Kristen Laffey (she/they) is a Los Angeles-based director, producer, 1st AD, and actor committed to platforming bold, queer voices. An NYU Tisch graduate, Kristen has spent over a decade championing independent work between New York and LA.
Their career has spanned nearly every role in production—starting as an actor before evolving into producing, casting, line producing, writing, and beyond. They are a true “swiss army knife” who brings projects all the way through from concept to the final cut, infusing every step with moxy, whimsy, and a tomboy spirit.
Kristen is known for producing auteur-driven “calling card” projects that help filmmakers establish their voice in the industry. The most notable example is Ponyboi, which they produced as a short in 2019 before co-producing the feature. The film premiered in dramatic competition at Sundance in 2024, won the Grand Jury Prize at NewFest, and will see a theatrical release in 2025. They’ve brought that same horsepower to short films like Geranium (2021), Gianna (2022) Demonboy (2024) and AYFKM (2024) all queer filmmakers "calling cards."
Film Festivals Include: Tribeca, Outfest, Frameline, Newfest, Inside Out, BFI, Palm Springs Shorts Fest, SXSW.
Above the line, Kristen has served as COO for Gaptoof Entertainment, Out Of Many Media, and Angel Number Films, producing music videos, short films, and branded content. They spearheaded the video and live events team as Executive Producer at serif.space, a queer members club and digital platform. There, she produced and directed interview-style and docu-series content, platforming queer industry leaders and emerging queer creatives while curating live events in NY and LA for Serif members
Beyond film, Kristen produces and hosts HOWL, a queer full moon party in LA (@howl.party.la), fostering community through ritual, music, and moonlight. She is genuinely passionate about creating spaces—both on screen and in real life—where queer stories can thrive and be heard.
If that sounds up your alley, let’s work together!
-kris
:)