Tom Hern
Title
Writer, Producer & Director
Company
Tavake
Country (Address)
New Zealand
Biography
Hern broke into the international indie film scene as the sole producer on chess drama, The Dark Horse, a critic’s darling, local box office smash, and international award-winner (over 20 prizes - including Audience Prizes at the Rotterdam, Seattle, and San Francisco International Film Festivals). Hern was the lead producer on Shadow in the Cloud, which won the TIFF Midnight Madness Award and has grossed over $10M in US VOD box office and coproduced Guns Akimbo (starring Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving).
In 2020, after years of creative producing, Hern made the natural move into writing, directing, and showrunning his own projects. Alongside biz partner, Halaifonua Finau, Hern co-created and show-ran Tavake’s drama series, The Panthers (about the Polynesian Panthers political movement in the ‘70s), on which Hern also acted as a director. The Panthers premiered at TIFF, broke streaming records in its home territory, and won a slew of Awards.
Recently, Hern directed a docu-series in Joshua Tree California, Desert Hikoi, for TVNZ and acted as a lead Executive Producer on Tavake’s latest scripted series; Madam (starring Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson); set within the legalised sex work industry in New Zealand.
Hern is currently developing a diverse slate of local and international projects as writer, producer and director.
__________________________
SCRIPTED
We’re after partners who match our momentum—collaborators who bring creative spark, smart financing, and access to global audiences. Whether it’s co-developing bold projects, structuring sharp deals, or finding new ways to craft impactful stories, we want like-minded allies who understand the sweet spot between artistry and strategy.
In 2020, after years of creative producing, Hern made the natural move into writing, directing, and showrunning his own projects. Alongside biz partner, Halaifonua Finau, Hern co-created and show-ran Tavake’s drama series, The Panthers (about the Polynesian Panthers political movement in the ‘70s), on which Hern also acted as a director. The Panthers premiered at TIFF, broke streaming records in its home territory, and won a slew of Awards.
Recently, Hern directed a docu-series in Joshua Tree California, Desert Hikoi, for TVNZ and acted as a lead Executive Producer on Tavake’s latest scripted series; Madam (starring Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson); set within the legalised sex work industry in New Zealand.
Hern is currently developing a diverse slate of local and international projects as writer, producer and director.
__________________________
SCRIPTED
We’re after partners who match our momentum—collaborators who bring creative spark, smart financing, and access to global audiences. Whether it’s co-developing bold projects, structuring sharp deals, or finding new ways to craft impactful stories, we want like-minded allies who understand the sweet spot between artistry and strategy.
Speaking At
Playing the Long Game as an Indie Producer
Cultural Safety for International Co-Productions
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Cultural Safety for International Co-Productions
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF
Tavake, T Hern, Nua Finau - PPF

Tavake is an award-winning Polynesian-led company with global connections and a track record in international co-productions. As 360° producers, we bridge creative and business affairs, shaping bold, high-end drama series, feature films, and premium unscripted content. We’re looking for partners who share our energy—collaborators who bring creative synergy, financing opportunities, and pathways to global audiences. Whether it’s co-developing a project, structuring smart deals, or finding fresh ways to tell resonant stories, we’re looking for like-minded partners who get the balance between artistry and strategy.
SCREEN FOREVER is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Screen Queensland.
Screen Producers Australia respectfully acknowledges the people of the Yugambeh language region, the traditional owners of the lands on which we meet. We thank the traditional custodians for welcoming us all onto their lands.
We acknowledge and pay respects to them and all their descendants both past and present. We also acknowledge the many Aboriginal people from other regions as well as Torres Strait and South Sea Islander people who now live in the local area and have made an important contribution to the community.