Matthew C. Vella is an international award-winning filmmaker from Western Sydney.

Storytelling with style.

Matthew C Vella is an award-winning filmmaker from Blacktown in Western Sydney with an expansive body of work writing, directing and producing long and short form content.

Matt is the co-writer and producer of the upcoming feature film The Undesirables, (dir: Luke Agius), scheduled for release in 2027, and director of Nannu (2027), a Malta-Australia co-production supported by the Arts Council Malta Screen Support Scheme and Blacktown City Council's Creative Arts Fund. His directing credits also include the short film She’s Not Your Type (2018) which has won multiple festival awards for directing, editing, comedy and audience choice across various film festivals.

Matt founded Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout, a community of over 2,000 members that hosts free networking events. Past event partners include Screen Australia, Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE), CLIPPED Music Video Festival and Made in the West Film Festival.

He is also a prolific public speaker, workshop facilitator and mentor working across the corporate, not-for-profit and higher education sectors, including UNSW, Western Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney.

Download CV.

Short films written & directed by Matthew C. Vella: Bleeding Backs (2016), She’s Not Your Type (2018) & Nobody Likes Camping (2021).

Short films written & directed by Matthew C. Vella: Bleeding Backs (2016), She’s Not Your Type (2018) & Nobody Likes Camping (2021).

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • ARTS COUNCIL MALTA SCREEN SUPPORT SCHEME 2025 - Funding for short film Nannu (2025). Read.

  • BLACKTOWN CITY CREATIVE ARTS FUND 2024 - Funding for short film Nannu (2025). Read.

  • DIRECTOR’S ATTACHMENT - Greystanes - 2024 web series, 15 x 1 episodes,
    created by Ryan Cauchi & Matt Ferro (Screen Australia, TikTok) Watch.

  • Laugh Master’s Academy SKETCH-A-THON 2020: Winner, 1st Place

    Bad With Names (2020)

  • Melbourne Indie Film Festival 2020: Best Comedy
    She’s Not Your Type (2018)

  • Women’s Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta 2019: Best International Director
    She’s Not Your Type (2018)

  • Austin Comedy Short Film Festival 2019: Best International Director
    She’s Not Your Type (2018)

  • Sydney Indie Film Festival 2019: Best Editor
    She’s Not Your Type (2018)

  • Made in the West Film Festival 2018 : Audience Choice Award
    She’s Not Your Type (2018)

  • Made in the West Film Festival 2016 : Best Student Film
    Bleeding Backs (2016)

    For a complete list of awards, click here.

GUEST SPEAKER / WORKSHOP FACILITATOR HIGHLIGHTS

  • TUTOR, SCREEN PRODUCTION II | UNSW - Tutor for Screen Production II, 2024.

  • CALLING CARDS, 2024 | SCREEN NSW, ARTS & CULTURAL EXCHANGE, MADE IN THE WEST CREATIVE - Guest Speaker. 8 week filmmaking workshop. Spoke on short film distribution and promotion. More info.

  • MEET SCREEN AUSTRALIA, 2019 | SCREEN AUSTRALIA, ARTS & CULTURAL EXCHANGE - Guest speaker. Was asked to provide an introduction about the importance of networking in Australian Film, in addition to helping promote the event. Event here.

  • THE AUSTRALIAN MILLIONAIRE BUSINESS NETWORK BUSINESS NETWORK , 2019 - Guest speaker via panel discussion. Asked to speak at a private event to an audience of investors about the state of the Australian Film Industry.

  • WESTERN SYDNEY FILMMAKERS HANGOUT (ONGOING) - Event facilitator. Ongoing networking events for filmmakers in Western Sydney. Have hosted partnered events with Screen Australia, Arts and Cultural Exchange, Made in the West Film Festival and more. Website here.

  • UTS VARIOUS WORKSHOPS (ONGOING) | UTS - Facilitated various workshops at University of Technology Sydney, focusing on digital media skills and educational media, particularly video editing with iMovie and Adobe Premiere. Example here.

  • VARIOUS EVENTS (ONGOING) | UTS - Facilitated various events at University of Technology Sydney, including UTS Video Meetup Community of Practice with over 15+ events with guest speakers from around the country. Have been a guest speaker for a variety of topics at multiple events, such as this example.

  • NO DRAMA WORKSHOP, 2016 | BARNADOS AUSTRALIA - Workshop Facilitator. 4 day workshop teaching basic media skills for disadvantaged youth.

  • VARIOUS WORKSHOPS 2013-2015 | WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY - Workshop Facilitator. Various workshops teaching Media Arts skills to high school students with the goal to inspire socio-economically disadvantaged youth to pursue tertiary education. Articles here and here.