In 2021 Bridget received two Best Director nominations for her work on the horror thriller film The Retaliators which opened in Theaters in October of 2022. Her feature film SNO BABIES was an official selection and opened up the Reel Recovery Film Festival in Studio City California in 2020. She was nominated as Best Editor that same year at the Queen Palm International Film Festival for her work on RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES.
Philadelphia native Bridget Smith is an award-winning director and editor whose work spans narrative features, documentary, music video, and nonfiction storytelling. A lifelong storyteller, Smith began her creative career in performance, stand-up comedy, and theater before moving behind the camera, where her experience as an editor became fundamental to the way she directs, shaping her instincts for performance, coverage, pacing, and emotional storytelling.
Over more than a decade in the film industry, Smith has directed projects across dramatically different genres, including the addiction drama Sno Babies, theatrical horror/thriller The Retaliators, family adventure Finding Christmas, psychological horror film Womb, and the award-winning documentary Lucky Jack. Her work is grounded in performance and authenticity, particularly when tackling difficult or real-world subject matter.
Smith is also an accomplished feature and documentary editor who works regularly with Fox Entertainment. Her nonfiction work includes the nationally distributed PBS/WABE documentary Beyond the Movement, for which she received a 2026 Southeast Emmy nomination, as well as Lucky Jack, It’s Our Ball, and interview-driven long-form work. She was also nominated for Best Editor at the Queen Palm International Film Festival for Right Before Your Eyes.
Her work extends into music and short-form storytelling, including directing and editing music videos for internationally recognized artists such as The HU and Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach. Across formats, Smith approaches filmmaking with the same priority: finding the emotional truth of the story and serving it through performance, rhythm, and character.
Praise for the Director
ROBERT BURKE, ACTOR (RoboCop, Tombstone, Gossip Girl, Rescue Me, Black KkKlansman)
“My experience of director Bridget Smith was unforgettable. Her spot on instincts, accurate notes, respectful command of crew and cast, was only eclipsed by the warmth and sincerity of her person. It was my pleasure and privilege to be a part of the production with Bridget at the helm, and I can only hope to have the experience repeated someday.”
Myles Clohessy – Actor (Quantico, FBI’s Most Wanted, The Blacklist)
“Out of the 35 credits in TV and Film I’ve done so far, Bridget runs one of the smoothest and most enjoyable sets I’ve ever been on. All thanks to her extreme professionalism and her fun/calming attitude on set. Can’t wait to get back on set with her!
Ellen Adair – Actress (The Sinner, Bull, Homeland)
“Bridget is an absolute dream to work with. She does an exceptional job of creating a warm, open space for the entire cast and crew to work in, really valuing the perspectives everyone brings to the project. She has a plan for exactly what she wants and how to get it, running things efficiently, but she’s also open to discoveries or new ideas. Not only that, but she gives the best notes, and is really talented at figuring out what each actor needs to hear. Doesn’t that sound like a dream? It is!”
Joann Baron – Actor (This is Us, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
“I had the extreme pleasure of working with the very talented director, Bridget Smith. Her insight into character and deep understanding of material along with her leadership and strong direction style make her very special. “
Diane Heery – Casting Director, Heery Loftus Casting, Philadelphia, PA
“It makes me proud to be included in Bridget’s projects. She is a director of vision. It has been a pleasure seeing her emerge as an empowered woman, creating projects that have a unique voice in the industry. Her talent as a storyteller has no bounds.”
Bridget White – Actress (Elementary, Benji The Dove, Finding Christmas)
“Bridget creates a set that is; welcoming, calm and professional. I felt at ease and supported. She was at ease, but in control. She had a plan, not just a shot list, but a vision. Actors, especially when doing vulnerable and delicate work, need to feel safe physically and emotionally. Bridget provides and maintains an atmosphere that encourages creativity.”
Robert Clohessy – Actor (Blue Bloods, Oz, Boardwalk Empire)
“Bridget had a fantastic rapport and easily led her crew with a definitive but gentle leadership!”
Michael Lombardi – Actor (Rescue Me, The Deuce, The Retaliators)
“Bridget creates a calm, safe and respectful environment. She understands actors and the process which allows for the best possible work. She’s always prepared, yet flexible and spontaneous. She brings the highest level of passion, support and diligence to everything she does.”
Paola Andino – Actor (Queen Of The South, Every Witch Way, Sno Babies)
“Working with Bridget Smith, whose trust and belief in me brought out a worthy performance as Hannah in her film, It was an experience that has continued to help me in my career long after wrapping on Sno Babies.”
Michael Patrick Lane - Actor (Dynasty, Sun Records)
“Bridget is a master at creating a creative atmosphere where life can just happen. She was incredible at catering to the actors individual needs and really understood the process so that the communication between an actor and his choices could just flow..”
Shannan Wilson – Actor (Halston, Elementary, Sno Babies)
“Bridget Smith is not only a talented visionary but also a calm and intuitive director who is able to communicate with her actors in a way that makes them feel safe. Because of this, her actors are able to give real and powerful performances, within extremely difficult scenes.“
Kristin Minter – Actor (Hightown, This Is Us)
“I have never seen a more dedicated director. She is unbelievably supportive and encourages collaboration in all aspects of the character the actor is building and the role the character plays in the movie.”
Corrie Graham – Actor (The Retaliators, Right Before Your Eyes, Sno Babies)
“I love working with Bridget. She has a clear vision of what she’s looking for and she shows up prepared. She is so good at knowing her actors and how to get the best performance out of them.”
Lukas Hassel – Actor – (The Blacklist, Elementary)
“Bridget Smith allowed me to explore my character. She is a director who knows what she wants out of a scene, and has the confidence to realize there are many ways of getting there.”
Joe Conklin – Actor/Comedian
“What makes Bridget a great director is that she comes from the point of view of a performer. She’s been in the trenches so brings to set all of her experience as an actor and a comedian. Very empowering!”
Mark Schultz, CAS – Sound Engineer, Shake Audio Post, Philadelphia, PA
“Bridget Smith is an infectiously enthusiastic director and it turns out she is also often the smartest person in the room.”
Doug Bischoff – Colorist – Ceridwen Productions
“Bridget always has a vision for how she wants to tell the story down to the last detail, and has the skill and experience to communicate it to make it happen. Her ability to evoke just the right emotional tone in very challenging narratives makes her a rare talent.”
