FAST FIVE: Matt Edwards

Meet Matt Edwards, filmmaker and executive director of the North Idaho Film Festival. After 17 years of editing, producing and directing film and digital media, Edwards turned his efforts to supporting emerging filmmakers.

From 2015 until his move to Kootenai County in 2020, Edwards served as vice president of a nonprofit that awarded grants to emerging artists in film and television. In 2024, Edwards co-founded North Idaho’s first film festival as a way of giving back to the community that embraced him and his family.

To learn more about the North Idaho Film Festival, visit noidff.com.

1) When did you first discover your passion for film?

I was watching Alfred Hitchcock movies at 9 years old, and my favorite film was Jaws. Like any kid, I watched TV or movies made for kids my age, but I was always punching above my weight. I wanted to be challenged with epic tales, clever storytelling and human stories.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, which was essentially the studio backlot of Hollywood. I saw my favorite TV shows being filmed in my neighborhood or at the park and watched people making things happen between takes. I knew I wanted to be involved in that one way or another.

2) What are some of your favorite films and why?

As I mentioned, Jaws has been a favorite for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved seeing this fake shark work! I knew it wasn’t real, but that didn’t matter. It was so cool how they made it real.

As I grew older, I appreciated the acting of the three main characters and the words written for them. The famous long, one-take scenes Spielberg became known for inspired me as a young filmmaker.

As a father now, watching the film is a different experience. Chief Brody’s character, his motivation and ultimate bravery, stands out much more than before. All he must be thinking about is making it back to his family alive.

3) What inspired you to help start a film festival in North Idaho?

Being semi-retired from a career producing in film and television, I still have an interest in staying involved in the entertainment world. This is a really fun way. I think the best way to describe it is much in the same way people make a playlist of songs (or a mixed tape or CD in my day). It’s fun to share with people something you really, really like or love.

At NoID, we get to watch tons of film submissions and then curate a list of films to share with everyone for a weekend. I love seeing the reaction from audiences about what they see.

The best part, though, is inviting and hosting the filmmakers so they can meet one another and develop relationships that may become forever-lasting or even successful ventures. Plus, there simply wasn’t a festival here.

4) What have been some of your proudest moments since the beginning of the NoID Film Fest?

Two come to mind. The first is accepting a film during our first year that we weren’t quite sure we should program. We debated programming it over and over, and finally we accepted it. We later found out that the filmmakers were rejected at every festival they entered before we accepted them. Once the word got out, they started getting accepted everywhere and winning awards.

The other happened just this year when two filmmakers who first met while attending NoID in its first year premiered a film they made together at NoID. Those two events are what it’s all about.

5) What are you most looking forward to regarding the future of film in Coeur d'Alene?

I would love to see film return to downtown Coeur d’Alene via a classic single-screen cinema theater. At one point in the mid-20th century, there were at least 5 movie houses downtown!

Locals who grew up here have told me of their fond memories seeing movies in the '70s and '80s at the Wilma Theater, the last one to close its doors in 1983. Giving NoID a permanent home with a new art deco-style theater that can serve as a community playhouse, meeting space and year-round venue to host filmmaker events and workshops would be a dream come true for our nonprofit organization.

    Matt Edwards with festival program director Lily Edwards and festival operations director Cal Habayeb after receiving the Emerging Arts Award for the North Idaho Film Festival at the 30th Annual Coeur d'Alene Arts Awards in Oct. 2026.
  

    Lily and Matt Edwards.
  

    Matt Edwards shakes hands with an award winner at the North Idaho Film Festival.