Believe in the power of storytelling
When people tell their own stories
they have the power to change the world
Toitū te kupu,
toitū te mana,
toitū te whenua
black iris
Black Iris is an independent production company. We specialise in the development and creation of powerful and memorable documentary stories.
KATHLEEN MANTEL
Kathleen is the director of Black Iris Productions. She is an award winning director and producer who has over 20 years experience as a documentary maker in New Zealand and in the United States.
"Everyone has a story. It's often the quiet stories that might be missed with all the noise in the world that are the most intriguing"
— Kathleen Mantel
projects:
ONCE WERE GARDENERS
8-part gardening series exploring traditional Māori gardening in today’s māra.
It’s kai, it’s history, it’s pūrākau, it’s wairua.
It’s Mana Motuhake
Funded by NZ On Air
Production Company: Black Iris
Co-Director: Kathleen Mantel
Producer: Kathleen Mantel
MOTUHAKETANGA
The intimate journey of 3 women leaving prison, navigating the challenges of reintegration, rebuilding trust with their children, their wider whānau, and ultimately themselves.
Documentary for Whakaata Māori
Funded by Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air
Production Company: Black Iris
Director/Producer: Kathleen Mantel
NZ Screen Awards 2025
Best documentary series
Best Director documentary series - Kathleen Mantel
TE HOKINGA MAI
the return
Māori left rural life behind, in the fastest urban shift anywhere in the world.
And now the time to return has come.
8 x half hour documentary series for Whakaata Māori.
Funded by Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air.
Production Company: Black Iris
Director/Producer: Kathleen Mantel
Chatham Islanders
Tchakat Tchatam Airani
Rēkohu. Wharekauri. The Chatham Islands.
The first inhabited place to see the sun.
‘We’re 45 minutes ahead, and 30 years behind’
CHATHAM ISLANDERS is a 7-part documentary series about life on The Chatham Islands. It’s a series about people, community, isolation, connection and making it through tough times.
“Everyone’s a character on The Chatham Islands.”
Rēkohu is the land of plenty, stunningly beautiful… with a dark past and a mistold history.
Production Company: Black Iris
Producer/Director: Kathleen Mantel
Funded by NZ On Air
THE BARBER
The Barber is a documentary series about Barber Peleti Oli-Alainu'uese and the Māori and Pacific community of men who frequent his Hastings barbershop.
The series follows Peleti as he confronts his past in an attempt to heal himself and support his community.
Production Company: BLACK IRIS
Director/Producer: Kathleen Mantel
Funded by NZ On Air
documentaries
Director: Kathleen Mantel
Death Reimagined Director
Whakaata Māori
Journey of Scent Co-Director
RNZ
Whānau Director
Documentary Whakaata Māori
High School Mums Director
Documentary series TVNZ1
Making New Zealand:
Mining, Forestry, Construction Director
Documentary PRIME
Target Zero Director/Producer
Documentary MTS
Whānau Ora: The Story Director
Documentary TV3
The Palace Director/Post Director
Documentary series MTS
Educating Tama Director
Documentary MTS
The Green Chain Director
Documentary MTS
Dying for a Smoke Director
Documentary TV3
Tamariki Ora: A New Beginning Director
Documentary series MTS
Crowded House Director
Documentary TV1
Raising the Moko Director
Documentary MTS
Leaving the Exclusive Brethren Director
Documentary TV3
It’s Not a Game Director
Documentary TV1
Easy Money Director
Documentary TV3
KIDS - The Story of Teenage pregnancy Director Documentary TV2
awards and recognition
Motuhaketanga
Winner Best Documentary Series
Winner Best Director Documentary Series - Kathleen Mantel
- 2025 NZ Screen Awards
Chatham Islanders - Tchakat Tchatam Airani
Winner Best Factual Series
- NZTV Awards
Finalist Best Director - Kathleen Mantel
Best Camerawork - Dominic Fryer
- NZTV Awards
Bronze Winner
- New York Festivals Film and TV Awards
Official selection:
- Berlin TV Series Festival
- ImagineNATIVE - Toronto
- FIFO Tahiti
Whirlflow
Official Selection and screening:
- Weimar Poetry Festival
- ImagineNATIVE Toronto
- Aotearoa Poetry Film Festival
- Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
- Wairoa Māori Film Festival
- Māoriland Film Festival
High School Mums
Best Factual Series - Finalist
- NZTV Awards
The Green Chain
Winner Best Popular Documentary
- NZ TV Awards
Winner Best Short Documentary
- Doc Edge Festival
Official Selection
- FIFO Tahiti
Target Zero
Winner NZOnAir Best Television documentary
- Doc Edge Festival
Crowded house
Bronze Remi
- Houston International Film Festival
Leaving the Exclusive Brethren
Creative Excellence
- US Film and Video Awards
Silver
- Houston International Film Festival
KIDS
Gold Remi
- Houston International Film Festival
It’s Not a Game
Merit
- Hugo Awards Chicago
Silver
- Houston International Film Festival
Arts Reporter
Finalist
- Qantas Media Awards
G4TV promo
Gold
- PROMAX Advertising award
Guest Lecturer - Documentary
- Yale University
EFM TOOLBOX recipient Berlin
IDFA Academy recipient Amsterdam