Kirk Palayan

Kirk Palayan has written and produced several dramatic films. He wrote and produced a short film, LABYRINTH (2000), which was lauded for being "a powerful parable on drug abuse" at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. He also helped to write BARSTOW (2003) which was chosen to play at the Toronto International Teen Movie Festival. The "Best Thriller" and "Most Promising Director" awards were given to his short film DISSOCIATIVE (2008) which he wrote and produced. His first feature film, which he also helped to produce, BHOPALI (2011), was recognized by the Slamdance Film Festival as the Best Overall Documentary and Audience Favorite Documentary. In 2015, he went on to produce PIÑATA MAN, and in 2021 he produced, SKID ROW, LOS ANGELES, which was recognized by Dances with Films 2021 as the Audience Favorite Documentary Short . He was the Unit Production Manager for the short, SLAYED BY DIVYA, and was the UPM and Executive Producer of his first Feature Film, PRINCESS OF THE ROW. Currently, he is developing a Reality TV Show and is completing his first horror feature script.

As the instructor for the Digital Imaging, 3D Animation classes for the Gifted Technology Arts Magnet Program at King Middle School in the LAUSD , he has won numerous awards for his animation curriculum and his students have been recognized for their 3D Animation work for over 10 years by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He also established the Animation & Film Festival, which is now in its 19th year and highlights some of the best work from student filmmakers and animators in the Los Angeles Unified School District.