DIRECTORS

Dena Hysell-Cornejo is a director/writer who seamlessly explores humanity’s contradictions and foibles through her work in genre 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, Maire Avgeropolous, and Torrey Devitto. Collectively called "Unmuted", these documentaries were selected as a 2024 Clinton Global Initiative 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.