Trey Edward Shults

{{Infobox person

| name = Trey Edward Shults

| image = Trey Edward Shults.jpg

| caption = Shults in 2015

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|10|06}}{{cite web |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8RK-HTB |title=Registration |access-date=2023-05-27 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |website=FamilySearch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503004841/https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8RK-HTB |archive-date=May 3, 2022}}

| birth_place = Montgomery, Texas, U.S.

| occupation = Film director, producer, writer, actor

| years_active = 2010–present

| relatives = Krisha Fairchild (aunt)

}}

Trey Edward Shults (born October 6, 1988) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. He is best known as the director and writer of the drama Krisha (2015), the psychological horror film It Comes at Night (2017), the drama Waves (2019), and the thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025).

Life and career

File:Trey Edward Shults at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards - DSC 0582 (25331114266) (cropped).jpg]]

Shults was born in Montgomery, Texas, the son of Robyn (Fairchild) and William Shults.{{Cite web|url = https://www.indiewire.com/2015/03/the-story-behind-krisha-the-family-affair-that-rocked-sxsw-248166/|title = The Story Behind 'Krisha,' the Family Affair That Rocked SXSW|date = March 23, 2015|access-date = May 3, 2022|archive-date = May 1, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220501213732/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/03/the-story-behind-krisha-the-family-affair-that-rocked-sxsw-248166/|url-status = live}}

In 2010, he made his directorial debut in the short film Mother and Son, which he also wrote, edited, and produced. It starred Krisha Fairchild and Lucas Quintana.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-trey-edward-shults/|title=Interview: Trey Edward Shults|publisher=Filmcomment.com|first=Jose|last=Teodoro|date=March 14, 2016|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326230958/http://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-trey-edward-shults/|url-status=live}} In 2011 and 2012, Shults variously served as film loader, post-production intern, and intern, on three of Terrence Malick's films, Song to Song, Voyage of Time, and The Tree of Life.{{cite web|url=http://hamptonsfilmfest.org/features/qa-trey-edward-shults-krisha/|title=Q&A: Trey Edward Shults on the Familial Bonds of 'Krisha'|via=Hamptonsfilmfest.org|website=Hamptoms International Film Festival|first=Kristin|last=McCracken|date=October 5, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215131953/http://hamptonsfilmfest.org/features/qa-trey-edward-shults-krisha/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://cinapse.co/2015/07/03/interview-krishas-writerdirector-trey-edward-shults/|title=Interview: KRISHA's Writer/Director Trey Edward Shults|publisher=Cinapse.co|first=Ed|last=Travis|date=July 3, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326125843/http://cinapse.co/2015/07/03/interview-krishas-writerdirector-trey-edward-shults/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/krisha-trey-shults-director-to-watch-cannes-video-1201429591/|title=Trey Shults And His 'Krisha' Star Talk Family Shoot & First Cannes – Video|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=May 20, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327020843/http://deadline.com/2015/05/krisha-trey-shults-director-to-watch-cannes-video-1201429591/|url-status=live}} At the time, Shults was a business management student but dropped out to work on films and study films himself. In 2011, Shults wrote, directed, produced, and edited, a short film starring Fairchild, titled Two to One.

In 2014, Shults directed, wrote, produced, edited, and appeared in Krisha, a short film starring Fairchild, Robyn, and Billie Fairchild, all of whom are related to Shults.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/movies/with-krisha-a-director-finds-a-cast-he-can-relate-to.html?_r=0|title=With 'Krisha,' a Director Finds a Cast He Can Relate To|work=New York Times|first=Nicolas|last=Rapold|date=March 10, 2016|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054007/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/movies/with-krisha-a-director-finds-a-cast-he-can-relate-to.html?_r=0|url-status=live}} The following year, he directed, wrote, and acted in a feature-length adaptation of the same name, which premiered at South by Southwest in March 2015, winning the Grand Jury Award.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/sxsw-film-awards-krisha-peace-officer-win-grand-jury-awards-1201454995/|title=SXSW: 'Krisha,' 'Peace Officer' Win Grand Jury Prizes|publisher=Variety|first=Justin|last=Chang|date=March 17, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002940/http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/sxsw-film-awards-krisha-peace-officer-win-grand-jury-awards-1201454995/|url-status=live}} The film is based upon a real-life incident involving Shults's cousin, who experienced a relapse at a family reunion.{{cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/movies/interview-krisha-trey-edward-shults-krisha-fairchild/2/|title=Director Trey Edward Shults And Actress Krisha Fairchild Discuss The Unflinching 'Krisha'|publisher=UpRoxx.com|first=Chloe|last=Schildhause|date=March 18, 2016|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320204159/http://uproxx.com/movies/interview-krisha-trey-edward-shults-krisha-fairchild/2/|url-status=live}} It was acquired by A24 and released in 2016.

In March 2015, Shults signed with William Morris Endeavor.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/krisha-filmmaker-trey-edward-shults-signs-with-wme-1201398771/|title=WME Signs 'Krisha' Filmmaker Trey Edward Shults|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|first=Ross|last=A.Lincoln|date=March 25, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2016|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326220851/http://deadline.com/2015/03/krisha-filmmaker-trey-edward-shults-signs-with-wme-1201398771/|url-status=dead}} Shults also served as the camera PA on the 2016 film Midnight Special.

A24 also released Shults's 2017 psychological horror film, It Comes at Night,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/krisha-director-trey-edward-shults-a24-cannes-two-picture-deal-1201429107/|title=A24 Makes Two-Pic Deal With 'Krisha' Helmer Trey Edward Shults|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=May 18, 2015|access-date=November 29, 2015|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208162231/http://deadline.com/2015/05/krisha-director-trey-edward-shults-a24-cannes-two-picture-deal-1201429107/|url-status=live}} starring Joel Edgerton.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/joel-edgerton-it-comes-at-night-trey-edwards-smith-a24-1201770393/|title=Joel Edgerton In Talks For Thriller 'It Comes At Night' By 'Krisha' Helmer Trey Edward Shults|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Ali|last=Jafaar|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=September 16, 2016|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917155134/http://deadline.com/2016/06/joel-edgerton-it-comes-at-night-trey-edwards-smith-a24-1201770393/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/joel-edgerton-it-comes-at-night-1201793104/|title=Joel Edgerton Joins Thriller 'It Comes at Night'|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=September 16, 2016|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917085046/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/joel-edgerton-it-comes-at-night-1201793104/|url-status=live}} He followed this film with the critically acclaimed drama Waves, which was released on November 15, 2019. His most recent film, Hurry Up Tomorrow, starring Abel Tesfaye and Jenna Ortega, was released in May 2025 and was widely panned by critics.{{Citation Needed|date=May 2025}}

Filmography

Short film

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer ! Editor ! Notes
2010 \| Mother and Son \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|
2011 \| Two to One \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|
2014 \| Krisha \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| Role: Trey

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Writer

! Producer

! Editor

! Notes

2010

| Mother and Son

| {{yes}}

2011

| Two to One

| {{yes}}

2014

| Krisha

| {{yes}}

| Role: Trey

Feature film

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer ! Editor ! Notes
2015 \| Krisha \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| Role: Trey
2017 \| It Comes at Night \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \|
2019 \| Waves \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|
2025 \| Hurry Up Tomorrow \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{partial\|Executive}} \| {{yes}} \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Writer

! Producer

! Editor

! Notes

2015

| Krisha

| {{yes}}

| Role: Trey