Matthew James Thompson is a self-taught director whose journey into filmmaking began not in a classroom, but behind a camera at the age of 13, capturing skateboarding footage of friends and inadvertently learning the art of editing—often at the expense of his parents’ computer. Though he once dreamed of becoming a chef or an archaeologist in the spirit of Indiana Jones, a move to New York City soon cemented his passion for visual storytelling.

Over the years, he has directed work for a diverse portfolio of global clients, including BMW, Nike, Google, Jeep, Squarespace, Oreo, Ferrari, Hilton, Chevron, Virgin Mobile, Infiniti, Chipotle, and Dunkin’ Donuts. His short film for Field Notes Notebooks was praised in AdAge for “perfectly summing up the beauty of life,” and went on to win accolades at the IAC Awards, ADDYs, Hatch Awards, and was featured in Lürzer’s Archive.

Among his most cherished projects is Invisible Dialogues, a collaboration with writer and performer Derek DelGaudio commissioned by the Future of Storytelling. Rather than a conventional interview, the two recorded candid phone conversations, shaped them into a script, and produced the piece as a short film. It has since become the most-viewed film ever released by FoST.

In 2024, he completed principal photography on his debut narrative feature, Handle With Care, which will enter the 2025 festival circuit.

A deeply collaborative and curious filmmaker, he thrives on crafting stories from the ground up. Outside of work, he can often be found skateboarding, playing piano, or surfing with his wife, Anneliese.