Ela Thier

Ela Thier (Eh-láh Teer) is a New York–based writer, director, actor, and producer of award-winning independent films. She’s also founder of The Independent Film School, a home to over 65,000 artists for over twenty years. Thier’s films include Tomorrow Ever After and Foreign Letters. She recently completed 109 Billion Followers, starring Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons and Tony-winner Nina Arianda. She currently has several films in development with notable attachments. In addition to her career as a filmmaker, Thier has guided thousands of writers, actors, and directors through creative breakthroughs and the building of sustainable artistic practices. She is known for building a bustling creative community focused on connection rather than competition. How to Fail as an Artist: My Best Tips is her first nonfiction book, and draws on five decades of lived experience as a working artist.