Founded by Jennifer Matthews, Cariad Productions is an independent film company based in North West UK. Making commercial and global comedy and comedy horror films.
At Cariad we believe laughter is as politically powerful as any other kind of storytelling.
We also believe in supporting female identifying talent.
Our slate includes short films, feature films and writers labs supporting female and non-binary filmmakers.
Cariad has screened at BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals, delivered a BFI-funded development lab, and been selected for the Creative Enterprises Foundations and Female Founders programmes backed by Creative UK and BFI.
Jennifer is a member of Times Up UK, ERA 50:50, Screenskills Widening the Lens, Female Founders. As well as a Cannes Young Filmmaker, and an Arts Emergency Mentor.
Our ambition is to grow Cariad into a leading production house. A company with a recognisable creative identity and a lasting legacy.
“Cariad means sweetheart or love in Welsh — a celebration of my heritage.”
“My grandmother was born in a tiny Welsh village. In her early twenties, with a small baby on her hip, she boarded a stolen German warship and sailed solo to Hong Kong so my taid (grandad) could meet his child. Her determination and wicked sense of humour lives on in every film I make.
My mum grew up on a Welsh hill farm, and at 18 left for university, learning for the first time how to buy a pint of milk in a shop. She is now a professor of social work and a celebrated author.
Both women shaped my ambition and tenacity, and showed me Cariad could be real. And now it is.”
—Jennifer Matthews, Founder
what we do
Production
Our slate spans production and development. Highlights include: Crushed, shortlisted for Funny Women Comedy Short Awards 2025; A New Era, screened at BAFTA 95; and Behind, now on the festival circuit.
Writers Labs
Cariad collaborated with Terror Arcade to produce Scream Queens, BFI-funded genre development lab, and is now executive producing 50% of the developed screenplays. Future genre labs set to pilot late 2026.
Advocacy
Jennifer Matthews founded Cariad because fairness has always been her driving force. As a child, she refused to go into school until the girls could wear trousers like the boys. That instinct never left and has become our company ethos.