Kris Rey (formally Swanberg) began her film career at Southern Illinois University where she studied documentary film production. Using naturalistic techniques and often working with non-actors, Swanberg went on to focus her career in narrative film. Her first feature, It was great, but I was ready to come home played in competition at the SXSW Film Festival in 2009, followed by her next feature, Empire Builder (2012) and short film Baby Mary (2014). Her third feature Unexpected premiered in competition at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Rey lives in Chicago and teaches film production at Northwestern University. She just wrapped her new feature film I Used To Go Here starring Gillian Jacobs and Jemaine Clement.