Stavroula is an award-winning director, writer, producer, and  actress originally from Sindos, a small town near Thessaloniki, Greece. She moved to New York City to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began her career performing in off-Broadway plays, student films, and television shows in Greece and New York.  While acting offered an exciting start, she quickly realized that working behind the camera was much more satisfying.  Before fully immersing herself in film and television, Stavroula lived an unconventional life according to many of her relatives, starting with her mother.  She traveled the world and took on a wide range of jobs: private tutor, executive assistant at a top PR firm, professional organizer, celebrity assistant, restaurant waitress and hostess, and made history as the first woman and first immigrant to serve as the GM of New York’s iconic Paris Theatre.  She also worked as a professional Dominatrix—an experience that served as immersive research for her critically acclaimed series SWITCH and the book she is currently writing. 

In 2017, Stavroula founded her production company The Toska Matrix, with the intention to share deeply meaningful, emotionally resonant stories that examine who we are, and the journeys we go on in order to heal and connect with our psyche--in Greek mythology, Psyche (Ψυχή) is also the name of the Goddess of the Soul, often depicted with butterfly wings.  Stavroula's work consistently explores themes of family, identity, power dynamics, connection, and resilience.  Her storytelling is personal, intimate, and unflinchingly human.

Her projects have received over 80 awards both in the U.S. and internationally, with support from prestigious institutions including the Sundance Institute, Women Make Movies, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Jerome Foundation, NYSCA, and the National Arts Club.  Stavroula and her collaborators  have been recognized with numerous accolades from organizations and festivals such as New York Women in Film & Television, Tribeca Festival, Film Independent Spirit Awards, DOC NYC, Hot Docs, Palm Beach International Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Cinema Eye Honors Awards, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Warsaw Film Festival, and many others. 

Throughout her career, she has worked with Academy Award, Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe-winning talent, further cementing her reputation as a dynamic creative force in the industry.  Her most notable projects include Beneath the Olive Tree—a feature documentary narrated and executive produced by Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis—SWITCH, The Sounding, Leylak, In The Vice, Pronoia, Livin’ the Dream, The New Abolitionists, and, most recently, A Photographic Memory (screening in LA and NYC, June 2025).

She is currently developing multiple original and IP-based film and television projects—both scripted and unscripted—including a scripted drama series under a development deal with HBO, and a reality competition series titled The Labyrinth.

Pushing boundaries both creatively and conceptually, Stavroula is also spearheading space-focused projects that expand her vision beyond Earth.  These include the documentary series Sex in Space in collaboration with the  Advanced SpaceLife Research Institute (ASRI), SpaceBorn United, Drs. Alexander Layendecker, Egbert Edelbroek, Shawna Pandya, and Simon Dube, as well as IVF: From Earth to Space—a groundbreaking exploration of the past, present, and future of human reproduction on Earth and beyond (currently in production). 

Her commercial and branded content work includes campaigns for CeraVe, HSBC, Citizens Bank, Jameson Whiskey, William Hill Wines, Modelo Chelada, Frank’s RedHot, SmartWater, Saratoga, Origins, Poland Spring, BlueTriton, and more.

Stavroula serves on the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Film Society USA and is the New York Events Director for Film Fatales.  She has also mentored underserved youth through Reel Works and volunteered with children with special needs at the St. Demetrios Institution in Thessaloniki.

(dis)Claimer:  Stavroula still loves wearing yellow, big hats, and enjoys smoking a cigarette (or a cigar) every now and then.