Traci Hays is a DGA Award-nominated director with a remarkable career spanning over a decade of production design experience, working on notable features such as A LITTLE WHITE LIE, starring Michael Shannon and Kate Hudson, and the Emmy-nominated television series DARK/WEB, produced by Amazon Studios.
Her visual style is deeply rooted in her extensive production design background, which has allowed her to develop a unique perspective on storytelling. As a director, Traci has helmed several successful projects, including FREDERICK, which premiered at Dances With Films and won an impressive 20 awards, including Best Director at the LA Film Awards and Best Picture at the NYC Film Awards.
Traci's short film, 40ISH, has garnered an impressive 10 awards, including Best Director and Best Short at the International New York Film Festival, and was showcased at the prestigious Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival. Her feature directorial debut, TANGLED, a romantic comedy based on the New York Times Best-Seller of the same title, was named a "must-see movie to watch on Valentine's Day" by The Hollywood Reporter, and stars Katherine Hughes and Josh Plasse.
Traci graduated cum laude from Chapman University, earning her BFA in Film Production. During her time at the university, she was awarded an apprenticeship with legendary director Randal Kleiser, overseeing her senior thesis, an 1800s-period film titled Lions Among Men, starring Dayo Okeniyi. The film was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a finalist for the DGA Student Film Awards.
Following her graduation, Traci continued to develop her directing sensibilities under the mentorship of renowned directors John Badham, Martha Coolidge, and Lawrence Paull.
