated himself as a director with the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.