Natasha Straley is an independent narrative film director working between New York City, Texas and Los Angeles. She began as an actor before accepting roles on the other side of the camera in 2010. She worked on various film productions sifting through every department until directing naturally rose to the surface in 2016. Her work focuses on both comedic and dramatic narrative content exploring the dark underbelly of the human condition, diving into uncomfortable nuances of behaviors and relationships. She is driven by subtle screenplays which push boundaries and examine the grey area between right and wrong. ​ ​She has directed several short films, which have screened at festivals across the country. She just completed the proof-of-concept short film, SIDESTEP, after receiving a grant from the San Antonio Film Commission. She was awarded the Michelle Mower Female Filmmaker of the Year Award from Austin Revolution Film Festival, 2018. She received the San Antonio Film Commission in 2019 for a new short documentary designed to interweave opposing viewpoints along the border of Texas. Select directing credits include the post-apocalyptic action film, THE RESISTANCE; the lonely romantic comedy, UP OR OUT; the comedic social commentary, CAULIFLOWER; and the delicately nuanced slice-of-life film, FINISHED. Select producing credits include PICKUP (starring Mandy Evans, Jim True-Frost and Griffon Robert Faulkner, written by Jessica Blank, directed by Jeremiah Kipp), SOUND/VISION (starring Ari Rossen, directed by Jeremiah Kipp). Select acting credits include THE BLACKLIST (with James Spader and David Costabile on NBC), BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS, and THE LEFTOVERS. Natasha was born in DC and lived across the world as a military kid. Texas became her home before moving to New York 2007-2017. She currently resides between Los Angeles and San Antonio, Texas while she completes her first feature film, SIDESTEP.