William Stefan Smith is driven by comedic storytelling that is grounded in reality. Blending his South London roots with his love of art house films, he consistently creates something truly distinct. William was awarded a 2023 BAFTA for directing the critically acclaimed series Top Boy on Netflix. He was also lead director and executive produced The Vince Staples Show for Netflix. He previously directed BBW as part of Channel 4’s On The Edge series, which earned him two BAFTA nominations. William served as lead director on the second season of Armando Iannucci’s sci-fi comedy series Avenue 5 for HBO and Sky, having also directed the first season’s final episode. In the advertising realm, he has helmed work for Sprite starring NBA greats Kevin Garnett and Anthony Edwards, and for Adidas with Top Boy star Kano. Additionally, he directed the film Two Single Beds, a critically acclaimed short written by and starring Daniel Kaluuya for Film4. With a background as a stand-up comedian, William started his career working for the BBC. He earned an MFA in Film Direction from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has received the Hollywood Foreign Press Award for his short Hostess, the BAFTA LA scholarship two years in a row, and the Lora Hays Award for Documentary Editing.  Currently, William lives in Los Angeles and is writing his first feature film, a dark comedy, for Film4. He is represented by Casarotto & Ramsay Associates for film and television.