Dena Hysell-Cornejo is a writer/director/producer who seamlessly explores humanity’s contradictions and foibles through her work in films/tv and documentaries. An unflappable force on set, she has worked in thrillers, horror, action, and social justice documentaries always using her talents to create films which immerse the viewer into the world of complicated morality twists which force complex characters to come face to face with their humanity. Most recently, she has been directing and writing multiple hour-long documentaries on different aspects of gender based violence for Without Exception Films, which star Constance Wu, Yvette Nicole Brown, Marie Avgeropolous, and Torrey Devitto. This series of documentaries was just selected as a Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Commitment to Action. In the narrative feature world, sci-fi thriller Algorithm: Bliss was released by Green Apple Films, where Debbie Elias of Adrenaline said “Ethics, morals, and technology collide in this riveting and thought provoking film” Her first narrative feature, Ascent to Hell, was released by Gravitas Ventures, where First Comic News gave it 4 of 5 stars saying “When the horror starts it is a slow build up leading to a terror that will have you watching intensely” Her work has been recognized with top honors at multiple festivals (Toronto, Seattle, Indiana, NYFF), and acquired by major distributors. After graduating from Stanford University, she has written, directed and produced for Eli Roth’s Crypt TV, Legacy Entertainment Partners, Drive Media and various other companies. She was featured in the 2017 Buzzfeed article on female directors talking about gender and representation in Hollywood (_Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_

DENA HYSELL - CORNEJO

Dena Hysell-Cornejo is a writer/director/producer who seamlessly explores humanity’s contradictions and foibles through her work in films/tv and documentaries. An unflappable force on set, she has worked in thrillers, horror, action, and social justice documentaries always using her talents to create films which immerse the viewer into the world of complicated morality twists which force complex characters to come face to face with their humanity. Most recently, she has been directing and writing multiple hour-long documentaries on different aspects of gender based violence for Without Exception Films, which star Constance Wu, Yvette Nicole Brown, Marie Avgeropolous, and Torrey Devitto. This series of documentaries was just selected as a Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Commitment to Action. In the narrative feature world, sci-fi thriller Algorithm: Bliss was released by Green Apple Films, where Debbie Elias of Adrenaline said “Ethics, morals, and technology collide in this riveting and thought provoking film” Her first narrative feature, Ascent to Hell, was released by Gravitas Ventures, where First Comic News gave it 4 of 5 stars saying “When the horror starts it is a slow build up leading to a terror that will have you watching intensely” Her work has been recognized with top honors at multiple festivals (Toronto, Seattle, Indiana, NYFF), and acquired by major distributors. After graduating from Stanford University, she has written, directed and produced for Eli Roth’s Crypt TV, Legacy Entertainment Partners, Drive Media and various other companies. She was featured in the 2017 Buzzfeed article on female directors talking about gender and representation in Hollywood (_Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_

Available to hire

Dena Hysell-Cornejo is a writer/director/producer who seamlessly explores humanity’s contradictions and foibles through her work in films/tv and documentaries. An unflappable force on set, she has worked in thrillers, horror, action, and social justice documentaries always using her talents to create films which immerse the viewer into the world of complicated morality twists which force complex characters to come face to face with their humanity.

Most recently, she has been directing and writing multiple hour-long documentaries on different aspects of gender based violence for Without Exception Films, which star Constance Wu, Yvette Nicole Brown, Marie Avgeropolous, and Torrey Devitto. This series of documentaries was just selected as a Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Commitment to Action. In the narrative feature world, sci-fi thriller Algorithm: Bliss was released by Green Apple Films, where Debbie Elias of Adrenaline said “Ethics, morals, and technology collide in this riveting and thought provoking film” Her first narrative feature, Ascent to Hell, was released by Gravitas Ventures, where First Comic News gave it 4 of 5 stars saying “When the horror starts it is a slow build up leading to a terror that will have you watching intensely”

Her work has been recognized with top honors at multiple festivals (Toronto, Seattle, Indiana, NYFF), and acquired by major distributors. After graduating from Stanford University, she has written, directed and produced for Eli Roth’s Crypt TV, Legacy Entertainment Partners, Drive Media and various other companies. She was featured in the 2017 Buzzfeed article on female directors talking about gender and representation in Hollywood (Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Director/Writer/Producer at Without Exception Films
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Director/Writer on UNMUTED Ep. 3 'FGM' (starring Constance Wu); collaborative documentary work across Ep. 2 'Acid Attacks' and Ep. 1 'Child Marriage'; episodes selected for Clinton Global Initiative (2024) and premiered in 2025.
Director/Writer/Producer at Without Exception Films
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Director/Writer on UNMUTED Ep. 2 'Acid Attacks' (2025).
Director/Writer/Producer at Without Exception Films
January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026
Director/Writer on UNMUTED Ep. 1 'Child Marriage' (2026).
Writer at Women in Motion
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Writer for a feature documentary (2025).
Writer at Cartel Films
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Writer for feature thriller 'My Missing Sister' (2022).
Producer at Mirage Studio
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021
Producer for feature musical 'Bart Bagsbys and the Garbage Genie' (2021).
Director/Writer/Producer at Green Apple Films
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Director/Writer/Producer for 'Algorithm: Bliss' (2020) – Sci-Fi thriller.
Director at Mar Vista Entertainment
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Director for 'The Sinister Surrogate' (2018).
Director/Writer/Producer at Gravitas Ventures
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Director/Writer/Producer for 'Ascent to Hell' (2017).
Producer at Terror Films
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Producer for 'The Tribe' (2017).
Producer at Z Machine Productions
January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016
Producer for 'Strange Septembers' (2016) - Documentary Feature.
Director/Producer at Eli Roth’s Crypt TV
January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016
Directed/Produced shorts 'Pinata' (2016), 'Mirror' (2016), '7-10 SPLAT' (2016), 'HAHAHA' (2016).
Producer at Global Digital Releasing
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Producer for 'Rumperbutts' (2015) — Feature Film / Musical.
Executive Producer at Smosh TV
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2014
Executive Producer for 'OISHII – High School Battle' (Seasons 1-3) — animation/live-action hybrid.
Producer at Image Entertainment
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Producer for 'Home Run Showdown' (2014) — sports comedy.
Director/Writer at Drive Media
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Director/Writer for documentary feature 'The Paladins' (2014).
Producer at Freestyle Releasing
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Producer for 'A Little Help' (2011) — drama.
Co-Producer at Toronto International Film Festival
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Co-Producer for 'Down for Life' (2009) — feature.
Director/Writer/Producer at Eli Roth’s Crypt TV
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Director/Writer/Producer for Mirror, a short horror piece for Crypt TV.
Director/Writer
January 1, 2026 - January 1, 2026
The Billionaire’s Stand - In Sticky Series (micro-series) – Writer.
Director/Writer at Without Exception Films
January 1, 2026 - January 1, 2026
UNMUTED Ep. 3 “FGM” (Documentary) – Director/Writer.
Director/Writer at Without Exception Films
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
UNMUTED Ep. 2 “Acid Attacks” (Documentary) – Director/Writer.
Director/Writer at Without Exception Films
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
UNMUTED Ep. 1 “Child Marriage” (Documentary) – Director/Writer.
Writer at 1 and 1 Productions
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
WOMEN IN MOTION – Writer, feature documentary.
Director/Writer/Producer at Eli Roth’s Crypt TV
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
MIRROR – Short horror, Director/Writer/Producer.

Education

Add your educational history here.

Qualifications

Talented New Director Award, Madrid - Finalist
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Aspen Institute Stanton Scholar
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Royal Film Commission - Jordan Creative Consultant
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
Clinton Global Initiative: episodes selected
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
DGA Director Diversity Initiative Semi-Finalist
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2026
Stanton Scholar
January 1, 2009 - March 2, 2026
Talented New Director Award, Madrid - Finalist
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Royal Film Commission - Jordan, Creative Consultant
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Travel & Hospitality, Gaming, Non-Profit Organization, Education, Professional Services