We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jackson Kibby. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jackson, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
Once i wake up, i head straight to the office to begin work on edits, and polishing my feature film
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Jackson Kibby is a 22-year-old filmmaker from San Antonio, Texas, whose roots in stage acting gave him a rare sensitivity to character and emotion—tools he now wields behind the camera. In 2020, he shifted fully into filmmaking, where his eye for performance merged with a visual language that captures both the quietest nuances and the loudest transformations of human life.
Since then, Jackson has written and directed five original short films, shot dozens of projects across genres, and earned multiple filmmaking awards at festivals around the country. His work reflects a relentless pursuit of authenticity, often pushing his characters into spaces where vulnerability and truth collide.
Now, he’s bringing that vision to the feature stage. Inertia—his debut feature film—has been in development since he was 18, a project that distills years of storytelling ambition into one bold cinematic statement.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
When I stepped away from the stage and into film, I didn’t do it alone. I had people who believed in me, challenged me, and showed me what it really means to be a filmmaker. Trevor Najera gave me the first push into seeing stories through a cinematic lens. Drae Stockton pushed me to keep my work grounded and real, no matter how ambitious the vision got. And Christian Stryder didn’t just mentor me—he showed me how to think like a director, a leader, and a creator building something bigger than myself. Those lessons shaped not just my craft, but the way I carry myself in this industry.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I went through a lot in my early years and struggled heavily with my mental health. Filmmaking became more than just an art form for me — it became a form of therapy. Every story I created was a way to process what I was going through, and over time, those same stories began reaching other people, too. My goal has always been to make films that not only keep me grounded but also resonate with others, reminding them they’re not alone in their struggles
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think in this industry, nobody is going to make it happen but YOU. Don’t be afraid to make a movie, start small, work with people you trust, and grow from there.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I feel like I have a gift for reading the layers of human emotion — not just what people show on the surface, but the contradictions, the quiet struggles, and the complexity underneath. Where most see a single expression, I see the story behind it.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkibbyfilm/
- Other: here is the link to my feature films instagram
https://www.instagram.com/inertia_the_film/?hl=en
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
