Who is Eli Kibrick?

Eli Kibrick is a film and television director, writer, and producer. For four years, he directed, edited, and co-produced the three-time Emmy Award–winning series Between the Lines on PBS.

His debut feature documentary, Pretend, explores the transformative power of Live Action Role Playing (LARP) games and how they helped socially awkward students build confidence and community. The film was selected for the Temecula Valley Film Festival, where it was named runner-up for Best Documentary.

Eli’s narrative short Do We Part screened at the Austin Revolution Film Festival, earning three nominations and winning Best Drama (Short). He also adapted the New York Times bestselling memoir Manic by Terri Cheney, about Cheney’s life as a high-powered attorney secretly battling bipolar disorder. Eli personally pitched his vision to Terri and secured the adaptation rights from HBO. Although the project ultimately went unproduced, it opened doors and deepened his experience navigating the world of feature development.

In addition to his film work, Eli has collaborated with early YouTube creators and directed numerous short-form projects. His upcoming film, To Continue Press Start, is currently in pre-production as he assembles the team and financing. He is also developing a horror feature film centered around Jewish Exorcisms and a Tragic Adult Fairytale in the vein of Pan’s Labyrinth.

A lifelong student of cinema, Eli’s work often explores the intersection of memory, identity, and human connection, using genre storytelling as a lens for emotional truth. He has written and spoken extensively about film and co-hosts the podcast 18 Movies, which offers deep dives into essential films that have shaped world cinema. The show’s second season is coming soon.