John X. Carey is a Los Angeles–based writer-director known for emotionally resonant films and commercials that fuse distinct lived perspectives with a commitment to human-first storytelling.

John’s perspective is rooted in a literary, humanistic lens informed by his Midwestern upbringing—growing up in a small Ozark town as the son of writers who left the city to live off the land. John rose to prominence directing Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches, which became the most-viewed internet commercial of all time, earning over 150 million views in its first month, multiple Cannes Lions including a Titanium Grand Prix, and a DGA Best Director nomination.

In narrative, John’s SXSW-premiering short Awayy and feature Mirage—supported by Sundance and selected for the Gotham Film Market—are both in development. His short film Heat was developed by Amazon Studios as a television series.