Morgan Matthews
Morgan Matthews is a British filmmaker who has shifted from non-fiction cinema to narrative features. After training in documentary filmmaking, Matthews formed Minnow Films to produce films on topical issues. Through 2012, Matthews’ films were made for British television, particularly for Channel 4 and the BBC.
In 2013, Matthews produced and directed the non-fiction feature mocking Bigfoot hunting, Shooting Bigfoot, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Matthews’ first narrative directorial film was A Brilliant Young Mind (2015; originally titled X+Y), starring Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, and Eddie Marsan.
Matthews’ next theatrical release was Williams, the non-fiction study of Sir Frank Williams and his legendary Formula One racing team. In 2022, Matthews returned to narrative filmmaking with the sequel to The Railway Children (1970), The Railway Children Return, with Jenny Agutter re-creating her lead role from the original film, with cast members Sheridan Smith, Tom Courtenay, and Beau Gadsdon.
Personal Details
Morgan Matthews was born in the British Midlands and was raised in Bristol in western Britain by a mother who was a community worker and a stepfather who worked with children excluded from attending schools. With his girlfriend at age 15, Matthews became a father and also developed an interest in photography. Moving to London, Matthews participated at the London College of Printing, making black-and-white 16mm films that experimented with blending drama and non-fiction.
Filmography
Railway Children
(2022)
Some Facts About Morgan Matthews
Filmmaking Evolution: Although he began as an experimental filmmaker with work that mixed fiction and non-fiction, Morgan Matthews evolved into a TV documentary filmmaker focused on many social issues, and then shifted into commercial narrative filmmaking, such as The Railway Children Return.
Awards
Two-time Winner, Best Director Factual/Flaherty Documentary Award, BAFTA Awards (2009, 2013); Two-time Winner, Audience Award, Sheffield Documentary Festival ( 2008, 2010); Winner, Just Film Award, Talinn Black Nights Film Festival Awards (2014); Two-time Winner, Best Documentary on Contemporary Theme/Best Historical Documentary, Grierson Trust British Documentary Award (2013, 2019).
