Matthew Kelly
Director
Matthew Kelly is a Canadian filmmaker, director, and educator based in Toronto whose work spans independent film, music video production, animation, and film education. With more than a decade of experience in visual storytelling, Kelly focuses on creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers while
continuing to develop his own projects across documentary and narrative film. Kelly began his filmmaking career in 2013 when he founded M Works, a Canadian hip-hop media platform that grew into one of the country's prominent independent music video outlets. Over the past decade, the platform has produced a catalogue of more than 300 music videos directed and edited by Kelly, collectively generating over 20 million online views. His contributions to Canadian music releases have also earned two Gold plaques from Music Canada.
Beyond music video production, Kelly has produced and worked on a number of short films that have screened at film festivals and been featured on CBC Gem. He has also collaborated with the National Film Board of Canada, contributing to projects within Canada's independent film and documentary
ecosystem. His own projects include documentary and narrative works such as The Retour Toronto, which explored the Canadian hip-hop scene, and the independent film Mind of the Mask.
In 2023, Kelly founded the M Works Film Festival, an independent screening event designed to give emerging filmmakers the opportunity to premiere their work in a professional theatrical setting. The festival showcases short films and documentaries from local creators and has hosted screenings at venues including Innis Town Hall, while also incorporating networking events and community programming that support Toronto's independent film ecosystem.
Alongside his directing and festival work, Kelly is dedicated to film education. Through his WBK Program (Workshops by Kelly) and his role facilitating videography workshops at Street Voices, he has mentored more than 50 students in filmmaking, editing, animation, and production techniques. His teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on learning, real production workflows, and the belief that filmmaking is best learned through practice, collaboration, and experimentation.
