Mat Whitecross
Mat Whitecross is an English film director, editor, and screenwriter. He began his career working for Michael Winterbottom, a director, and producer Andrew Eaton at Revolution Films. Whitecross is known for directing The Road to Guantánamo;an Ian Dury biopic, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll; as well as music documentaries Oasis: Supersonic and Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams. Whitecross has directed music videos for Coldplay, Take That and the Rolling Stones, being a long-time collaborator of Coldplay's.Career
Whitecross was born in Oxford, England and grew up there. His parents were political refugees who were imprisoned in Argentina during the country's Dirty War. He takes inspiration from the place where he grew up and from his parents' friends, many of whom are South American immigrants who fled tortures and prison. He began his career working for filmmaker Michael Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton at Revolution Films as a runner on the film 24 Hour Party People. Within a few months of starting at Revolution Films, they gave him the chance of shooting and editing for them. His directorial debut The Road to Guantanamo began as a conversation with Winterbottom about the Tipton Three whilst on the shoot for the film 9 Songs. They both agreed that the story was fascinating and worth of a film but due to other commitments, Winterbottom was unable to begin research and preparation, suggesting that Whitecross should start the process. Whitecross and Winterbottom then co-directed and co-wrote the film which features Riz Ahmed in his debut acting role. The Road to Guantánamo won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature.Filmography
Film
Television
Music video
Awards and nominations