Matthew Swanson

Matt Swanson is a filmmaker and commercial director known for his sharp visual instincts, grounded character work, and unexpected sense of humor. Raised in the damp of the Pacific Northwest, he left home to attend film school in Montréal, where he honed his craft and developed a strong cinematic voice.

Swanson’s Japanese language short film “Hiro” premiered internationally before going on to win a bushel of awards, including Best Short Film at the SXSW Film Festival, the Spirit of Slamdance audience award, plus a Canadian academy award nomination.

Since moving into commercial directing, Swanson has built a robust and award-winning portfolio. His work has been recognized at major industry showcases, including the Cannes Lions, The One Show, The British Arrows, D&AD, Ciclope Berlin, the AICP Show, and the Shots Awards, where his “Let the Song Play” film for Spotify took home Commercial of the Year honors at the inaugural Shots Awards Americas.

Known for blending sharp comedy with strong cinematic craft, Swanson has directed campaigns for leading brands across a wide range of categories. His commercial credits include Spotify, Coinbase, McDonald’s, Wealthsimple, Bosch, Zillow, HBO, and many more, showcasing his range from performance-driven humor to visually inventive storytelling. Across formats, Matt Swanson brings emotional specificity, technical rigor, and a fresh directorial perspective to both narrative and branded filmmaking.