Biography
Richard Zelniker is an award-winning writer and director with experience in the US and Canada, working on genre films, long-form, and short-form projects. He is recognized for collaborating with many emerging actors who have since become bankable stars. His film, The Vortex, features Billy Gardell, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jamie McShane, Azita Ghanizada, Christopher Titus, Nick Gomez, Jeremy Luke, and Emily Alabi, and is distributed by Synkronized Films. The Vortex recently had a successful limited theatrical release across the US and is now available digitally, including on Amazon Prime Video. A television adaptation of the film is currently in development. Richard co-writes with his wife and writing partner, Callie Nguyen Zelniker, and their upcoming projects span multiple genres, including thrillers, horror, and comedy. He is also developing material with a team of screenwriters who have brought him on as director and producer. Zelniker’s accolades include awards from the Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto Film Channel, and Venice Short Film Festival, among others. His directorial work has been praised for its subtlety and impact, exemplified by As Night Comes: "There's also a beautiful quietness to the film that is so rare these days — a quietness only a confident, sure-handed director can achieve. When noise does appear — violence, chaos, or a song from the striking soundtrack — it bursts forth with undeniable power." He has produced projects through his company, Lucid Pictures, as well as on assignment. Richard Zelniker is represented by Sovereign Talent Group. For more information, visit Lucid Pictures.
