MELINA MATSOUKAS

b. 1981

Hackensack, New Jersey

Producer, director

What started as a career behind the scenes of music videos quickly turned into an arsenal of gold.

In the 2000s, Matsoukas' work was everywhere, though largely unrecognized. The list is long, but a few of her well-known directions include:

• "Money Maker" Ludacris ft. Pharrell

• "Tambourine" Eve ft. Swizz Beatz

• "Upgrade U" Beyonce ft. Jay-Z

• "Just Dance" Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis

• "Diva" Beyonce

• "Rude Boy" Rihanna

• "We Found Love" Rihanna (Grammy)

Her stamp on pop culture was solidified in 2016 when Beyoncé dropped “Formation,” with Matsoukas as the video’s director. She became a household name overnight.

She’s also worked on “Insecure,” “Master of None,” and made her film directorial debut in 2019 with Queen & Slim.