Elias Matar is a visionary writer, director and producer with a knack for telling gritty, hard-boiled stories infused with heart and soul. Born in California, raised in Syria, Matar has a unique perspective both in life and film-making. His short film Chingaso The Clown (shot by legendary cinematographer Arthur Wong) won a bevy of awards on the festival circuit including the ‘Audience Choice Award’ at Kevin Smith’s Movie Askew and ‘Best Underground Film’ and ‘Best Editing’ at the FAIF Film Festival. Matar first feature film, Ashes (staring Brian Krause and Kadeem Hardison) premiered at the 2010 Shriekfest Film Festival where it took top prize “Best Horror Feature.” That same year Ashes also won the “Best Horror Screenplay” at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival, along with several other awards before securing distribution through Osiris Entertainment. His second feature film, the critically acclaimed Ribbons (also starring Brian Krause) enjoyed a successful festival run including Hollwood Film Festival and NYC Indie Film Festival, as well as a limited theatrical release in 2016 before securing a distribution deal with Indican Pictures. Matar has recently turned his attention to documentary film-making, directing and producing three films concerning the Syrian refugee crisis, Flight of The Refugees, Exodus and Children of Beqaa. All three films have played a great number of film festivals and Red Cross events across the globe. Flight of the Refugees won “Best Short Documentary” at the Sonora International Film Festival and “Best Humanitarian Achievement” at the Garafuna Film Festival. All three films have secured distribution, Exodus through 108 Media, and Flight of the Refugees and Children of Beqaa through Green Apple.