The Bakery Collective welcomes Ray Edwards to its directing roster

The Bakery Collective has announced the signing of director Ray Edwards, an award-winning filmmaker whose work blends cinematic craft with a strong passion for storytelling.

Edwards’ journey into filmmaking began in 2010, when he received a film school scholarship that sparked his love for visual storytelling. He went on to complete a double major diploma in Camera and Directing, laying the foundation for a career that has spanned over 16 years in the film industry.

Originally building his reputation as a cinematographer, Edwards has earned widespread recognition for his work, including the Al Guilford Emerging Cinematographer Award in 2021, along with multiple NZCS awards across both commercial and narrative disciplines.

While his cinematography career has been highly acclaimed, Edwards’s true passion lies in writing and directing narrative work. In 2021, he independently produced and released his debut short film True Love, which screened at festivals worldwide and marked the beginning of his transition into commercial directing.

Since then, Edwards has directed campaigns for leading brands including Adidas, Z Energy, BP, and BNZ, bringing a refined cinematic approach to commercial storytelling.

In 2025, he released his second short film ACE, which went on to screen and win awards at festivals globally, further cementing his voice as a director.

Edwards is currently in pre-production on his debut feature film True Love, and developing a series titled Hotel Matipo.

With a strong foundation in narrative filmmaking and a passion for meaningful storytelling, Edwards brings a distinctive tone, pace, and emotional depth to his work.

Says Nikita Kearsley, EP at The Bakery Collective: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Ray to the team. His depth of experience as a DoP brings an extraordinary level of craft and understanding to his directing, but what truly sets him apart is his ability to capture emotion in such a raw, honest, and visually striking way. There’s a sensitivity and beauty to his storytelling that feels both intimate and cinematic, and we’re incredibly excited to see that translate across the work we create together.”

The Bakery Collective is excited to welcome him to the roster and support the next chapter of his directing career.

View Ray’s work here.

For enquiries please contact Nikita Kearsley – nikita.kearsley@thisisthebakery.com

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