Erik Matti

Matti hails from Bacolod, the sixth and youngest child of Enrique, a customs agent, and Julieta, a government employee. Matti has credited his father, a frequent moviegoer whose preferences span a variety of genres, with sparking his interest in film.^[4]

Matti graduated from elementary and high school at Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod. He studied college at the University of St. La Salle for six years, during which he changed his major three times and spent his extracurricular activity in the school's theater company; he did not graduate. Matti taught private acting classes before deciding to become a filmmaker.^[4]

Erik Matti's career in the film industry began when he was hired to supervise the script continuity for the 1994 superhero film Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik.^[5]

A later project, the TV series The Squatter, won the development prize at 2024 Series Mania Seriesmakers section. The show was produced by Ronald Monteverde.^[6][7]

Matti is married to screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto, with whom he has two daughters.^[8][9] Politically he is an outspoken critic of Rodrigo Duterte, in part due to the Filipino president's proclamation of martial law during the Marawi crisis. As such, Matti sparked criticism for cursing at Duterte's supporters in social media.^[10]