Mikki Willis - Founder/CEO

Art and entertainment have always been the heartbeat of Mikki Willis’ life.  At the age of 25 he founded his first business endeavor, The New York/Los Angeles Theater of the Arts.  “NYLA” became home to many Southern California artists who, like Mikki, were driven to push the envelope.  As Theater Director, Mikki wrote, produced and directed countless experimental productions.  This is where he learned the rules, and how to skillfully break them.

In 1996 Mikki made his directorial debut with the independent feature film Shoe Shine Boys.  Academy Award winning actor Martin Landau signed on as Executive Producer, traveling with the film as it toured the festival circuit, winning numerous awards and praise from top critics.  But it was radio personality Howard Stern’s continued on-air support that made Shoe Shine Boys an underground hit. The films innovative visual style attracted the attention of major record labels and launched Mikki’s career as a music video director. His first video was nominated for a Premio lo Nuestro, the Latin equivalent of an MTV Music Award. From there, Mikki went on to direct more than 45 breakthrough Spanish language music videos.

September 11th, 2001 marked the turning point in Mikki’s life and career.  Having been inside the twin towers just hours before they fell he helped to organize and lead a group of civilians who risked their lives to aid rescue workers.  Mikki was one of a handful of people allowed to remain at ground zero to aid in search and rescue efforts.  It was on the ruble of the World Trade Center that his life was forever changed.  On his return to Los Angeles he began laying the foundation for his life’s mission by founding Elevate Films, Elevate Foundation, and Elevate Film Festival, which challenges the international film community to create works of social and global importance.  For this, Mikki Willis received the 2008 Conscious Life Humanitarian Award.