Matthew is a writer, director and producer hailing from London. With South African and Persian dual heritage, his projects often explore identity through relationships. His award-winning short films have been selected at BAFTA and Academy Awards qualifying festivals and featured on the BBC, Vimeo, and FilmShortage, among others.

His short film Obolus was picked up for development by production company Grey Matter when Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Bird Box) asked to see a feature-length adaptation of the idea after seeing the film online. Matthew continues to develop his slate of short and feature-length scripts to take further into development and production. 

Matthew has spent many years honing his visual eye as a creative researcher, working with notable clients such as Bradford Young (Selma, Arrival) and Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant, Birdman).

Matthew is currently a Directors UK Inspire participant and is mentored by Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders, His Dark Materials, Black Mirror), who he shadowed on the Sky and Peacock series ‘Lockerbie’ with the support of ScreenSkills and the BFI. He was also a second unit director on the show.

Matthew is an active member of BAFTA Connect and Directors UK.

Personal
hello@matthewsterling.co.uk
@mattwsterling

Commercials
CMNPPL Films / Papaya Films
Or, email me directly

Awards & Nominations
Ignite Film Festival 2024 The Circlemakers Official Selection
IndieLincs International Film Festival 2024 The Circlemakers Official Selection
Leeds International Film Festival 2023 The Circlemakers Official Selection
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023 The Circlemakers Semi-Finalist
Fortean Film Festival 2023 The Circlemakers Winner Best Documentary Short
Plymouth Rebel Film Festival South West 2019 Obolus Official Selection
Cardiff Mini Film Festival 2019 Obolus Official Selection
Papaya Rocks Film Festival Micro Shorts 2019 Obolus Official Selection
Minute Shorts 2019 Obolus Official Selection
FilmBath Festival 2018 Obolus Official Selection
FilmShortage Daily Short Pick 2018 Obolus Official Selection
VOTD Caitlyn Scarlett - Ornaments Winner
VOTD Shaelone - San's Revenge Winner
1.4 Awards 2017 True Strength Students to Watch Short List
VOTD True Strength Winner
Straight 8 2017 Urban Youth Official London Selection
VOTD The Moth Club - She's Left Winner