SOPHIA O’REN

DIRECTOR & CINEMATOGRAPHER

SOPHIA O’REN

DIRECTOR & CINEMATOGRAPHER

WHO AM I

I am a filmmaker studying arts and aesthetics for my Master’s degree at the University of Tokyo. While pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at HSE University, I wrote research papers on Japanese theatre, cinema, music, folklore and headed students’ kabuki performances as a stage director. From script development to directing, shooting, editing, and lighting, I handled every aspect of production with meticulous attention to detail.
Specializing in psychological horrors, I blend traditions and artistic representations from diverse cultures to evoke a sense of nostalgia and melancholic charm and address social issues.

I am a filmmaker studying arts and aesthetics for my Master’s degree at the University of Tokyo. While pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at HSE University, I wrote research papers on Japanese theatre, cinema, music, folklore and headed students’ kabuki performances as a stage director. From script development to directing, shooting, editing, and lighting, I handled every aspect of production with meticulous attention to detail.
Specializing in psychological horrors, I blend traditions and artistic representations from diverse cultures to evoke a sense of nostalgia and melancholic charm and address social issues.

EDUCATION & RESEARCH

2023-Present
The University of Tokyo, Department of Aesthetics, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology
• Master’s Thesis: “Fear and Laughter: The Humorous Aspect of Horror Films from a Cross-Cultural Perspective” (2026)
• MEXT Scholarship Recipient

2017-2022
HSE University, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, School of Japanese Studies
• Bachelor’s Thesis: “The Specifics of Modern Japanese Stories About the Supernatural” (2022)
• Research Project: “Influence of Traditional Japanese Theatre on Horror Cinema” (2020)
• Kabuki Club

2020-2021
Osaka University, Japanese Studies Program
• Research Project: “Cultural Interaction between Glam Rock and Japanese Traditional Theatre: The Case of Visual Kei” (2021)
• MEXT Scholarship Recipient

2019
Tokai University, Exchange Program

SKILLS & LANGUAGES

• Directing, Camerawork, Screenwriting
• Davinci Resolve (Editing & Color Grading)
• Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
• Game Design (Unreal Engine 4 & 5)

• Japanese (N1) Advanced
• English (IELTS 7.0) Advanced
• Russian (Native)

EXPERIENCES

2024
FIELD MANAGEMENT EXPAND Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)
Assistant Director, Intern

2023
TAIYO KIKAKU Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan)
Assistant Director, Intern

2022-2023
HSE University (Moscow, Russia)
Japanese Teacher

2022
Institute of China and Contemporary Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia)
Intern

2021
TIMELY Inc. (Osaka, Japan)
Editor (Part-time)

2020-Present
Freelance Interpreter and Translator (Japanese) for companies like Orihiro, Seiko, etc.

AWARDS

2024
Jeonju Global Game Jam
• Game Designer, Artist, Screenplay Writer
• Jeonbuk State Contents Convergence Agency Award (Jeonju, South Korea)

2023
The 9th Serious Game Jam
• Screenplay Writer & Cinematic Designer
• Best Design and Art Award (Tokyo, Japan)

2021
Winner of WFWP Japanese Speech Contest (Osaka)

2020
Winner of NIRS Student Research Paper Competition