"Mathew's Animation" is a collection of four short films by Montreal artist Mathew Brotherwood, completed in an experimental self-portrait animation workshop at the National Film Board of Canada. "Self-Portrait" and "City Life" are animated entirely by Mathew Brotherwood, "Down Syndrome" by Mathew Brotherwood and Shira Avni, and "So Amazing" is a portrait of Mathew by Shira.

Mathew Brotherwood
Born in Nottingham, England, Mathew came to Canada at 18 months old with the rest of his family. Now 21, Mathew lives in Montreal, where he volunteers at community cafes four days a week and attends the Concordia University Centre for the Arts in Human Development. He is actively involved in downhill skiing, track and field, and swimming, and enjoys music, dancing, movies and drawing. His art work has been exhibited as part of a group show at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. He also has Down Syndrome.

Filmmaker - Shira Avni
Born in Israel and raised in Montreal, Shira Avni has been a director/animator at the National Film Board of Canada from 1997 - 2007, and currently teaches animation at Concordia University. Her recent film, John and Michael, an animated love story between two men with Down syndrome, has won 11 international awards and has screened in over 50 festivals worldwide. Shira lives happily in Montreal with puppeteer Salim Hammad.