Yani Gellman was born in Miami and moved frequently as a child, living in Australia, Spain, Texas, and Canada before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film.

 

Yani broke into cinema as an actor - starring in the Lizzie McGuire Movie and 47 Metres Down, and in television shows Pretty Little Liars and Bosch.

​

He is now increasingly focused on creating his own stories, exploring the intersection between childhood trauma, cultural alienation, and mental illness -  through a whimsical, genre bending and irreverent  approach.

​

Greetings, from the Planet Krog! is his directorial debut and is the winner of the 2020 Spirit of Slamdance FIlm Festival Award.