Biography

As a partner at Allegro Films, Matthew Percival looks after the creative aspects of the company: this includes the development and execution of new film projects; and the distribution of their prized archive of over 65 documentaries. He is a creative, empathetic and resourceful film-maker, with over 25 years of experience across television and digital landscapes.

In 2020 Matthew left his previous role as Commissioning Editor at CNN International where he enjoyed 14 years, filming on location or supervising multiple productions around the world. Responsible for the cross-platform delivery of (non-news) documentary and short-form content in London, he managed an in-house team of twenty- two staff, alongside business relationships with external sponsors, partners and talent.

Before joining CNN, Matthew worked as a producer/director for a variety of independent production companies in the U.K; and also as a freelance wildlife and portrait photographer. After university, his career began in marine biology, a passion which slowly merged into film-making and then diversified. He has travelled to over 70 countries and has a proven track record of delivering engaging factual content.

Allegro Films was among the UK's first independent production companies, established in 1968. They have won multiple awards (including a BAFTA and International EMMY), renowned for their intimate take on music and musicians, past and present. In line with Matthew's production background, the remit now extends to a broader passion for telling human-led stories about the arts, culture, society and the extraordinary - yet imperilled - world we inhabit. We are particularly committed to making films that help catalyse positive changes to the way we live with each other and within our environment.

The team at Allegro Films is set up to deliver multi-platform video content for mainstream broadcasters, corporations and NGOs. We scale up when needed, using our network of contacts and expertise. In 2020/21 Allegro delivered a 14-part series to Channel 4 (Barenboim On Beethoven: The Lost Tapes) and a 90-minute documentary to the BBC (Listening Through The Lens) broadcast in October 2021. For 2025, we are launching Jacqueline du Pre: Genius Tragedy for PBS America, as the definitive film about the enigmatic British cellist.
- IMDb mini biography by: Allegro Films