Gretchen Olivero

Gretchen Olivero is an award-winning writer, director, and actor whose work spans short films, a feature film script, and a limited series pilot, blending visual artistry with character-driven narratives. Her shorts have screened at national and international festivals, including Napa Valley (selected by Dave Grohl and Rose McGowan), Washington DC Independent, DC Shorts, California Independent, Berkeley, Williamsburg, San Francisco Frozen, and Ireland's Fastnet Film Festival, where The Radio Gamers was chosen by acclaimed directors Lenny Abrahamson and Jim Sheridan. The film also won "Best Narrative Short" at the Bay Area Women in Film Festival and received a Certificate of Merit at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival and selected to play at the 20th Anniversary DC Independent Film Festival.

She has collaborated with industry professionals including Oscar-nominated editor Joi McMillon (Moonlight, Mufasa), sound supervisors Michael D. Wilhoit (16 Candles) and Darcel Walker (Fruitvale Station), and Actor/producer Mark Kelly (Mad Men, Duplass brothers Do-Deca Pentanthlon), experiences that have enriched her skill in directing actors and crafting immersive, emotionally resonant stories.

A classically trained studio painter, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Art, studying under surrealist art historian Whitney Chadwick and alongside director Ana Lily Amirpour. Early film experiences, including an extra role in Robin Williams' Flubber, sparked her passion for cinema. She further honed her craft in screenwriting and acting at San Francisco State University, American Conservatory Theater, the Meisner School of Acting, and under LA casting/Audition teaching professionals Nancy Berwid and Matt Barry. She regularly contributes volunteers teaching art classes to k-8 and film classes after school enrichment programs.