Director Matty Brown--who earlier this month won a Spirit Awards filmmaker grant--has joined UNHEARD/OF, a production company with bases of operation in Atlanta and Seattle.

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the L.A. Film Festival, bestowed the Seattle Story Award upon Brown. The award is for a filmmaker who exhibits innovation, diversity and uniqueness of vision while having a history of transforming perspectives through rich stories. The award includes a $25,000 cash grant, sponsored by Visit Seattle, to create a short film inspired by Seattle’s independent spirit. This film will premiere during the Spirit Awards broadcast on March 3.

Brown’s career gained initial momentum on Vimeo where he earned assorted Staff Picks. His success on Vimeo gave him the opportunity to work with Lincoln directly, creating the emotive commercial, “The Call.” This attention led to Brown’s work being featured in various festivals around the world, and in 2013 he earned a Northwest Emmy nomination from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for The Piano. Brown moved into the advertising space, directing spots for such brands as Microsoft, Airbnb, Delta Airlines and Google. 

Matt Ackerman, executive producer of UNHEARD/OF, described Brown as being “a rarity; he’s a guy who can make both content for brands and make art films too.  He’s just an all-around exceptional storyteller and with a unique perspective on each project he immerses himself into.”

First on the agenda for Brown is shooting his Visit Seattle piece over a two-week period, with the finished film to premiere during the Spirit Awards broadcast. Brown said he’s grateful for the opportunity and hopes it will eventually lead to him doing feature films. “The Seattle film is more important and meaningful to me than anything thus far,” Matty said. “It will show both Seattle and Hollywood what I can do.”