Kico Velarde
- Producer
- Director
- Editor
Kico Velarde is a five-time Primetime Emmy-nominated producer, director, and editor whose career spans feature films, television, and branded storytelling. Known for his ability to craft visually immersive and emotionally compelling narratives, Velarde has earned recognition on the global stage, with projects premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and other major industry showcases worldwide.
Velarde's work in feature films includes producing PVC-1 (2007), a single-take thriller that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight, where it won the Award of the City of Rome and received critical acclaim at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. His second feature, Meteora (2012), an experimental and visually striking drama, competed for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, further establishing his reputation for producing bold, thought-provoking cinema.
In television, Velarde served as the five-time Primetime Emmy-nominated Supervising Producer for Jay Leno's Garage, where his leadership played a key role in elevating the YouTube digital series into a full-fledged television show that ran for five seasons on CNBC. Under his creative direction, the show successfully bridged the gap between digital-first content and traditional broadcast, demonstrating an innovative approach to automotive, tech, and lifestyle entertainment.
As the Chief Creative Officer & Executive Producer of Escape Plan, the production company he co-founded, Velarde has led award-winning branded content initiatives. He was instrumental in developing Lowrider Roll Models, a pioneering series that reshaped perceptions of the Lowrider automotive culture, identity, and heritage. The series amassed over 83 million total impressions, reached 53 million viewers worldwide, and is now streaming on Max, demonstrating the enduring power of culturally-driven storytelling.
Beyond production, Velarde was recruited by Apple's elite Pro Workflow Team, where he played a key role in developing advanced post-production workflows from his experience in the entertainment industry, bridging the gap between creativity and technology. His expertise in production, post-production, virtual production, workflows, and digital content strategy has made him a trusted industry consultant for studios, brands, and production companies seeking to optimize their creative workflows.
Driven by a passion for transformative storytelling, Velarde continues to develop new projects across film, television, and emerging digital platforms, pushing the boundaries of immersive and cinematic storytelling. With a career that blends technical innovation with artistic excellence, he remains a visionary force in entertainment.
Velarde's work in feature films includes producing PVC-1 (2007), a single-take thriller that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight, where it won the Award of the City of Rome and received critical acclaim at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. His second feature, Meteora (2012), an experimental and visually striking drama, competed for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, further establishing his reputation for producing bold, thought-provoking cinema.
In television, Velarde served as the five-time Primetime Emmy-nominated Supervising Producer for Jay Leno's Garage, where his leadership played a key role in elevating the YouTube digital series into a full-fledged television show that ran for five seasons on CNBC. Under his creative direction, the show successfully bridged the gap between digital-first content and traditional broadcast, demonstrating an innovative approach to automotive, tech, and lifestyle entertainment.
As the Chief Creative Officer & Executive Producer of Escape Plan, the production company he co-founded, Velarde has led award-winning branded content initiatives. He was instrumental in developing Lowrider Roll Models, a pioneering series that reshaped perceptions of the Lowrider automotive culture, identity, and heritage. The series amassed over 83 million total impressions, reached 53 million viewers worldwide, and is now streaming on Max, demonstrating the enduring power of culturally-driven storytelling.
Beyond production, Velarde was recruited by Apple's elite Pro Workflow Team, where he played a key role in developing advanced post-production workflows from his experience in the entertainment industry, bridging the gap between creativity and technology. His expertise in production, post-production, virtual production, workflows, and digital content strategy has made him a trusted industry consultant for studios, brands, and production companies seeking to optimize their creative workflows.
Driven by a passion for transformative storytelling, Velarde continues to develop new projects across film, television, and emerging digital platforms, pushing the boundaries of immersive and cinematic storytelling. With a career that blends technical innovation with artistic excellence, he remains a visionary force in entertainment.
