Kana Hatakeyama is a filmmaker & actor based in Tokyo and NYC.

She is currently in development with her debut feature as writer-director, “Dollyamory,” supported by the Space on Ryder Farm Creative Artist Residency as well as the Gotham Project Market Forum 2021.

Recently, she worked as the Advisor to Director Sang-il Lee on 3 episodes of Season 2 of the Critics Choice Award Winner “Pachinko” on Apple+, as well as reprising her role as the Japanese Post-Production Consultant for Season 2 of “Tokyo Vice,” starring Ken Watanabe and Ansel Elgort, on MAX & Wowow.

Her first film as writer-director, “okaasan (mom),” filmed in Japan, premiered at Brooklyn FF, followed by screenings at New Orleans FF (Audience Award), Nitehawk Shorts (First Time Filmmaker Award, Audience Award), Dallas International FF (Special Jury Award), Nantucket FF, and more. Currently featured online on NoBudge, Directors Notes and Future of Film is Female Streaming.

Her second film, “FITNESS! or a story about SWEAT,” screened at MoMA, Nitehawk Shorts, Brooklyn FF, Cucalorus FF, DC Shorts, CAAMFest, Asian American IFF, San Francisco Short FF, San Diego Asian FF, Austin Asian FF, and more.

Acting credits in TV/Film/Theater include a recurring role on “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix), “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix), “Bull” (CBS), “Tape” (dir. Deborah Kampmeier), “Julius Caesar” (Shakespeare in the Park), “Mary-Kate Olsen is in Love” (The Flea), “Water by the Spoonful” (Premiere Stages), and more.

She is a member of Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective.

Kana has also worked extensively as a Japanese-English translator/interpreter and consultant on various TV/Film projects.

Kana grew up in both Japan and the United States, and has also spent time in France, Argentina and Kenya. She speaks English & Japanese at the native level, French fluently, and Spanish conversationally. She graduated with a B.A. in International Studies & Theater with a minor in Political Science from Duke University, magna cum laude.