Meet Piotr Matyja | Film Director

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

Hi Piotr, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I feel that persistence, hard work, and a big-picture mindset have been my compass in the filmmaking journey. In the face of challenges – be it tight budgets or unexpected hiccups on set – my commitment to pushing through obstacles has turned setbacks into stepping stones.

If you don’t put in the effort, nobody will. Behind the scenes, there’s meticulous planning, research, and countless hours refining details. I bring this work ethic to the team, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone shares a commitment to excellence. Whether in script development or post-production, setting high standards results in the better end product and even for smaller projects I always want to feel that it came out as good as it could be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a director, I love high stakes drama, intense, slow burning thrillers and quirky comedies. I obsess over the visuals, planning each shot to be a piece of the storytelling puzzle, aiming for that sweet spot where emotion meets the screen.

On set, perfection is the name of the game. Every detail matters, and I want the collaboration between cast and crew to be a creative dance, making sure each scene is just right. But it’s not just about the visuals; it’s about the people. I want every actor to shine, bringing their characters to life in a way that’s real and captivating.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, I’d definitely take them to the iconic New Beverly Cinema, where they always screen amazing, classic films. The atmosphere is very unique and that’s my favourite spot in LA. Except for that we’d definitely hike up to Griffith and go to one of the Malibu beaches.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Every film is a journey and you go through it with your team. I was incredibly lucky throughout my career to work with amazing artists that elevate each film to a higher level. I want to express my gratitude Konrad Miklaszewski in particular, who’s a phenomenal Cinematographer that I shot 5 films with. We’ve learned and grown a lot together and I’m truly thankful for his dedication and care for the story that he always brings into the projects.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matyja.piter/?hl=el

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piotr-matyja-86729298/

Image Credits
Sam Beasley, Artur Walczewski