Beyond advertising, he has directed two features and multiple short films. 'ASAD' (2013), cited by Archbishop Desmond Tutu for helping combat xenophobia in South Africa, and 'SARIA' (2019) were both nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the Academy Awards—marking the first time in over 30 years that a director returned to the category within the same decade. His debut feature, 'The Bronze' (2015), opened the Sundance Film Festival; 'The Pirates of Somalia' (2017) premiered at Tribeca.

In 1997, Buckley co-founded Hungry Man with Hank Perlman. The company became a major force in advertising, earning every top industry honor, including the 2024 Emmy for Best Commercial for Apple.

Extending his storytelling into activism, Buckley partnered with Change the Ref on 'The Lost Class', a staged protest addressing gun violence in the United States that won four Grand CLIOs, two D&AD Black Pencils, Best of Show at The One Show, and a Titanium Lion at Cannes Lions. Most recently, he presented 'The ResistDance' in Washington, D.C., a contemporary dance memorial honoring Renée Good and Alex Pretti.

Named Adweek’s Commercial Director of the Decade in 2010, Buckley also won Best Director at the CLIOs, D&AD, and The One Show in 2022, and earned a 2023 Sports Emmy for his NFL Super Bowl spot 'Run With It'.