Christian Hays
Directing
Christian Hays is a filmmaker, actor, and photographer based in Philadelphia. His work is informed by surrealism, theatre, comedy, and explorations of mental health, with a particular focus on documentary, experimental cinema, and projection mapping. Hays cites Frederick Wiseman, Stan Brakhage, and Abbas Kiarostami among his cinematic influences. His experimental comedy short Getting Ready (2019) screened at the University Film and Video Association (UFVA) Conference and the Diamond Screen Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Experimental Film. Hays is in post-production on a documentary about his uncle, Don Larison, a painter with Down syndrome who battled dementia. He also served as cinematographer on Untitled: Kamran Shirdel (2026), a documentary examining the legacy of the pioneering Iranian filmmaker and Iran's turbulent recent history through the lens of his work. In addition to his filmmaking, Hays is an instructor at The College of New Jersey, where he teaches Introduction to Film Studies and Film Comedy. He holds an MFA in Film and Media Arts from Temple University.
