Mat Hames

Directing

Mat Hames

Mat Hames is a director and producer, known for his documentaries What Was Ours (2017), When I Rise (2010), both of which were included in the TV series Independent Lens. His films have screened at SXSW, HotDocs, IDFA, and the Santa Barbara Film Festival. When I Rise (2010) was nominated for an IDA Award. Hames is the show runner for Rooster Teeth's documentary series RTDocs, the PBS/ Prime series…

Known For

The Meme MachineThe Meme Machine · 2016
The Meme Machine
6.02016
MovieDocumentary
An exploration of the origins of memes, how they spread, and the stories behind some of the most popular “human memes” like Ermahgerd Girl, Overly Attached Girlfriend, and Chocolate Rain Guy.
A Life Outside: American Mountain GuidesA Life Outside: American Mountain Guides · 2026
A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides
10.02026
MovieDocumentary
Explores the high-stakes world of mountain guiding. Weaving the historical legacy of pioneer Paul Petzoldt (founder of NOLS and Exum) with a modern climb on the Grand Teton gone wrong, the film follows elite guides in the rugged Tetons and Alps who face deadly risks every day, not for personal glory, but to get their clients back safely. Directed by Mat Hames.
Becoming Jessica NigriBecoming Jessica Nigri · 2018
Becoming Jessica Nigri
6.52018
MovieDocumentary
A portrait of cosplayer Jessica Nigri, from a magical childhood growing up with quirky parents in New Zealand, to entering middle school in the U.S. where she was mercilessly teased for her "nerdy" interests.
Last Best HopeLast Best Hope · 2006
Last Best Hope
10.02006
MovieDocumentary
A true story of underground escape lines and the Belgian Resistance during World War II, ‘Last Best Hope’ (2006) is an award winning documentary aired on US PBS Nationwide with nearly 2 million viewers, and Belgian broadcast networks. What is the one principle or belief for which you would sacrifice everything? Ethical, spiritual, and ideological values that are central to the human experience find their voice in the documentary film, ""Last Best Hope: A True Story of Escape, Evasion, and Remembrance,"" a poignant, little-known story about the men and women in the Belgian Resistance and their extraordinary acts to save downed Allied airmen during the Second World War.
The TattooistThe Tattooist · 2017
The Tattooist
6.02017
MovieDocumentary
Rooster Teeth’s Geoff Ramsey explores the subculture of tattoos and takes a crash course from a master tattoo artist.
The World's Greatest Head Massage: An ASMR JourneyThe World's Greatest Head Massage: An ASMR Journey · 2016
The World's Greatest Head Massage: An ASMR Journey
6.72016
MovieDocumentary
Two men fly to India to search for Baba, the "Cosmic Barber of Pushkar," whose famous "World's Greatest Head Massage" videos gave them both tingling ASMR sensations.
Why We’re Here: 15 Years of Rooster TeethWhy We’re Here: 15 Years of Rooster Teeth · 2018
Why We’re Here: 15 Years of Rooster Teeth
8.62018
MovieDocumentary
The founders and media personalities of Rooster Teeth reflect on their history, growth and fandom throughout the years.
UnconventionalUnconventional · 2017
Unconventional
8.02017
MovieDocumentary
An internet personality takes a journey through the small, obscure, and downright bizarre conventions happening every weekend around the country as he tries to fit in and find the common link that unites these communities.

Filmography

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When I RiseWhen I Rise · 2010
When I Rise
10.02010
MovieDocumentary
A documentary about Barbara Smith Conrad, a gifted University of Texas music student who finds herself at the epicenter of racial controversy, struggling against the odds and ultimately ascending to the heights of international opera. A gifted black music student at the University of Texas is thrust into a civil rights storm that changes her life forever. Barbara Smith Conrad is cast in an opera opposite a white male classmate fueling a racist backlash from members of the Texas legislature. Barbara's expulsion from the cast escalates the incident to national news, prompting unexpected support from a pop superstar. This small-town girl, whose voice and spirit stem from her roots in East Texas, emerges as an internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano and headlines on stages worldwide.

Director