PETER MATTHEWS

DIRECTOR/ANIMATION DIRECTOR

Peter Matthews is an award-winning South African director. He started his career in advertising, and became a founder and creative head of Matthews & Charter, Ogilvy & Mather in 1986. During this time Peter developed a passion for story-telling and directing. He sees emotion as the most powerful vehicle for effective communication. In 1999 Peter left advertising to become a film director.

Between 1999 – 2006 Peter conceptualised and directed many international and local commercials that received international award recognition – including the Cannes, London International and New York International awards.

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Between 2006-2008 Peter directed his first feature film, 'Oil on Water', which was released theatrically in South Africa and went on to obtain worldwide international distribution through E1 Entertainment. The film was awarded Best Feature Film at the Everglades International Film Festival and obtained official selections at nine other International Festivals. 

Peter is the Director of the documentary ‘Township Yogi’, as well as a producer on the film with Blair Underwood and Elle Matthews, which is in distribution. 'Township Yogi' received Best Documentary and Best Cinematography awards at the New York International Awards, and a Finalist in the Barnes, Royal Starr, Austria and London International Motion Picture Awards.

Peter is currently in development on the feature film, ‘Zulu - Day of the Dead Moon’ and an Animated Children's TV series, 'Animal Adventures in Africa'.

He is also developing Slate Film Studios and Slate Animation Studios in KwaZulu Natal, planned to open in 2021.

PRODUCER/SCREENWRITER

Elle Matthews entered the film industry and started her own production company in 1999.  During the 10 years she worked in the film and commercials industry as Tidal Wave Productions, Elle produced hundreds of international and local blue chip commercials and videos, including the Vuka award-winning, and Cannes finalist commercial, ‘Don’t Forget’, as well as a Ludacris music video for Sony Records USA. 

In 2006, Elle wrote and produced the award-winning international feature film, ‘Oil on Water’, which attained international distribution in the USA and globally. The film was nominated for 10 international awards at film festivals globally, and won ‘Best Picture’ at the Everglades International Film Festival. 

After completing production of ‘Oil on Water’, Elle decided to re-launch her company as Green Shoot Films in 2009, a unique film production company that offers a full local and international production service, in an enviromentally friendly way. The aim of the company is to produce films that highlight important issues, give a voice to those who would otherwise not be heard, and generally try and bring about change for the better. Between 2009 and 2017, apart from commercials for clients like Bata, Unilever and Zimbali, Elle successfully produced a number of nature documentaries, as well as the international award-winning documentary film, ‘Township Yogi’, with Blair Underwood. 

She is also development on a number of feature films, including ‘Zulu - Day of the Dead Moon’ and ‘The Memory of Chiffon’. 

In 2014 Elle won the Simon Sabela Producer’s Award for outstanding production in KwaZulu Natal. She is a passionate mentor of film students in the KwaZulu Natal province, nurturing future writers and producers, and is also a regular contributor and guest lecturer at AFDA in Durban. She has also been on the SAFTA Awards judging committee since 2016.