ABOUT

XIAN ELDER [pronounced Christian Elder] is an acclaimed Los Angeles-based writer, director, producer, and artist, recognized with the de Groot Foundation’s Writer of Note Award for his thought-provoking play #NWORD.

He is a recommended writer on The Black List with five of his scripts holding 8/10 scores. In addition, he’s been honored as a semifinalist in the ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship, a finalist in NEC Inc. Cutting Edge Playhouse Emerging Playwrights, a finalist in Tribeca All Access Connects, a shortlisted nominee in Roland Joffe’s Med Screen Arts Screenwriting Competition, and a quarterfinalist in the Oscars’ Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting for co-writing the thriller THE PRIEST & THE MERCENARY.

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 plays have enjoyed staged readings in Los Angeles, New York, and in North Carolina at the request of The International Black Theatre Festival. 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.

He recently completed a comedic play set during the 2025 LA wildfires titled PLAY WITH FIRE and is developing WOKE, his addiction themed vampire horror short into a feature film.

@xian_elder