Tim Cruz is an award winning Filipino-American feature film director who was born in Manila and immigrated to New Jersey. He got his start as his father’s photo assistant, a foundation that led to his early passion for visual storytelling and a scholarship at NYU’s Future Filmmakers Program.

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Tim began his career producing music videos for artists like 50 Cent, Bruno Mars, and Lady Gaga. His videos have aired on MTV and VH1 and amassed millions of views online. He later transitioned to directing, helming campaigns for brands such as Hot Wheels, Apple Music, and Google.

His feature films include the teen thriller Murder in the Suburbs (Secrets at the Lake), and the Tubi Original The Final Rose, which he also co-wrote. In 2024, he released the ensemble thriller What Happens in Miami a Tubi Original and premiered the supernatural queer horror film Ladybug at FrightFest London to critical praise for its haunting tone and meditative exploration of grief and intimacy.

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Tim returns to FrightFest in 2025 with Don’t Let the Cat Out, a scrappy indie horror comedy that blends absurdity and heart to explore grief, denial, and the strange things we do to avoid saying goodbye. The film premiered at Panic Fest earlier this year, where it was praised as “a fresh, funny, and emotionally grounded ride.”

His work continues to resonate internationally, with commercials and digital series reaching audiences across the globe.