We recently had the chance to connect with Kelly Sarri and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Would I hire me? Absolutely! I know how to charm a room with my native energy, so I’ll make sure the work shines, and most importantly, everyone will feel cared for during the process. But honestly, who wouldn’t want a collaborator who works like a cosmic alignment in human form?!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Kelly Sarri, a filmmaker and educator based in Los Angeles by way of Greece. I make films that blend humor, heart, and climate awareness, because if we can laugh and panic about the planet at the same time, we might actually change something. My work lives at the intersection of storytelling and social impact, and I like to think of it as entertaining with a side of existential crisis. Right now, my short film Heat Me (a climate fiction comedy that just picked up an award at the Galway Film Fleadh) while also producing a new short called Grocery Grab—a love letter to female friendship. Beyond filmmaking, I create educational resources and content for directors, because I believe stories get better when more diverse voices are behind the camera. Basically, I’m here to tell stories that shake things up and, hopefully, make people feel a little less alone in the chaos.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The me who directed with an audience of judges in mind, the one who was always calculating if something would be considered ‘good enough’ or award-worthy. She had her place, but she also stole some joy out of creating. I’m releasing her so I can get back to directing for the kid inside me who just loved stories for the sake of stories, the kid who would gather friends, make up worlds out of nothing, and not care if anyone clapped at the end. That’s the energy I want to return to: making films because they’re will give me joy.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are adorable and lovely, exactly as you are. You don’t need to perform, or prove, or carry anything right now. Just go play, laugh until your stomach hurts, take long naps, and make up silly stories that only you understand. You’re safe. The world will still be there when you’re ready, but for now, your only job is to be a kid and enjoy the magic of being one.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
1000% I can’t do surface-level connections. I treat my closest friends like siblings. Their voices carry real weight in my life, because those relationships are built on loyalty, honesty, and love. If they tell me something, I take it to heart.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace on a tree, climbing up, sitting in its branches, just being held by something so alive and steady. There’s something about looking at the sky, hearing the leaves move, feeling the air shift around you. It reminds me that I don’t have to rush, that nature has its own rhythm, and I can rest inside it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kellysarri.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysarri/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellysarri/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellysarri
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysarri
Image Credits
Photographers: Amalia Kovaiou, Greg Payton, Lorenzo Martin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
