Matt Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson in 2022 | |
| Born | (1985-10-05)October 5, 1985 (age 40) |
| Education | York University |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, producer, director, actor |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for |
|
Matthew Johnson (born October 5, 1985) is a Canadian writer, producer, director, and actor. He first attracted accolades for his low-budgetindependent feature films, includingThe Dirties (2013), which won Best Narrative Feature at theSlamdance Film Festival, andOperation Avalanche (2016), which premiered at theSundance Film Festival.[1][2]
Johnson achieved acclaim and commercial success with his third feature film,BlackBerry (2023), which documented the rise and fall of theBlackBerry phone. The film premiered in competition at the73rd Berlin International Film Festival,[3] and went on to winseveral accolades including theRogers Best Canadian Film Award from theToronto Film Critics Association and a record-setting 14Canadian Screen Awards from 17 nominations includingBest Motion Picture.[4][5]
Johnson is also known for co-creating, directing, co-writing, and co-starring in the 2007–2009mockumentarysitcomweb seriesNirvana the Band the Show, its 2017–2018spiritual sequeltelevision seriesNirvanna the Band the Show, and the 2025 feature film based on both,Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.
Johnson's major directorial debut was the independent mockumentary-sitcom web seriesNirvana the Band the Show, which ran from 2007–2009.[6] Johnson co-created and co-starred in the series with lifelong best friend and fellow actor/musicianJay McCarrol.
Johnson achieved widespread critical acclaim in Canada with his first feature filmThe Dirties,[7] which won Best Narrative Feature at theSlamdance Film Festival.[8] He was aCanadian Screen Award nominee forBest Editing at the2nd Canadian Screen Awards in 2014 forThe Dirties.[9]
The film had a production budget of $10,000. After finishing production, an additional $45,000 was needed to secure licensing rights for the music used in the film. All the film's financing came "out of pocket."[10]
There was almost no scripted dialogue and several scenes were shot without some of the participants' awareness.[10][11][12]
Operation Avalanche premiered at theSundance Film Festival. Johnson had received an offer to premiere the film at theToronto International Film Festival but declined, reasoning that the film would be lost in the large number of films shown there.[13]Lionsgate released it in the US on September 16, 2016.[14] He was nominated forBest Director at the5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017 for his work onOperation Avalanche.[15]
The film received mostly positive reviews from critics.[16][17] Peter Debruge ofVariety wrote, "Matt Johnson and Owen Williams' wild, borderline-illegal stunt delivers big time on its crazy premise."[18] John DeFore ofThe Hollywood Reporter called it a "likeable if not always convincing fantasy that gets much mileage from its period feel".[19] Anthony Kaufman ofScreen Daily wrote that the film "comes across more as a rambling lark than a tightly conceived film".[20]
In 2016, theNirvana the Band the Show web series was adapted into a television series titledNirvanna the Band the Show which premiered onViceland in 2017. Several episodes of the first season were shown at theToronto International Film Festival.[21][22] The show is not a direct continuation of the web series, serving as more of a spiritual sequel, but features occasional subtle callbacks.[23]
In 2022, Johnson directed and co-wrote, withMatthew Miller, the filmBlackBerry, about the rise and fall of Canadian tech companyResearch in Motion.[24] The film starsGlenn Howerton asJim Balsillie,Jay Baruchel asMike Lazaridis, and Johnson asDouglas Fregin.[25]BlackBerry premiered in competition at the73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2023,[3] and attracted widespread critical acclaim.[26]
The film wonseveral accolades, including the$50,000Rogers Best Canadian Film Award from theToronto Film Critics Association.[4]
The film broke the record for the most nominations for a film at theCanadian Screen Awards, with 17 nominations at the2024 ceremony.[27] The film laterwon 14 awards, includingBest Motion Picture.[28]
Following the success ofBlackBerry, Johnson received funding fromTelefilm to make a feature film adaptation ofNirvana the Band the Show andNirvanna the Band the Show.Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie premiered on March 9, 2025 atSXSW.
In addition to his own productions, he has had acting roles in feature films such asDiamond Tongues, and theKazik Radwanski filmsHow Heavy This Hammer,Anne at 13,000 Ft. andMatt and Mara.
Johnson and Jay McCarrol co-created and co-starred in an animated spiritual successor toNirvanna the Band the Showmade for children calledMatt & Bird Break Loose in 2021.[29]
Johnson and Miller founded their own production house, Zapruder Films, in 2013. Three years later, in 2016, the company released its first project,Operation Avalanche. The company is still active today.[30][31][32]
Johnson and Miller won the Canadian Screen Award forBest Adapted Screenplay,[33] and Johnson won the award forBest Director,[34] at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024 forBlackBerry.
In 2024, he served as jury president of the Compétition Cheval Noir at the28th Fantasia International Film Festival.[35]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Dirties | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also editor, co-written withEvan Morgan |
| 2016 | Operation Avalanche | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-written with Josh Boles |
| 2023 | BlackBerry | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Co-written withMatthew Miller |
| 2025 | Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Co-written withJay McCarrol |
| TBA | Tony | Yes | No | Yes | TBA | Post-production[36] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Dirties | Matt | Fictionalised version of himself |
| 2015 | Diamond Tongues | John Matheson | |
| 2015 | How Heavy This Hammer | Hardware Store Employee | |
| 2016 | Operation Avalanche | Himself | Fictionalised version of himself |
| 2019 | Anne at 13,000 Ft. | Matt | |
| 2023 | BlackBerry | Doug Fregin | |
| 2024 | Matt and Mara | Matt | |
| The Heirloom | Belligerent Veterinarian | ||
| 2025 | Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie | Matt | Fictionalised version of himself |
| Years | Title | Creator | Director | Writer | Producer | Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Nirvanna the Band the Show | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed and co-wrote all 16 episodes |
| Years | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Nirvanna the Band the Show | Matt | Fictionalised version of himself |
| Years | Title | Creator | Director | Writer | Producer | Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2009 | Nirvana the Band the Show | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed and co-wrote all 11 episodes withJay McCarrol |
| Years | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2009 | Nirvana the Band the Show | Matt | Fictionalised version of himself |
