Matthew Heineman, born on November 30, 1983, in Washington, is a renowned American documentary filmmaker, director, and producer whose fascination with American history has led to numerous accolades throughout his career.
His breakthrough documentary, Cartel Land, earned him widespread recognition, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film, a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Documentary, and three Primetime Emmy Awards.
In 2009, Heineman founded his production company, Our Time Projects, Inc., based in New York, which would later release his debut documentary, Our Time, a poignant exploration of what it means to be young in America. This film was the result of a road trip across the lower 48 states, shot while traveling in an RV with three friends, following his graduation from college.
Heineman's subsequent film, The First Wave, received the prestigious Pare Lorentz Award from the International Documentary Association and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. The film also garnered seven Emmy Award nominations, ultimately winning Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
In 2022, Heineman's film Retrograde was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing at the Producers Guild of America Awards and won Outstanding Editing at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards, further solidifying his reputation as a masterful documentary filmmaker.
