by Dov Kornits
Writer/Director/Producer Matt Sterne’s short documentary premieres online.
You’re worked in advertising; how did you move into filmmaking?
Matt Sterne: “I’ve spent most of my career in advertising – solving creative problems, launching products, and telling stories for brands. It taught me how to work fast, collaborate under pressure, and shape ideas into something that appeals to people. A few years ago, I dipped into branded documentaries and instantly fell in love with the format. It combined everything I enjoyed – research, real people, emotional storytelling, beautiful craft. From early on, I’d quietly dreamed of making my own doco, outside of commercial constraints – I just needed the right moment. When COVID hit and agency work paused, that window finally opened.”
Why this particular story?
“One day during lockdown, I stumbled across an Instagram photo of a wild cricket match played on a cracked pitch in Kashmir, India – no grass, thousands watching from the hills. It was raw, chaotic and beautiful. That single image lit a fire in me. I suddenly had this strong urge to find a story like that – something with community, history, and spirit baked into the soil. I couldn’t get to India, so I started digging for something closer. That’s when I found Farina – an abandoned outback town where once a year, people from all walks of life gather to play cricket on an old, rocky oval. It felt surreal. The more I looked into it, the more it spoke to something deeper – nostalgia, resilience, connection and I knew I had to tell that story.”
Why this particular length?
“The 30-minute length came about pretty naturally. I originally saw this as a pilot for a larger series about unusual cricket grounds around the world – each one home to a unique story and community. Being a self-funded project shot in just over four days, we had to work lean, and this format gave the story room to breathe without overstaying its welcome. It also gave us structure – three distinct chapters that each explore a different emotional layer of the characters, the town and quirky cricket match.”
What’s next?
“I’m now developing a handful of feature-length documentary ideas – bigger stories with broader reach but the same heart. Stories about people, culture, survival, and spirit – the kind that stay with you. I’m still learning the ropes, especially around funding and distribution, but I’m in it for the long game. Ghost Town Cricket reminded me what I’m really here to do – tell stories that move people. So that’s the mission now. One story at a time.”
