Matthew Berkowitz

Berkowitz went to Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where he studied philosophy and film.^[1] He cites Brian De Palma, Alfred Hitchcock, Lars von Trier and Gaspar Noé as some of his cinematic influences.^[2]

Berkowitz made his screenwriting and directing debut in 2015 with his psychological thriller film Wild in Blue starring Frank Cermak Jr., Daveigh Chase, Karen Black, Charlotte Price, Marcos Mateo Ochoa, and Steve Railsback.^[3] The film gained attention with what the filmmakers dubbed "terrorist marketing" when they attempted to purchase a billboard advertisement on Sunset Boulevard featuring a still from the film depicting Chase in a pose that they knew would be rejected by the advertising company.^[4] The rejection was reported by TMZ.^[5] Wild in Blue received several awards, including Best Feature Film at the 2015 St. Tropez International Film Festival and Best Director and Best Lead Actor at the 2015 Madrid International Film Festival.^{[citation needed]}

Later Berkowitz wrote and directed the neo-noir thriller film A Violent Man, which starred Thomas Q. Jones, Isaach de Bankolé, Chuck Liddell, and Denise Richards.^[6] A Violent Man had its world premiere at the 2017 Oldenburg International Film Festival^[7] and its U.S. premiere at the 2018 Miami Film Festival, with the Miami Film Festival guide stating that "director Matthew Berkowitz’s second outing speaks to the power of film noir to shine a light on the base impulses brewing below our civilized exteriors."^[8] Alan Ng of Film Threat called the film "a testament to how filmmakers can tell big stories with small budgets."^[9]

Berkowitz also wrote and directed the psychological thriller The Madness Inside Me starring Merrin Dungey, Devon Graye, Thomas Q. Jones, John Buffalo Mailer, and Anthony DeSando. It premiered at the 2020 Oldenburg International Film Festival.^[10] The Madness Inside Me was later acquired by Gravitas Ventures and was released on digital platforms, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 3, 2021.^[11] Anthony Francis of Screen Comment called The Madness Inside Me "Well-directed and extremely well-written."^[12]

Berkowitz has also produced several films including The Queen of Hollywood Blvd,^[13] Ms. Long Legs, written and directed by Milo Addica, DieRy, and Corbin Nash.^{[citation needed]}