Photograph by Ian Datz

Xian is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer, recognized with the de Groot Foundation’s Writer of Note Award for his bold and thought-provoking play #NWORD. He is the son of Oscar and Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Lonne Elder III (Sounder, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men). Xian is also the director, co-writer, and producer of the acclaimed short film The Big Meet, which has been featured at several prestigious film festivals, including LA Shorts Fest International, Hill Country Film Festival, and the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival. A quarterfinalist for the Nicholl Fellowships, Xian’s second short film, Polyvore, a romantic comedy exploring modern relationships, is currently showcased on Omeleto, "the home of the world’s best short films." Xian has recently completed production on his latest horror short film, Woke.