We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matteo Mosterts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Matteo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

People often talk about risk like it’s this big, dramatic thing, but for me, most of the so-called “risks” I’ve taken—moving to a new continent, investing in myself, or diving headfirst into overly ambitious projects—never really felt like risks. They just felt like the next steps on the path I was already on.

The hardest part of being an artist isn’t the leap itself; it’s putting your faith in something as abstract as your own talent. There’s no manual or test to tell you, “Yep, you’ve got what it takes.” You just have to trust in the work you’re doing and take that leap, knowing full well that a lot of people who try don’t get there.

But here’s the thing: it’s not just about “making it.” The most important parts of this journey are the experiences, the growth, and having fun with the process. And, most importantly, it’s about the people—the relationships you build, the collaborators who challenge and inspire you, and the connections that remind you why you started in the first place.

At the end of the day, it’s not about guarantees or playing it safe. It’s about following your path, embracing the uncertainty, and finding joy and meaning in every step along the way.

Matteo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My path has been anything but a straight line. I started out as a professional volleyball player in Italy, then went to business school, worked as an advertising exec, and now I’m directing. It’s definitely not the usual way people get into this field, but every step along the way has shaped how I approach my work today.

A big part of my journey was just coming to terms with the idea that a creative career was even an option. Growing up, nobody in my circle had a creative job—it just wasn’t a thing you did. It took me a while to realize that not only could I do it, but that I wanted to dedicate myself fully to the craft.

For me, that means always learning. Every project is a chance to push myself and my team to try something new, to step away from “this is how it’s always been done” and see where we can take it. Whether it’s experimenting with a new way of telling a story, refining a technical skill, or approaching collaboration differently, I try to treat every project as a learning experience.

And that’s usually the project I’m most excited about, is the next one. But I’d be lying if I didn’t mention a couple of recent highlights: a short film I shot in Mexico City and a global ad campaign I directed in Milan a couple of months ago. Both pushed me in completely different ways, and both remind me why I love this work so much.

What I love most, though, is working as a team. I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some super talented people who make every project better than I could have imagined. As a team, we’re always pushing the boundaries of cinematic filmmaking—often to tell stories that are grounded in heart and a touch of silliness. That mix keeps me inspired, and it’s why I’m so excited about everything that’s still to come.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life happened when I was a professional volleyball player in Italy. Toward the end of a season, I got injured. It wasn’t catastrophic, but it was enough to force a choice: stick with sports, hope my foot would heal, and see if I could make it through another season—or pull the plug and start a new chapter.

I remember that moment so vividly. It felt like a real crossroads. On one side was the familiar path, one that I’d given everything to but felt like it had run its course. On the other side was the unknown—a mix of excitement and absolute terror. Around that time, I had just discovered the American version of The Office. And honestly? Not many things were making me as happy as watching that show.

I’m a little embarrassed about how cliche this sounds but, my obsession with The Office sparked a fascination with what went on behind the scenes of making a TV show. For the first time, I started imagining a life beyond sports—maybe in film or TV. It was a wild thought, but it stuck with me.

Fast forward a year, and I’d figured out a way to land an internship at Reveille, the production company that made The Office. As if life was giving me a big thumbs-up, I ended up being invited to the wrap party for the show’s final season. All the cast was there, and I just stood there thinking, “Okay, I guess I’m on the right path.”

That “jump” was scary—letting go of something I’d worked so hard for and stepping into something completely new. But it taught me that the unknown can be pretty incredible if you’re willing to take the leap.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Coming from an ad agency background, one lesson I had to unlearn as a director was being too reasonable. Sounds strange, right? But in the agency world, I was always the responsible one on set—the person keeping everything on track, making sure we stayed on budget, met deadlines, and avoided unnecessary risks. It’s a valuable mindset, but when I shifted to directing, I realized it could also hold me back.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: mjmosterts

Image Credits

Kinder Bueno and Seattle Film Festival are the two brands.

Cinematographers are respectively Tommaso Terigi and Andrea Gavazzi