Ray Smiling’s work lives in the space where emotional truth and dark comedy collide. A drunk man comforted by a camgirl dressed as a Star Wars character. A virtual reality love letter. A requiem sparked by a vulgar rap song. These are the kinds of worlds Ray creates. Drawn to outsiders, subcultures, and offbeat moments, his films find unexpected tenderness in places most people overlook. The specificity of his characters and situations only deepens their emotional pull.
In 2023, Ray was named Best New Director by Ad Age. He is best known for the award winning quarantine web series KHAKI IS NOT LEATHER, an exploration of loneliness, intimacy, and connection in the internet age that premiered on Nowness and was described by Vulture as “an A24 wet dream.”
Music sits at the core of Ray’s creative voice. Before directing, he worked as a music journalist and ran a boutique record label, experiences that continue to shape his instinctive and emotionally charged approach to sound and storytelling.
Alongside his narrative work, Ray spent years as a creative director in advertising, collaborating with brands including adidas, Under Armour, the NBA, Beats by Dre, and Amazon Music.