Matt Johnson

Biography

Matt Johnson (born October 5, 1985) is a Canadian director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He directed, co-wrote and starred in the films The Dirties (2013), Operation Avalanche(2016), BlackBerry (2023) and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2025); the latter film is based on his docufiction sitcom web series Nirvana the Band the Show (2007–2009) and its television adaptation Nirvanna the Band the Show (2017–2018). Johnson subsequently directed Tony, a 2026 biopic about chef Anthony Bourdain.

Johnson began his career working in low-budget independent docufiction productions. First, he attracted accolades for The Dirties, which won Best Feature Narrative at the Slamdance Film Festival. He achieved critical and commercial success with the biopic BlackBerry, winning directing awards at the Canadian Screen Awards and Vancouver Film Critics Circle. He won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Film for Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

Johnson's work includes elements of pseudo-documentary filmmaking and improvisation, often using hidden camera techniques and location filming without permits. He has frequently played fictionalised versions of himself in both his own productions and those of other filmmakers.

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