About
Benny Mathews, the creator of Where’s the Party Yaar? Santeria, and a host of award winning music videos for internationally infamous hip hop artists. Benny Mathews was born in Bombay, India and moved to the US as a child. He grew up in a racially mixed suburb of Houston, Texas. As one of only a handful of South East Asians in Willowridge High, Benny tried his best to assimilate with the local teens who looked upon him and his culture as a National Geographic special that somehow escaped from the TV set. And, as if that wasn’t enough alienation for a sensitive sixteen year old, Benny was also coming to terms with a severe case of Cinemania – a practice described as “the love that dare not speak its name.”
Hooked on movies and finding his way in Ronald Reagan’s America, Benny became the quintessential filmmaker. Benny is a hopeless romantic with a sharp eye for the absurd. His engaging voice and his unique experiences will resonate with anybody who has ever felt alone in a crowd, or overwhelmed by the mischievous forces of Fate. He has directed two movies produced in the Houston area – Dude, Where’s the Party and Santeria, distributed by Lionsgate Films. He has also written, produced, and directed numerous music videos for rap artists such as Scarface, The Getto Boys, Trey Sonz, Bun B, Li’l Flip and many others. Geeta in Paradise is his fourth film.
Mathews has obvious storytelling chops, and a sharp eye for absurdity.
L.A. Weekly - David Chute