Still from Scammers

Creative Portfolio

Carl Kelsch

With experience leading projects at brands like Harper’s Bazaar, Oprah Daily and Marie Claire, Carl Kelsch draws on a wealth of experience to make room for magic on every project, including filmmaking, video content and entertainment writing.

Scammers

Written, directed and edited by Carl Kelsch, narrative short film Scammers (pictured above) premiered at Santa Fe International Film Festival in 2023, making stops at seven other fests like Annapolis Film Festival in 2024 as well as Queens World Film Festival where it was nominated for “Best Director, Narrative Short.” The full film is now online here.

Synopsis: Single dad Nick trolls the parking lots of New Jersey, searching for the next victim of his dent repair scam. But with his teenage daughter in tow, his day quickly goes off the rails. Runtime: 17 minutes. Starring Daniel Stewart Sherman (AMC’s Lodge 49) and Nico Schumacher.


Scammers, in terms of direction, is a masterclass in simplicity”
Score: 9/10

Film Threat

Find Carl Kelsch on the Internet Movie Database

Carl Kelsch in Annapolis with his Pekingese Dexter, featured in his short film Scammers

Roller Derby Short Doc

A spec pilot for a docu-series, filmed in NYC circa 2006. Runtime: 11 minutes

Watch on Vimeo

Horror Short

For My Facebook, a no-budget short. Just three minutes long

“This little nightmare packs a punch.” —Horror Society

Baby Drag Queen

Archival super-8 footage starring Carl. Representation matters!

My First Movie

The Black Ooze, directed by a 9-year-old budding filmmaker

The Pod

Written by Carl Kelsch, directed by Jeremiah Kipp years before he chilled Shudder audiences with his feature Slapface, this 19-minute short also features legendary NYC horror director/producer Larry Fessenden in a featured role.

More on Vimeo

Vimeo collage

Find more videos on my Vimeo page, including two of the three Nintendo Nightmares episodes made with friends on a VHS camcorder in the circa 1989.
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