Awards &
Recognition
Matty Schweitzer creates award-winning film and aerial work trusted by clients and recognized within the industry.
These honors reflect the care, creativity, and collaboration behind every story.
Featured awards
2026 · Jury Award · Best Hawaiʻi Feature
Lahaina Rising · Wailuku Film Festival
2026 · Competition Award · Best Action
Finding True North · Santa Monica Film Awards Festival
2026 · Competition Award · Best Sport
Finding True North · Santa Monica Film Awards Festival
2026 · Winner
Finding True North · Los Angeles Short Film Awards
2026 · Best Short Documentary
Finding True North · Planet-Cinema
2026 · Official Selection
Finding True North · Berlin Indie Film Festival
2026 · Best Short Documentary Finalist
Finding True North · Orlando Independent Film Festival
2025 · Best Made in Hawaiʻi Feature · Co-winner
Lahaina Rising · Hawaiʻi International Film Festival presented by Halekulani
Shared with Before the Moon Falls, directed by Kimberlee Bassford
2025 · Best Picture
Finding True North · Los Angeles Film Awards
2025 · Best Inspirational Film
Finding True North · Los Angeles Film Awards
Documentary work in the news
Explore coverage of Matty Schweitzer’s documentary filmmaking, from Lahaina Rising to Finding True North.
Variety — HIFF 2025 award coverage
Subscription may be required.
Maui Now — Lahaina Rising’s Made in Hawaiʻi Award
Hawaiʻi Public Radio — Lahaina Rising filmmaker interview
Hawaii News Now — Finding True North at the Wailuku Film Festival
Community recognition & media
Matty joined members of Maui’s surfing community onstage at the 2024 ESPYs, where the community received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for its response to the Lahaina wildfires.
ESPN — 2024 ESPYs community honor · Getty Images — onstage photograph
Patagonia — Lāhainā, One Year Later
Matty reflects on community relief and recovery. August 2024.
HBO Real Sports — Surfer Heroes in Maui
Official program announcement featuring Matty. November 2023.
Fox News — Maui relief interview
Matty and Zane Schweitzer discuss relief efforts. September 2023.
Surfline — Surfers Continue to Mobilize on Maui
Coverage of the surfing community’s relief response.
Surfline — Shaping Lahaina’s Recovery
Recovery reporting with photography credited to Matty. September 2023.
Surfline — Jaws’ Opening Swell: Of Sons and Daughters
Photography credited to Island Eye Productions, with Matty in the lineup. December 2022.
