Qualia Pictures

Qualia Pictures is owned and operated by Matt V Rhodes. Rhodes is an award-winning, filmmaker and photographer who has collaborated with a wide range of NGOs, News Agencies & production companies including: The New York Times, Apple, The Washington Post, AJ+, TIME, Change.org, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Department of Energy & Environment, McClatchy, CQ Roll Call, Institute for War & Peace Reporting, Wayamo Foundation, Engangered Species Coalition, WOLA, ORT, Vice News and SideXSide Studios.

Rhodes has covered a wide range of subjects, from international criminal justice and environmental issues in East and West Africa to live music showcases at SXSW.

In 2013, his three-person team received an Emmy for their short documentary filmed on the West Side of Chicago, Flipping the Script. In 2014, the film was awarded First Place by the Illinois Press Photographer's Association in the Student Best of Multimedia category.

In 2015, Matt's team at SideXSide Studios produced one of the most successful Op-Docs in The New York Times' history, Transgender: At War and in Love. The film was nominated for an Emmy and awarded First Place for Best Documentary by the White House News Photographer's Association. 

The Op-Doc has since been made into a feature-length film, “TransMilitary,” and won the 2018 Audience Award at SXSW.

Since pursuing his career as an independent filmmaker in 2017, Rhodes has produced a variety of works ranging from a producing a fundraising short film on vocational and psychological services for women refugees in Samos, Greece to co-directing, shooting and editing the music video for the song, “Something I Forgot,” for the band, Dead Pedal.

Among other projects, Rhodes is currently collaborating with The Chesapeake Bay Trust on a video series showcasing their Regional Capacity Building Initiative. Additionally, he is in pre-production for a narrative short film that he will co-direct, shoot and edit. Principal photography will begin in 2026.

Before receiving his MS from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Rhodes received his BA and MA in philosophy, focusing on ethics, political philosophy & global justice.