Saebyul Koata

Biography

Saebyul F. T. Koata is a Māori director, writer, actor, and producer whose work spans many genres but most notably horror and science fiction. Known most notably for the 2023 film The Wētā, created in collaboration with Hayden Smithie, they have a reputation for blending genre filmmaking with social consciousness and fun. Beyond cinema, Saebyul is recognised for their activism in support of Palestine, Māori rights, animal protection, and climate justice. With a background in criminology and active involvement in environmentalism since childhood, as well as politics, Saebyul blends a unique perspective to authentic storytelling, often weaving themes of justice, identity, and resistance into creative projects with their logical judgments on set, aiming to reduce the carbon footprints of filmmaking. A multiple graduate with a Diploma in Screen Production, Korean Language Certification, Certificate of SFX Makeup, and currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts in Korean and Criminology, and a Bachelor of Global Studies in Politics and Human Rights. They are of mixed Māori, Pasifika, and European descent, from predominantly Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Toa iwi, and Tainui waka. They often express a desire to explore the crossroads of culture and advocacy, using the screen and multimedia as platforms to amplify marginalised voices, challenge more mainstream narratives, and bring in more laws to protect artists, indigenous peoples, animals, and the planet.