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Nice Shirt signs director Matthieu Mantovani
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Matthieu Mantovani joins Nice Shirt for UK commercial representation, bringing his expertise in cinematic storytelling and AI-driven filmmaking to the roster.
Nice Shirt has signed director Matthieu Mantovani for UK commercial representation.
Known for his ability to craft immersive cinematic worlds, Mantovani blends narrative, humour, and emotion with a deep understanding of visual effects and emerging technologies.
Beginning his career as part of avant-garde directorial collective Zoo, Mantovani later transitioned into solo directing, working with brands including Mercedes, Volkswagen, EDF, and Toyota. His distinctive style combines storytelling with innovative post-production techniques, creating bold, original, and often unexpected visual narratives.
His recent work explores the creative potential of generative AI, expanding the boundaries of filmmaking under the moniker Beyond Human. Initially an experimental pursuit, Mantovani’s AI-driven projects quickly gained recognition in contemporary art spaces, evolving into both a structured commercial and artistic practice. In 2024, he founded the Année Zéro gallery, dedicated to showcasing the work of pioneering AI artists.
“I am delighted to join Nice Shirt and explore new creative perspectives together,” says Mantovani. “My work has always been built on a balance between storytelling, comedy, and aesthetics, combined with a strong curiosity for post-production and innovation. While AI offers new possibilities to push visual language, authenticity and human performance remain essential to me. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between innovation, creativity, and human expression. Hybrid production is an exciting opportunity, using AI as an additional tool, just like 3D and compositing, to explore new worlds and creative possibilities.”
Richard Martin, executive producer at Nice Shirt, adds: “Matthieu and I have worked together, on and off, for many years. I’ve always loved his quirky comic sensibility, and he was one of the first directors I knew to truly understand the artistic potential of photorealistic CGI. During lockdown, I was struck by some of the AI-generated stills he was posting, and his dystopian, darkly funny AI film Greetings From The New World remains one of the most compelling and unsettling pieces of AI-driven filmmaking I’ve seen.
“There has been much discussion about AI as a tool to complement traditional filmmaking craft. Matthieu is the first person I’ve spoken to who not only understands this concept but has the skills to implement it intelligently and artistically. Our first AI discussion was mind-blowing—one of my most interesting Zoom calls to date. I’m incredibly excited to be collaborating with him again in this brave new world.”
With Mantovani’s addition, Nice Shirt continues to expand its roster with forward-thinking directors who challenge the conventions of storytelling and visual craft.
