• Emmy Awards 2022 – Outstanding Social Issue Documentary Nominee

    2020 Communication Arts Award

    86th National Headliner Awards – 3rd Place

    2018 Tribeca X Awards – Finalist

    2018 Webby Awards: Animation – Finalist

    New York International Children’s Film Festival 2018 – Jury Awards Finalist

    Great Big Bear Award | Great Big Story – Best Artist Collaboration 2018

    Baltimore ADDY Award 2018

    2017 West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival – 2nd Place

    2012 Virginia Film Festival – Programmer’s Choice Award for the Narrative Short

  • Sundance Film Festival

    Annecy International Animation Film Festival

    Ottawa International Animation Festival

    Animafest Zagreb

    New York International Children’s Film Festival

    Chicago International Children’s Festival

  • Northwest Film Center (2021)

    Cartoonbrew (2020)

    Variety (1) (2) (2018)

    Tribeca X Awards Finalist (2018)

    Stash Media (2018)

    IndieWire (2018)

    The Atlantic’s Editor Picks (2017)

    Huffington Post (2017)

  • University of Illinois, Springfield – Entrepreneurship in the Arts (2021)

    DePaul University – Producing and Directing Animated Shorts (2020)

    DCIFF – Changing the Look of Reality (2019)

    NYICFF – Animators All Around (2018)

    Animator’s Roundtable DC (2018)

    Calarts Nonfiction Lab (2018)

    Towson University (2016)

Hello.

I’m an award-winning director and producer with a passion for human-centered stories. With a background in both animation and traditional documentary filmmaking, I approach my work through a unique lens combining bold, unapologetic animated visuals with mindful nonfiction storytelling.

My work has won awards and been exhibited in festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Tribeca, Annecy, Zagreb, and OIAF. I have directed award-winning campaigns and content for clients such as Netflix, the ACLU, The Atlantic, Sesame Workshop, Sony Music, the United Nations Foundation, and Meow Wolf.

My passion lies in giving a platform and voice to the untold, unexpected, and sometimes taboo stories. In 2022, I founded Neon Zoo with the goal of continuing this work, but on a broader scale that transcends my abilities as an individual. There are more stories to tell, and countless ways to tell them.

I am currently Adjunct Faculty in the Art & Art History Department at Georgetown University. I received my MFA in Animation & Digital Arts from the University of Southern California.

For all commissions and inquiries, including documentary, please email hello(at)elysekelly(dot)com.