Kana Hatakeyama is a filmmaker based in Tokyo and NYC.
She is currently in development with her debut feature as writer-director, “Dollyamory,” supported by Space on Ryder Farm Creative Artist Residency, Gotham Project Market Forum 2021, and Talents Tokyo 2024,
where she received a Talents Tokyo Special Mention Award.
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 TV, 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 HBOMAX & 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.
奈良県生まれ、日米育ち。
ノースカロライナ州デューク大学で演劇と国際比較文化を専攻。
以降、東京とニューヨークを拠点にフリーランスの映像作家として活動。
脚本家兼監督として初作品となる日本で撮影した短編映画「okaasan (mom)」はアメリカ各地の映画祭で上映され、ニューオリンズ映画祭「観客賞」、ナイトホーク映画祭「初監督賞、観客賞」、ダラス国際映画祭「審査員特別賞」等を受賞。
また、ニューヨークで撮影した二作目、「FITNESS! or story about SWEAT」もMoMA(ニューヨーク近代美術館)、ブルックリン美術館、クーカローラス映画祭等で上映された。
2019年にはSpace on Ryder Farm Creative Artist Residency、2021年、Gotham Week Project Marketに選ばれ参加。2024年、長編映画企画でタレンツトーキョーに参加、スペシャルメンション賞を受賞。2025年にはNHKによるサンダンス支援に選出される。
Brooklyn Filmmakers Collectiveの一員。
2022年、「パチンコ」シーズン2（Apple TV）の3つのエピソードにおいて李相日監督のアドバイザーをプリプロ・撮影・ポストを通し務め、渡辺謙主演の「Tokyo Vice」シーズン1＆2（HBOMAX/Wowow）では、ポストプロダクション・コンサルタントを務めた。
俳優としての舞台・テレビ・映画の活動経験もあり、主な出演作に「オレンジ・イズ・ニューブラック」（NETFLIX）、「アンブレイカブル・キミーシュミット」（NETFLIX）等がある。全米映画俳優組合「SAG-AFTRA」の一員。