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Matthew A. Cherry

Matthew A. Cherry

award-winning director, writer, and producer.

Matthew A. Cherry is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. His animated short film, HAIR LOVE, follows the relationship of an African-American father, his daughter, and her hair. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020. Notably, he raised over $280K on Kickstarter to make the award-winning short film. Later, HAIR LOVE was adapted into a picture book for Penguin Random House. Upon its release in May 2019, it became a New York Times Bestseller and earned nominations for a Goodreads Choice Award and an NAACP Image Award. In 2020, Matthew was listed as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People...

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Full Bio

Matthew A. Cherry is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. His animated short film, HAIR LOVE, follows the relationship of an African-American father, his daughter, and her hair. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020. Notably, he raised over $280K on Kickstarter to make the award-winning short film. Later, HAIR LOVE was adapted into a picture book for Penguin Random House. Upon its release in May 2019, it became a New York Times Bestseller and earned nominations for a Goodreads Choice Award and an NAACP Image Award. In 2020, Matthew was listed as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business and Fortune’s 40 Under 40 in Media and Entertainment.

Having consulted for MonkeyPaw and executive produced Spike Lee’s highly acclaimed BLACKKKLANSMAN, Matthew has also directed multiple episodes of television, including the Valentine’s Day episode of ABC’s “Black-ish” and “Mixed-ish”.

 

Additionally, Matthew’s first feature film, THE LAST FALL, was inspired by his own experiences playing in the NFL and starred Lance Gross and Nicole Beharie. It debuted at SXSW and made its television premiere on BET. His second film, 9 RIDES, debuted at SXSW. This ambitious and stylized film was shot for under $20,000 using iPhone technology.

 

Matthew is also an accomplished music video director, having directed videos for many artists, including Michelle Williams, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Snoop Dogg, and Common. At the 2015 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Matthew took home the Music Video of the Year award for Michelle William’s “Say Yes,” which featured Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland.

 

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An evening with Matthew A. Cherry

Videos

Videos

Matthew A. Cherry - From NFL Player to Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker with “Hair Love” | The Daily Show
9 Rides Official Trailer

Books

Hair Love
Hair Love

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