Biography

Matthew McGahren is a trial lawyer, film director, writer, cinematographer, producer, and the founder of the independent film production company Iron Shadow Cinema.

His interest in storytelling began at an early age, leading him to write creative fiction throughout high school and college. After watching To Kill a Mockingbird and The Verdict, McGahren became inspired to pursue the law-drawn to the courtroom as a real-world arena for narrative, conflict, and justice. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989 with dual degrees in Classical Civilization/Archaeology and Psychology and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1992.

Licensed to practice law in Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina, McGahren has handled litigation and transaction matters across virtually every major area of law, including entertainment law. He has served as lead counsel in more than 100 trials, approximately half of which were tried before juries, earning a reputation as a formidable and trial-ready advocate.

In parallel with his legal career, McGahren cultivated a lifelong passion for filmmaking. In 1999, recognizing that emerging digital camera technology was opening new doors for independent filmmakers, he began an intensive, self-directed study of every aspect of the craft. By 2008, he was actively directing short films and collaborating on a wide range of film projects. In 2010, he formally launched Iron Shadow Cinema, dedicating the second half of his life to cinematic storytelling.

Blending the disciplines of law and film, McGahren brings a rare perspective to both professions-approaching trials with a storyteller’s eye and filmmaking with the rigor and precision of a seasoned trial lawyer.

Matthew McGahren is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been recognized at multiple genre and independent film festivals. His film Jason’s Nightmare received the Fan Film Award at the Dragon Con Film Festival (2018).

In 2024, McGahren earned the Best Director award at the Buried Alive Film Festival for ’Til Death, which also received the Twistiest Twist Award at the Spooky Empire Film Festival, where it was additionally nominated for Best Practical Effects. His film iScream was named Best Film of 2023, further cementing his reputation for inventive and engaging storytelling.

Beyond directing, McGahren produced the Atlanta-based, multi-award-winning 48-Hour Film Project entry Beautiful.
- IMDb mini biography by: Matthew McGahren