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Our Story (So Far)
It All Started with a Conversation
DocuNation was born in March 2020, when the world shut down and we all craved a little more connection.
By then, we - Yonatan Nir, the award-winning documentary filmmaker behind ״My Hero Brother״, ״Dolphin Boy״, and ״Picture of His Life״, and Almog Gurevich, a documentary producer - had already been working together for almost six years, chasing meaningful stories and deep conversations.
We first met in 2014, when Almog was still a student, at a pitch for Picture of His Life (co-directed by Yonatan and Dani Menkin). A year later, we began working side by side, bringing Yonatan’s films - including ״The Essential Link: The Story of Wilfrid Israel״ and ״Cutting the Pain״ - to audiences in Israel and around the world.
With My Hero Brother alone, we reached over 450,000 school pupils in Israel and have hosted more than 1,500 private screenings to date. The same passion guided us with Dolphin Boy - the only Israeli film ever acquired for adaptation by Disney - and with every other story we’ve shared
From a Lockdown Project to a Community
When COVID hit, we decided to do what we know best: bring people together through powerful Israeli documentaries and live, human conversations with the filmmakers. What started as a small weekly project for people stuck at home quickly turned into a growing global community - and we haven’t stopped since
In 2023, we each faced personal challenges separately and together - and what kept us grounded was this project.
We didn’t miss a single week, no matter what was happening in our lives or in the world around us.
Midway through the year, Dor, Almog’s little sister, joined the team to help.
But October 7 changed everything.
We had to find new strength to gather ourselves and keep going. We discovered that in the darkest moments, by giving meaning to others, we found meaning for ourselves.
From that place, we grew stronger, expanding our community in Israel and realizing more than ever that these stories must be shared with the world.
Since then, we’ve gone from two chatty dreamers to a proper little team.
We’re a small, family-run project, and we really love what we do - and working with each other.
A New Chapter: Going Global
At the beginning of 2025, after years of dreaming and hesitating, we finally leaped.
During a goal-setting conversation, we realized it was time to bring DocuNation to a wider audience - not just as a technical expansion, but as a response to everything we were witnessing.
It was Dor, who had been leading our outreach in Israel, who voiced this direction out of her own personal need: to create a space that feels hopeful and grounding, especially in times when the world feels overwhelming.
We wanted to offer a space to connect, feel, and belong - one that doesn’t rely on headlines or breaking news, but on heart, values, and shared human stories.
That’s when one of our guiding phrases was born:
Connect beyond headlines. Feel without the news.
This is just the beginning.
Still Here - Because You Are
Every film we choose, every conversation we host, and every message we send comes from the heart.
We believe in keeping it real, staying independent, and letting everyone join at their own pace.
That’s why we run on the Dana model - participation is open to all, and you pay only what you can.
Your support keeps the lights on, the films rolling, and the stories flowing straight to your screen.
Thanks for being here with us.
Yonatan Nir
Director, Producer & Lecturer
Project Founder & Leader
Yonatan Nir, our host, is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer, and sought-after speaker.
His films - including My Hero Brother, Picture of His Life, and Dolphin Boy - have been broadcast and screened in dozens of countries, reaching millions of viewers worldwide and earning both critical acclaim and popular praise.
In addition, Yonatan is one of the developers of Docutherapy, a therapeutic approach exploring the healing power of audiovisual tools, particularly cameras and screens. His TEDx talk on the subject offers a glimpse into this unique perspective.
Since 2019, Yonatan has been the lead documentary director at Amberjack Films, a UK-based production company founded by Andy Byatt, the visionary behind BBC’s The Blue Planet and Planet Earth.
Since 2020, Yonatan has been the face and host of DocuNation, leading weekly conversations with Israeli documentary filmmakers and guiding audiences through stories of hope, empathy, and human connection.
Almog Gurevich
Chief Producer
Project Founder & Program Curator
The curator of DocuNation’s program and the creative mind behind all its content.
With a background in documentary distribution, strategy, and artist management, she brings a unique blend of intuition and sharp storytelling instincts to the project.
Since 2015, she has worked closely with Yonatan Nir to bring Israeli documentaries to thousands of viewers in Israel and around the world.
Almog is passionate about building bridges between films and audiences, and has been instrumental in shaping DocuNation’s warm, human tone.
“Every film is its own world. I always start by asking: Who is this really for? Teens? Educators? Religious communities? Youth movements? Conferences? My job is to break it down, find the right audiences, and figure out where to begin.”
From film selection to post-screening conversations, from headlines to hashtags - she oversees it all, always with heart, insight, and a deep love for the documentary world.
Dor Gurevich
Marketing, Distribution & Customer Relations Manager
Dor leads all marketing operations for DocuNation in Israel and abroad.
A designer, video editor, and storyteller at heart, Dor is likely behind every email that made you smile or post you ever replied to.
She joined the team to support the marketing efforts and quickly became the driving force behind DocuNation’s digital growth - managing everything from online screenings to private events and partnerships with global communities and organizations.
While juggling multiple creative projects, DocuNation has become her central focus - not just because of the challenge, but because of the heart.
“Working on DocuNation is a dream come true - it brings together everything I love: creativity, branding, outside-the-box thinking - all rooted in values and purpose.”
For her, this work isn’t just about promotion - it’s about building something meaningful that connects people, stories, and ideas across borders.
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Support
Keep DocuNation Rolling
We run on pure community power - no ads, no major sponsors, just people like you who care about real stories and real connections.
Chip in to help us stay independent, keep sharing these incredible Israeli docs, and support the filmmakers who make it all happen.
Every bit counts - thanks for being part of it!
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Say Hi – We’re Friendly!
Got a question? An idea? Or just want to send us some love?
Drop us a line at office@yonatannir.com – we’re always excited to hear from you! 💌