Having built her career working on both sides of the camera, including eight years as a stunt performer, four years as a VFX producer and significant credits as a writer and actress, Kelsey is a versatile director who is as comfortable on an indie set as she is on a large-scale studio production. Her work has been described as “sensual and savage”, “gorgeously imagined”, “intensely thrilling”, “tightly plotted”, “sharply observed”, “intriguing and visceral”.
Kelsey’s award-winning first feature - the dystopian fairytale "Glasshouse", premiered at the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest in 2021. With a four star review in the Guardian and a special mention in the New York Times, the film was acquired by Signature Entertainment (UK/IE/AU/NZ), SNR (North America) and Screenbound (ROW),
She recently completed her sophomore feature, "The Fix", a sci-fi thriller set in Cape Town with large scale stunts and over 600 VFX shots. Starring Grace van Dien (Stranger Things), Daniel Sharman (Fear the Walking Dead), Keenan Arrison (Umbrella Men) and Clancy Brown (John Wick, The Penguin) and acquired by The Exchange, “The Fix” premiered as the closing night selection at Chattanooga Film Festival and opened MIP Africa. Winner of Chattanooga's Dangerous Visions Award and a Jabberwock Award for Best VFX at Sognielettrici Festival, "The Fix" released in North America in November 2024 and will be coming to the UK in 2025.
In addition to directing, Kelsey has written on numerous TV series, including 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 Cinemax.
Kelsey worked her way up in the industry as a stunt performer, VFX producer, AD, producer, actress and assistant to various established execs and showrunners. Her credits include Warrior, Raised by Wolves, Bloodshot, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, The Dark Tower, Eye in the Sky, The Giver, Zulu, Mad Max: Fury Road, and District 9.
Kelsey Egan graduated from Vassar College in 2005 with General Honours and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Neuroscience & Behaviour and Drama. Her directing thesis received the Molly Thacher Kazan Memorial Prize for distinction in the theatre arts. She subsequently gained experience on various studio and indie features in New York City and Beijing. In May 2007, Kelsey moved to South Africa. After four years working on sets in Johannesburg, she set up her production company, Crave Pictures, in Cape Town. Kelsey is a dual citizen of the United States and South Africa. In 2024, she was endorsed by PACT and obtained her Exceptional Talent visa to work in the United Kingdom.
When not on set, Kelsey is focused on development and writing for TV and film. She's represented by 42, CAA, Torchwood Lit and Circle of Confusion.
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