21st HollyShorts Film Festival, 2025

Elder 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 also a former quarterfinalist for the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.

Having pursued a career in fine arts, advertising and graphic design, Elder turned toward writing and filmmaking. He's received a number of grants, recognitions and awards for his writing. His short films have screened at many festivals including LA Shorts International Film Festival, Hill Country Film Festival, the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and the HollyShorts Film Festival. His latest vampire horror short film, Woke, is presently screening at festivals and he recently completed an AI themed play set during the 2025 LA Fires titled Play with Fire.

@xian_elder