writer/director/producer
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. 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 (https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/women-filmmakers-getreal-about-hollywoods)
When not on set, she spends her time traveling the world, shooting photographs in some of the globe’s most remote locations & cultures which influence her unique perspective on story and vision on set. She shoots for multiple publications as well as commissions for private collectors. Her work is collected by art enthusiasts around the world, as well as being published in magazines and used in advertising. She has shot in 32 countries, and takes commissions as well as executing on her own vision.
Active member: Directors Guild of America, Alliance of Women Directors, Women in Media, Film Fatales, Women In Film, and Film Independent
- Board of Directors, Stanford in Entertainment 2006-2009, 2011-2014
- Board of Directors, Mobile Film Classroom 2011-2015
- Aspen Institute, Stanton Scholar 2009
- Royal Film Commission - Jordan, Creative Consultant 2016-2017
- Talented New Director Award, Madrid - Finalist 2014
*Licensed Commercial Drone Pilot
Work Terms
I will work with you to create a delivery timeline and payment schedule which is mutually agreed upon.