Kelly Lynch is a creative director and filmmaker specializing in film, video, and story-driven experiences that bridge physical environments and digital media.
His work spans writing, directing, cinematography, editing, and creative leadership across branded content, documentaries, commercials, episodic series, and experiential media. Formally trained at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and in the film directing program at Columbia College Chicago, Lynch is an award-winning writer and director whose films and scripts have received recognition from national and international festivals and competitions.
A collaborator at heart, he brings a tenacious approach to storytelling that takes the work seriously without taking himself too seriously, crafting stories that move fluidly between screens, spaces, and lived experience. Very much a locomotive.
Lynch’s career bridges filmmaking, creative consulting, education, and executive leadership at scale. He has collaborated with major studios, media networks, and cultural institutions as a technical creative consultant and railroad transportation advisor for feature films and television, while also leading high-impact video and content teams for national brands.
Early in his career, he served as an adjunct cinematography instructor and film educator, teaching advanced cinematography, directing, producing, and film theory, and managing film and animation facilities, reinforcing a deep commitment to craft, mentorship, and the next generation of filmmakers. His work across film, live events, and digital media has reached millions of viewers, generated tens of millions of impressions, and earned sustained industry and civic recognition.
In addition to his production work, Lynch is the creator of The Untouchables Retrospective, an expansive mixed-media historical project examining the legacy, production, and cultural impact of the landmark television series The Untouchables. Developed over many years of research and writing, the project originated as a 400-page manuscript and evolved into a comprehensive digital retrospective and podcast, combining archival research, original scripts, interviews, and cultural analysis. Approaching the series as an admirer, historian, and filmmaker, the project explores the creative chemistry behind the show, its controversies, and its lasting influence on American television and cinema. This work also led to his participation in the Blu-Ray release of The Scarface Mob by Arrow Video, which has created the only 4k embodiment of the Desilu production.
In parallel with his creative work, Lynch has played a central leadership role in railroad preservation, tourism, and placemaking. After more than two decades of service as a volunteer and board member, he was appointed the first Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, marking a new era of growth, restoration, and community engagement for the organization.
Under his leadership, the organization launched the Indiana Rail Experience, a multi-state rail tourism program connecting Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, which was named Indiana’s Best New Experience in 2023. Since 2022, he has helped raise more than $5 million in support of the program, while advancing major restoration projects and expanding historic rolling stock.
Lynch’s railroad work has included overseeing complex operations, negotiations, acquisitions, and partnerships, as well as advising dozens of railroads, museums, and preservation organizations nationwide. His unique combination of film, operational, and executive expertise has also led to work as a movie train advisor on major productions, including Sinners (2025) and Disclosure Day (2026), reinforcing his role as a bridge between storytelling and real-world systems.
Across all crafts, Lynch’s work is guided by rigor, humor, and a belief in being a functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond himself.