Matthijs van Heijningen, the son of a well-known Dutch film producer, grew up immersed in filmmaking – building sets, editing, and learning the craft on his father’s productions. Since 1999, he’s become one of Europe’s most awarded commercial directors, with standout campaigns for clients like Heineken, Toyota, Stella Artois, and Lipton. His work has earned major industry awards, including Clios, Addys, Cannes Lions, and D&AD pencils. In 2003, van Heijningen joined MJZ to bring his distinctive, absurdist humor and cinematic style to U.S. audiences. Known for his collaborative approach and eye for storytelling, Matthijs has a gift for turning even the most outlandish ideas into visually compelling, emotionally resonant stories. His 2010 spot “Closet” for Canal+ won global acclaim, followed by the equally praised “The Bear” in 2011. That same year, he directed his first feature film, The Thing, a prequel to John Carpenter’s cult horror classic.
