BIO

Kelsey Egan grew up in Wisconsin, where she learned to ride horses and value good weather. She is grateful to Robert Heinlein, Jack London, Marguerite Henry and many others for seeing her through the long Midwestern winters.

Kelsey graduated from Vassar College in 2005 with General Honours and BA degrees in Neuroscience & Behaviour and Drama. Her directing thesis received the Molly Thacher Kazan Memorial Prize for distinction in the theatre arts. She subsequently tumbled onto various short film and features sets in New York City, which led to setting up a feature in Beijing.

In May 2007, Kelsey moved to South Africa. After four years in Johannesburg, she set up her production company, Crave Pictures, in Cape Town. In addition to writing and directing, Kelsey has worked professionally as a stunt performer, AD, producer, VFX producer and actress. Her credits include Warrior, Raised by Wolves, Bloodshot, Maze Runner: The Death CureThe Dark Tower, The CrownEye in the SkyThe Giver, ZuluMad Max: Fury RoadStrike Back and District 9. Kelsey’s experience across multiple departments broadens her scope as a filmmaker.

Kelsey’s directorial debut – Gargoyle – was nominated for a 2010 South African Film & Television Award for Best Short. After screening at sixteen international film festivals, including the Rhode Island International Film Festival and Palm Springs International ShortFest, Gargoyle received worldwide distribution from Shorts International and IndieFlix.

Kelsey’s first feature, Glasshouse, premiered at the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival in 2021, with a U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest. This dystopian fairytale received four stars in the Guardian and a mention in the New York Times as one of Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now. Awarded the Prix du Public (Audience Award) from the Festival International de Films de Femmes and Best Film from Sognielettrici ElectricDreams International Film Festival in 2022, Glasshouse was acquired by Signature Entertainment and SNR.  The film is part of a grounded sci-fi slate commissioned by Showmax with Kelsey co-writing and directing. 

Kelsey recently completed her second feature, The Fix, an action / sci-fi set in Cape Town with large scale stunts and over 600 VFX shots. The Fix has been acquired by The Exchange for worldwide sales, excluding Africa, for release in 2024.

Kelsey has written on various South African TV series for both local and international broadcasters and one of her feature screenplays was awarded ‘Best Spec Script’ at the 2013 Muse Awards. TV screenwriting credits include Gold Diggers (eTV), Exposure (Sunrise) and the 6-part TV adaptation of Deon Meyer’s bestselling thriller, Trackers, commissioned by Africa’s Multichoice, German pubcaster ZDF and picked up by HBO’s Cinemax.

Kelsey is a member of the Writer’s Guild of South Africa and founded the Cape Town Chapter of Film Fatales. She is represented by CAA and Circle of Confusion.

FILMOGRAPHY

GLASSHOUSE<br>Writer / Director

GLASSHOUSE
Writer / Director

Feature Film
2021

TRACKERS<br>Writer

TRACKERS
Writer

Drama Series
2018

MELODY<br>Writer

MELODY
Writer

Drama Series
2018

THE BULL<br>Writer / Director / Producer

THE BULL
Writer / Director / Producer

Narrative Short
2018

EXPOSURE<br>Head Writer

EXPOSURE
Head Writer

Drama Series
In Development

TROY: FALL OF A CITY<br>Amazonian Warrior

TROY: FALL OF A CITY
Amazonian Warrior

TV Series
2017

MAZE RUNNER:<br>THE DEATH CURE<br>Utility Stunts

MAZE RUNNER:
THE DEATH CURE
Utility Stunts

Feature Film
2017

SEARCHERS<br>Asst. to Jason Rothenberg

SEARCHERS
Asst. to Jason Rothenberg

Series Pilot
2017

GOLD DIGGERS<br>Writer

GOLD DIGGERS
Writer

TV Series
2016-2017

MUNKI & TRUNK<br>Writer

MUNKI & TRUNK
Writer

Animated Series
2016

DEADMAN’S HAND<br>Writer / Director

DEADMAN’S HAND
Writer / Director

Narrative Short
2016

RUBY ROSE<br>“PIZZA TATTOO” SKIT<br>Director

RUBY ROSE
“PIZZA TATTOO” SKIT
Director

MTV VT
European Music Video Awards
2015

THE DARK TOWER<br>Asst. to Erica Huggins

THE DARK TOWER
Asst. to Erica Huggins

Feature Film
2016

DESTINATION<br>Lead Actress

DESTINATION
Lead Actress

Narrative Short
2015

OF KINGS AND PROPHETS<br>Asst. to Jeffrey Nachmanoff

OF KINGS AND PROPHETS
Asst. to Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Series Pilot
2015

THE CROWN<br>Queen Elizabeth<br>Riding Double

THE CROWN
Queen Elizabeth
Riding Double

TV Series
2015

CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR<br>Young Ayla Double

CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR
Young Ayla Double

Series Pilot
2015

VIR ALTYD<br>“Cat”

VIR ALTYD
“Cat”

Feature Film
2015

RED HERRING<br>Writer / Director

RED HERRING
Writer / Director

Narrative Short
2014

BANG! BANG! BANG!<br>The British Association of Anger Management<br>Writer / Director

BANG! BANG! BANG!
The British Association of Anger Management
Writer / Director

PSA
2014

EYE IN THE SKY<br>Assistant to Lead Cast

EYE IN THE SKY
Assistant to Lead Cast

Feature Film
2014

SHARK OF DARKNESS: WRATH OF SUBMARINE<br>“Lindsay”

SHARK OF DARKNESS: WRATH OF SUBMARINE
“Lindsay”

TV Feature
2014

THE GIVER<br>VFX Producer

THE GIVER
VFX Producer

Feature Film
2014

CUP-A-SOUP<br>“Wife”

CUP-A-SOUP
“Wife”

TV Commercial
2013

ZULU<br>“Nicole Weiss”

ZULU
“Nicole Weiss”

Feature Film
2012

POWER TO THE CHILDREN<br>Tommy Stunt Double

POWER TO THE CHILDREN
Tommy Stunt Double

Feature Film
2012

‘Rum Trifle’<br>Artist: JAKKALS<br>Writer / Director

‘Rum Trifle’
Artist: JAKKALS
Writer / Director

Music Video
2012

FURY ROAD<br>Stunts Utility

FURY ROAD
Stunts Utility

Feature Film
2012

LABYRINTH<br>Stunt Performer

LABYRINTH
Stunt Performer

TV Mini-Series
2011

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED<br>Writer / Director / Producer

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Writer / Director / Producer

Feiyue Ad Spec
2011

‘Gunuza’<br>Artist: BONGEZIWE MADBANDLA<br>Director / Producer

‘Gunuza’
Artist: BONGEZIWE MADBANDLA
Director / Producer

Music Video
2011

‘Lucy’ (Acoustic)<br>Artist: SHADOWCLUB<br>Director

‘Lucy’ (Acoustic)
Artist: SHADOWCLUB
Director

Promo
2011

SYNERGY MUSIC FESTIVAL<br>Director / Editor

SYNERGY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Director / Editor

Promo
2011

DEATH RACE 3: INFERNO<br>Stunts Utility

DEATH RACE 3: INFERNO
Stunts Utility

Feature Film
2011

STRIKE BACK:<br>PROJECT DAWN<br>Asst. Production Coordinator

STRIKE BACK:
PROJECT DAWN
Asst. Production Coordinator

March 11, 2018

‘Khuthala Bo!’<br>Artist: THE CRUTCH MULLETS<br>Director / Producer

‘Khuthala Bo!’
Artist: THE CRUTCH MULLETS
Director / Producer

Music Video
2010

‘My Baby Don’t Love Me No More’<br>Artist: THE DEATH VALLEY BLUES BAND<br>Director / Producer

‘My Baby Don’t Love Me No More’
Artist: THE DEATH VALLEY BLUES BAND
Director / Producer

Music Video
2010

SCHUKS TSHABALALA’S<br>SURVIVAL GUIDE TO<br>SOUTH AFRICA

SCHUKS TSHABALALA’S
SURVIVAL GUIDE TO
SOUTH AFRICA

Feature

21TH STREET<br>Writer / Director / Producer

21TH STREET
Writer / Director / Producer

Narrative Short
2010

YOU WOULDN’T POLLUTE YOUR OWN HOME<br>AfriOceans Conservation Alliance<br>Writer / Director / Producer

YOU WOULDN’T POLLUTE YOUR OWN HOME
AfriOceans Conservation Alliance
Writer / Director / Producer

PSA
2010

GARGOYLE<br>Writer / Director / Producer

GARGOYLE
Writer / Director / Producer

Narrative Short
2009

DISTRICT 9<br>Assistant Script Supervisor

DISTRICT 9
Assistant Script Supervisor

Feature Film
2008

MR BONES II<br>Production & Transport Coordinator

MR BONES II
Production & Transport Coordinator

Feature Film
2008

UGUGU NO ANDILE<br>Production Coordinator

UGUGU NO ANDILE
Production Coordinator

TV Series
2007

COURTING JUSTICE<br>Production Manager

COURTING JUSTICE
Production Manager

Feature Documentary
2007

WAITING IN BEIJING<br>Assistant to the Producer

WAITING IN BEIJING
Assistant to the Producer

Feature Film
2007

TRUMBO<br>Production Assistant

TRUMBO
Production Assistant

Feature Documentary
2007

FLAT LOVE<br>First Assistant Director

FLAT LOVE
First Assistant Director

Narrative Short
2006

HOLY SAPIEN<br>First Assistant Director

HOLY SAPIEN
First Assistant Director

Narrative Short
2006

DECEPTION<br>Set PA

DECEPTION
Set PA

Feature Film
2006

I AM LEGEND<br>Set PA

I AM LEGEND
Set PA

Feature Film
2006

STOP-LOSS<br>Set PA

STOP-LOSS
Set PA

Feature Film
2006