Matthew C. Vella is an international award-winning filmmaker, comedian, podcaster & entertainer from Blacktown, Western Sydney.

HELLO!

Matthew C. Vella (also known as Matt Vella) is an international award-winning filmmaker, comedian, podcaster & entertainer from Blacktown, Western Sydney. Born of Maltese immigrant parents, Matt is a proud pop-culture dork who has dedicated his life to entertaining others.

Since 2016, Matthew C. Vella has been taking the film festival circuit by storm winning awards such as Best Comedy at Melbourne Indie Film Festival (2020), Best International Director at Austin Comedy Short Film Festival (2019) and Women’s Comedy Film Festival in Atlanta (2019), and the Audience Choice Award at at Made in the West Film Festival (2018), among many others.

Matt also founded and hosts Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout - a popular networking group for Western Sydney filmmakers. Western Sydney Filmmakers Hangout has 1000+ members and hosts live events regularly. These events have previously been partnered with organisations such as Screen Australia, Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE), Made in the West Film Festival and more.

As a stand up comedian, Matt has performed at Melbourne International Comedy festival and Sydney Comedy Festival, as well as being a finalist in various local stand up comedy competitions.

He’s not just mediocre looks either! Matt has 3 separate degrees relating to film. This includes a Masters of Media Arts and Production from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Matt loves to tell trendy, entertaining, fun-filled genre stories in comedy, action & horror.

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

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

  • 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

    • 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, based around 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.