Kana Hatakeyama is a
Japanese + American
filmmaker & actor
Her most recent film, “FITNESS! or a story about SWEAT,” is currently on its festival run, and has 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.
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.
Currently in development with debut feature as writer-director, “Dollyamory,” supported by the Space on Ryder Farm Creative Artist Residency as well as Gotham Project Market Forum 2021.
Member of Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective.
Acting credits in TV/Film/Theater include “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.
Translator and consultant on various TV/Film projects, including HBO Max show “Tokyo Vice” as Japanese Post-Production Consultant.
Kana grew up in both Japan and the United States, and has also spent time in France, Argentina and Kenya. Multi-lingual (English & Japanese at native level, fluent in French, conversational in Spanish). BA Duke University, magna cum laude.