Matt Johnson (director)

Matt Johnson is a Canadian film director, writer, actor, and producer. He is best known for his mockumentary style films, often blurring the lines between fiction and reality through improvisation and naturalistic performances.

Johnson gained initial recognition for his web series Nirvanna the Band the Show, which he co-created with Jay McCarrol. The series, notable for its low-budget and absurdist humor, helped establish Johnson's distinctive filmmaking style.

His feature film debut, The Dirties (2013), won the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival. The film follows two high school students planning a violent act, presented in a mockumentary format.

Johnson's subsequent films include Operation Avalanche (2016), a fictionalized account of a CIA plot to fake the moon landing, and BlackBerry (2023), a biographical film about the rise and fall of the BlackBerry smartphone. He directed, co-wrote, and starred in both films.

Johnson's work often explores themes of adolescence, identity, and conspiracy, with a comedic and often satirical edge. His innovative and unconventional approach to filmmaking has garnered critical acclaim and established him as a prominent figure in independent cinema.