Kalyan Sura is a writer, director, and VFX Supervisor who excels at blending emotional depth with elevated genre storytelling. His work spans live action and animation and centers around underrepresented communities. Kalyan’s directing credits include award-winning films backed by GUNPOWDER&SKY and NETFLIX, while his VFX portfolio covers both independent features and multi-million-dollar blockbusters.

​

Kalyan began his career in animation as a Technical Director at DreamWorks Animation, working on major studio films including How to Train Your Dragon 2. After more than a decade shaping story through previs, postvis, and visual effects on Studio and Independent projects, he transitioned to writing and directing character-driven films that balance intimacy with scale.

​

Kalyan’s award-winning short film Dos Bros Force, backed by Netflix and the Tasveer Film Fund, screened at over 50 international festivals, won 14 awards, and was acquired by Alaska Airlines for in-flight distribution, with an upcoming premiere on Omeleto. His sci-fi short The Lie Game became the first film with an all–South Asian cast distributed by Gunpowder & Sky’s DUST, and his feature screenplay Memory Lanes was recognized as a top 0.1% finalist in the Netflix x Impact Female Thriller Contest.

​

Beyond his own work, Kalyan is committed to building pathways for underrepresented storytellers. He is a member of Rideback Rise and leads a short film incubator for South Asian filmmakers. With degrees in Computer Science and film production (USC), Kalyan brings a hybrid sensibility to his storytelling, merging technical craft with lived experience to expand who gets to be seen, heard, and represented on screen.