Meet Matheus Gyordano | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matheus Gyordano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matheus, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
I’ve always wanted to be someone who reads more—but books rarely hold me past a few chapters. That changed when my friend Filippo came to visit me in LA. He brought a book called Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch. Given that Lynch is such an icon in the filmmaking world, I was genuinely excited to dive in. I expected stories about his films and his life—some behind-the-scenes details, insights into his creative process. And while all of that’s in there, it wasn’t what kept me turning the page. What surprised me most was learning about Lynch’s deep commitment to Transcendental Meditation—something I knew nothing about. As I read about how TM impacted his life and career, I became more and more fascinated. He paints such a vivid picture of what it feels like to transcend that you can’t help but crave the experience for yourself.

I couldn’t put the book down. I read the whole thing in about two hours. I just found comfort in his words. What resonated most wasn’t just what Lynch was saying—it was what I was taking from it. I felt inspired, motivated. With every page, my dreams felt just a bit more achievable. One chapter I really love is called “The Circle.” In it, Lynch explains that you never really know how your film is going to affect people, since everyone interprets and experiences things differently. So there’s no real reason to worry about how it will be received. As he says, “you just do these things that you fall in love with.” As a filmmaker, I’m often guilty of fixating on how my work will be received or whether people will like it. But in reality, if it makes me (and my mom) happy, that’s enough. It seems like a simple, even obvious message—but it’s one I constantly have to remind myself of.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I didn’t always know I wanted to make movies. I just knew I loved them. But the more I grew, the more I felt drawn to stories—telling them, capturing them, preserving them. For a while, I thought success in film meant working on big-budget productions and chasing box office numbers. That’s what I saw as “making it”. After all, some of the movies that made me love movies were grand, magical, a spectacle. But that changed in 2020, when I saw Bong Joon-Ho essentially sweep the Oscars with Parasite. He closed his speech with a quote that I’ve carried with me ever since: “The most personal is the most creative.” That line hit me hard. I was 19, I’d just moved to LA the year prior to study film, and I was full of questions about the kind of filmmaker I wanted to be. But hearing those words gave me clarity. It was like something clicked.

Since then, that quote has become something of a compass for me. Whenever I feel lost in the creative process, I return to it. I ask myself: What stories do I want to tell? And the answer is always the same. I want to tell stories that are rooted in truth—my truth. My family’s truth. The truth of the people closest to me. One of the most emotional moments for me recently was seeing Fernando Meirelles win Best International Feature at the 2025 Oscars for I’m Still Here. As a Brazilian, it meant the world to see one of our own recognized like that. But beyond national pride, the film hit close to home. My father was my age now during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and I saw so much of his experience reflected in that film. It reminded me of why I do what I do—to immortalize the people and stories that shaped me.

Right now, I’m in the process of editing my latest film, Dois Jardins, which is inspired by my experience as an international student and the challenges that come with it. It’s been two years in the making, and I’ve been creatively stuck for a while now. But even doing this interview has reminded me of what truly matters. Dois Jardins isn’t just a film about being an international student. It’s also a tribute to a family that welcomed me into their lives in a way that changed me. Through this film, I’m preserving that connection, freezing that moment in time. I’m doing it for them as much as I’m doing it for myself.

Outside of that, I’ve been exploring animation as a medium to tell stories that don’t quite fit in the real world—stories that are emotional, surreal, sometimes even abstract. I’ve written a short film where the feeling of longing is personified, and that project is currently in production. I love the freedom animation offers. You’re able to take a feeling, a memory, or a moment, and stretch it into something visual, expressive, even strange.

Looking back, I can say this path hasn’t been easy. I didn’t get into a big-name university out of high school, so I started at community college before transferring to NYU. But I’ve learned a lot along the way—lessons that sometimes slip my mind, but always return when I need them most.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think a must would be watching a movie at the Academy Museum. They have one of my favorite theaters I’ve been to—the David Geffen Theater. They screen a lot of classic films, and seeing Lawrence of Arabia there with my dad last year was unforgettable.

We’d definitely spend some time at home too. Cook together, maybe hang out by the pool, throw on a movie. I love discovering new recipes and feeding people, so cooking would be a big part of the week. That said, we’d still go out to eat at a few of my favorite spots—Negroni in Beverly Hills has great everything, and Sustainabowl makes the best poke bowl I’ve ever had.

For something outdoors, we’d go to the beach—probably Playa del Rey or Dockweiler since they’re close by. We’d bring a soccer ball, a speaker, some snacks, and a deck of cards and just hang out. I’d also want to take them to Point Dume. I went there last year, and it was one of the most beautiful views I’ve seen in LA. It’s grown to be a special place for me recently.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents. Both my mom and dad have played such a foundational role in shaping who I am today. I was incredibly lucky to grow up in a home where creativity and curiosity were nurtured. Our house was always filled with films, music, art, and ideas. Whether it was watching movies together, telling stories, or being encouraged to try something new, my parents made sure I was constantly exposed to inspiration. They never pushed me in any specific direction, but they always made it clear that whatever I was passionate about mattered—and that they would always be there to support me. That is something I’ll never take for granted. It gave me the confidence to pursue creative work, to take risks, and to stay true to what excites me. Even now, their encouragement means everything. I know that no matter what happens, they’re proud—and that kind of love gives me the fuel to keep going.

I also read somewhere that we are mosaics of everyone we’ve ever loved, even for a heartbeat. And I’ve found that to be true. I’m grateful to all the people who have been part of my life, in any capacity. The same way I love film because my dad used to bring me DVDs from his trips abroad when I was a kid, or how I make rice the way I do because of my mom—I fold my socks the way I do because a friend taught me in college, and I love açaí because a friend’s mom, who I haven’t talked to since fifth grade, made me try it. Some of my favorite things in life were introduced to me by others—whether they stayed in my life or only passed through for a time. Most of the lessons I’ve learned came from people, either through what they taught me directly or from what I realized on my own because of them. I learned how to love because of people, I learned how to grow, how to be patient, how to push forward. I honestly wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for everyone who entered and stayed, or even those who entered and left.

Instagram: @mgyordano

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matheus-gyordano-360499193/

Image Credits
Filippo Di Franco