About Director Matthew Penn

Matthew Penn is an Emmy nominated director best known for his direction of some of television's most famous dramatic series. Penn attended Wesleyan University and began working in film and theater shortly after graduation. Penn has directed and/or produced over 200 hour-long dramas. He has worked for all the major networks including HBO and Netflix. Penn began his television career at Law and Order where he earned an Emmy nomination for directing the show's 200th episode starring Julia Roberts. Penn went on to become the show's Executive Producer.

Penn’s other notable TV credits include: Orange is the New Black, Queen of the South (Co-Executive producer/director) Blue Bloods, Damages, Royal Pains, Secrets and Lies, The Mist, as well as iconic series like The Sopranos, NYPD Blue and Law and Order.

Penn most recently directed the short film The Sweet Taste of Freedom which has been an official selection of: the Venezia Shorts Film Festival, Berkshire International Film Festival, LAShorts International Film Festival and the Burbank International Film Festival.

Penn has had an extensive career in theater as well. He most recently directed Jane Anderson’s Mother of the Maid at New York’s Public Theater starring Glenn Close.

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Behind The Scenes

Director Matthew Penn’s director reel

The Sweet Taste Of Freedom

After years of work in dramatic television Penn was considering ideas for a feature film. One day while driving through the village of Housatonic Massachusetts Penn pulled his car over and realized this town was a movie. Penn wanted to make a film set in the fabric of a small American town for a couple of years. He took some photos and sent them to the writer Mark Malone. Hence The Sweet Taste of Freedom was born.

Upcoming Dates “The Sweet Taste Of Freedom”

  • Rome, Italy
    February 4, 2023
    More info here

  • Hollywood, California
    December 22, 2022
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  • Allentown, Philadelphia
    April 14-16 2023
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  • Toronto, Canada
    December 13, 2022
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  • June 28 - July 9 2023

    Jersey Shore Film Festival

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  • Rome, Italy
    November 24, 2023
    More info here

  • New York, New York
    October 2022
    More Info Here

  • Burbank, California
    September 8th-11th 2022
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  • Los Angeles, California
    July 28 2023
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  • Great Barrington, Massachusetts
    June 2-5 2022
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  • Venezia, Italy
    May 22, 2022
    More Info Here

  • Santa Monica, California
    January 22, 2023
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  • REIMS, France
    May 6, 2023
    More Info Here

Watch preview for The Sweet Taste Of Freedom

News

News
Matthew Penn Shines at the Black Bear Film Festival: A Glimpse into Character and Casting Mastery
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Celebrating Excellence: Matthew Penn's Triumph at the Jersey Shore Film Festival for “Best Picture” Awards
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Acclaimed Short Film 'The Sweet Taste of Freedom' to be Featured in Two Prestigious Film Festivals

We're thrilled to announce that the short film "The Sweet Taste of Freedom," directed by Matthew Penn, has been selected to be featured in two prestigious film festivals – The New York Film International Festival and The Pasadena International Film Festival. This powerful and poignant film tells the story of a woman's journey to reclaim her life after escaping an abusive relationship, and is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Director Matthew Penn expressed his excitement at the news, saying, "I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity to showcase this important story to audiences at The New York Film International Festival and The Pasadena International Film Festival. This film was a labor of love for all involved, and we are excited to see it resonate with audiences around the world."

The New York International Film Festival and The Pasadena International Film Festival are both renowned for their commitment to showcasing exceptional films, and we're thrilled that "The Sweet Taste of Freedom" has been chosen to be a part of their Short Film programs. This is an incredible opportunity for audiences to experience this important and moving film, and for Penn and the entire cast and crew to receive the recognition they so rightly deserve. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition, and encourage everyone to see "The Sweet Taste of Freedom" at these exciting upcoming festivals.

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6 More Laurels For TSTOF And Counting….

Congratulations to Matthew Penn and his short film, The Sweet Taste of Freedom! Penn was recently honored with six awards for this incredible film

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