For almost twenty years, Matt Piedmont, 13, has been breaking comedic ground with his writing and directing.
Matt got his start in entertainment writing for the legendary sketch comedy showcase Saturday Night Live – a job he landed at the age of 25. From 1996 to 2002, Matt wrote on over 100 episodes, won an Emmy for “Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program,” and developed working relationships with A-list actors who have since been featured in his own projects, including Will Ferrell
Following his success on SNL, Matt wrote and directed a number of award-winning web series and short films. The Carpet Brothers, which began as a web series starring David Spade and Tim Meadows, was later featured on HBO as a short film co-starring Will Ferrell. Matt went on to direct segments for Zach Galifianakis’ Funny or Die Presents…, In 2011, his short film Brick Novax’s Diary won the U.S. Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival.
The following year, Matt Piedmont reached a pinnacle moment in his career with the direction of his first feature film, Casa De Mi Padre, starring Will Ferrell, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Nick Offerman. He was even named one of Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch.”
Later on, he co-wrote and directed the star-studded mini-series The Spoils of Babylon for IFC. The featured actors included Kristen Wiig, Tobey Maguire, Michael K. Williams, Carey Mulligan, Jessica Alba, Haley Joel Osment, Michael Sheen, Tim Robbins, Val Kilmer and Ferrell himself (in two roles). The show went on to be nominated for two Emmys, including “Best Theme Song,” which Matt co-wrote, and a SAG award for Kristen Wiig. The series was followed up by The Spoils Before Dying.
In addition to his successes in film and television, Matt has quickly established himself as comedic force in the commercial world. He has directed both television and digital campaigns for global brands including Lincoln, Microsoft, Bud Light, Pepsi, AT&T, 7-Up, Orbit, VW, Triscuit, Taco Bell, Old Navy (which featured several SNL alumni), Capital One, and Gain (featuring Ty Burrell). His Pre-diabetes PSA for Ad Council was awarded a Bronze PR Lion at the 2016 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, while his Seventh-Generation campaign (featuring Maya Rudolph) took home a Bronze 2017 One Show award. Matt also spearheaded SunLife Insurance’s groundbreaking spot “Life After 50,” which garnered critical acclaim due to its refreshing defiance of age stereotypes.
In November 2018, Matt Piedmont directed a six-episode campaign for the international clothing retailer H&M, starring Parks and Recreation star Aubrey Plaza and electro-soul singer Moses Sumney. Throughout the series, the two are imagined as hotel guests in a winter lodge, called Hotel Mauritz as a sly homage to the company’s founders.
