Matthew Hilborn

Matthew Hilborn is a Researcher at King's College London (Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries) since 2022. He holds a BA from Oxford, MA and PhD from Durham University. His work focuses on European cinema, humour theory, and media industries. Current projects include the AHRC-funded 'Screen Encounters with Britain' exploring transnational digital screen culture's impact on UK perceptions. He authored Film Comedy and Spain (2020), awarded the AHGBI Prize. Prior roles include teaching at Durham, impact research at the English-Speaking Union, and work with the London Spanish Film Festival.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree, Oxford University
• Master’s Degree, Durham University
• PhD in Spanish Film Studies, Durham University

Research priorities include comedy’s role in shaping national identity, public service media, and global screen distribution. His interdisciplinary approach combines film theory, qualitative/quantitative methods, and industry analysis. He actively publishes in Bulletin of Spanish Studies and co-edits academic volumes on cultural crossovers.

Awards:

• AHGBI Publication Prize for Film Comedy and Spain

Teaching/Grants: Developed courses on film theory, media industries, and qualitative research. Oversaw education programs reaching 1M learners via the English-Speaking Union. Contributed to REF impact case studies on cultural projects.

Labs/Initiatives: Collaborates on the multi-national 'Screen Encounters with Britain' project, analyzing youth perceptions of UK culture through streaming platforms.