Kico Velarde
Producer, Director, and Editor in Los Angeles, California
Kico Velarde
Producer, Director, and Editor in Los Angeles, California
Kico Velarde is a five-time Primetime Emmy-nominated producer, director, and post-production strategist with a career spanning feature films, television, branded content, and digital media. Known for crafting visually compelling, emotionally engaging narratives, he has produced and directed award-winning content for global networks, studios, and brands.
His career began in international feature filmmaking, producing the acclaimed PVC-1(2007), which premiered at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, and Meteora(2012), a Berlin International Film Festival competitor. He later directed The Shooting Star Salesman, an award-winning short blending magical realism with poignant storytelling.
His expertise in high-stakes human stories continued as Executive Producer of a soon-to-be-released docu-series filmed across Europe. The series follows a female racecar driver breaking barriers in the McLaren Trophy GT racing series, blending high-speed action with an intimate look at perseverance.
As Supervising Producerof Jay Leno’s Garage, Velarde helped transform the Emmy-nominated digital series into a five-season Primetime CNBC show. His ability to merge broadcast and digital-first content has positioned him as a leader in unscripted storytelling and automotive entertainment.
Beyond traditional media, Apple recruited Velarde for its elite Pro Workflow Team, recognizing his expertise in production, post workflows, and digital content strategy. There, he helped develop cutting-edge tools redefining content creation worldwide.
As Chief Creative Officer & Executive Producer of Escape Plan, the production company he co-founded, Velarde has led high-profile branded content for MotorTrend, Apple, Hasbro, ATOMOS, and the George W. Bush Presidential Center. His work on Lowrider Roll Models redefined automotive storytelling, generating 83+ million impressions, reaching 53 million viewers, and securing distribution on Max (HBO).
With expertise in production, post, and scalable content, Velarde helps studios, brands, and production companies streamline workflows, optimize operations, and elevate storytelling across film, TV, and emerging media.