KAYLA LANE FREEMAN (she/her) is a writer and director based in Austin, Texas. She crafts visually-striking, comedic stories about strange and unruly women. Kayla is one half of MMKay Productions alongside Co-Producer and Production Designer, Mona Maclay.

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Her horror comedy short, Plant Moms premiered at Fantastic Fest 2025, was nominated for Best Comedy at Austin Horror Film Festival 2025, and won Most Original Short at Ethereal Horror Festival 2025. The film received Austin Film Society grant support in 2023 and 2024.

 

Kayla's short film debut, The NDE, was an official selection of Austin Lift-Off Film Festival, Dark Comedy Film Festival, Lysistrata Comedy Festival and the ATX Short Film Showcase, where it was nominated for Best Comedy of the Year in 2023. 

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Kayla has worked as an Assistant Director, Camera Operator and Script Supervisor for indie filmmakers in Chicago and Austin. She was part of the Additional Crew for the Kartemquin Films' Academy Award-Nominated Documentary, Minding the Gap (d. Bing Liu) and has interned with Sundance Channel in New York City. 

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Kayla has worked full-time as a Writer & Producer of corporate training media. Past clients include: Miller-Coors, Buffalo Wild Wings, American Red Cross, AbbVie Pharmaceuticals and Pizza Hut (Yum Foods). 

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Kayla is currently directing a comedic documentary series, Xaria Does It!  that will premiere on Austin PBS in 2027.

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When she's not making films, Kayla creates and performs clown comedy. Her feral feminist clown show, BAFFLING!, was awarded Best of Fest at Frontera Fest 2025. She has performed her signature clown comedy at Creek & Cave, Fallout Theater, ATX Sketch Fest and Fusebox Festival. 
 

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