Kristina Budelis is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and product strategist working at the intersection of media and technology.
She co-founded KitSplit, a venture-backed startup dubbed “the Airbnb of cameras” by Forbes and Fast Company; helped build the now Oscar-winning video department at The New Yorker; and led product for a new app within the New Ventures team at The New York Times.
Her films have premiered at Tribeca and other Oscar-qualifying festivals, been viewed millions of times, and published by outlets including The New Yorker, NBC, Vogue, and PBS. Named a Forbes “30 Under 30” in Media, Budelis has been interviewed on NPR’s Marketplace and in Forbes about emerging trends in storytelling. She has taught at Rutgers University (AI & Film) and given talks and workshops at Columbia, NYU Tisch, and NAB.
Currently, she is consulting with startups and media companies and developing new documentary films. She (very) occasionally writes about AI and film at FilmRobots.com. She lives in LA with her partner, their dog-like cat, and two cat-like children. In her free time, she enjoys paddleboarding, gardening, and speaking in the first person.
Honors & Recognition
Sora Artist, OpenAI; Leonardo Arist
Forbes “30 Under 30” in Media
Films selected by Tribeca, AFI, DOC NYC, and multiple Oscar-qualifying festivals
Webby Award & 3x nominee; POYi Multimedia Award
ONA/Poynter Digital Women Leadership Academy Fellow
Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Slate, GQ, New York Magazine, and on NPR’s Marketplace
In elementary school, I won a competition at my local library for reading the most books in a year. The prize was two tickets to a football game — I was devastated.
