Matt Kleppner

Matt Kleppner is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles. The grandson of Caribbean, Chinese, and Jewish immigrants, Matt holds a special affinity for stories about cultural identity and memory in the U.S.

Last year, one of his short films Return to Sender (directed by Russell Goldman and produced by Jamie Lee Curtis and Jake Katofsky) played at over twenty festivals across the U.S. including Fantastic Fest, Portland Film Festival, and opening night at Hollyshorts Film Festival. This year, another short The Perfect Place to Cry (directed by Shane Bannon and produced by Celina Bernstein) premiered at Dances with Films and is playing at festivals this summer including Fantasia Film Festival.

Matt holds an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute and a BA in Film Studies and American Studies from Wesleyan University. He was recently selected as one of four cinematographers to join Color Creative’s inaugural Find Your People cohort. Sponsored through Issa Rae and Deniese Davis’ management company, this development program provides film funding and mentorship for twenty-eight up-and-coming POC filmmakers.