Sophia O’Ren (Abenova) is a film director and cinematographer based in Tokyo. Her artist name “Ren,” derived from the Japanese word for lotus, evokes the image of beauty taking form under harsh conditions.
She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Arts and Aesthetics at the University of Tokyo, where her research focuses on the relationship between fear and laughter in horror cinema.
Before moving to Japan, she studied Japanese Studies at HSE University in Moscow, specializing in Japanese language, culture, and art.
Working across all stages of filmmaking—from screenwriting and directing to cinematography and editing—she creates genre-blending films influenced by both Russian and Japanese storytelling traditions.
In 2026, her short film “Between Red Lights” won the Gold Prize at the TYO Student Movie Award.
Sophia O’Ren (Abenova) is a film director and cinematographer based in Tokyo. Her artist name “Ren,” derived from the Japanese word for lotus, evokes the image of beauty taking form under harsh conditions.
She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Arts and Aesthetics at the University of Tokyo, where her research focuses on the relationship between fear and laughter in horror cinema.
Before moving to Japan, she studied Japanese Studies at HSE University in Moscow, specializing in Japanese language, culture, and art.
Working across all stages of filmmaking—from screenwriting and directing to cinematography and editing—she creates genre-blending films influenced by both Russian and Japanese storytelling traditions.
In 2026, her short film “Between Red Lights” won the Gold Prize at the TYO Student Movie Award.
AWARDS
2026
The 6th TYO Student Movie Award (Tokyo, Japan)
Gold Award
2024
Jeonju Global Game Jam (Jeonju, South Korea)
• Game Designer, Artist, Screenplay Writer
• Jeonbuk State Contents Convergence Agency Award
2023
The 9th Serious Game Jam (Tokyo, Japan)
• Screenplay Writer & Cinematic Designer
• Best Design and Art Award
2021
Winner of WFWP Japanese Speech Contest (Osaka)
2020
Winner of NIRS Student Research Paper Competition (Moscow, Russia)
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
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.
SKILLS
• Directing, Camerawork, Screenwriting
• Davinci Resolve (Editing & Color Grading)
• Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
LANGUAGES
• Japanese (N1) Advanced
• English (IELTS 7.0) Advanced
• Russian (Native)
AWARDS
2026
The 6th TYO Student Movie Award (Tokyo, Japan)
Gold Award
2024
Jeonju Global Game Jam (Jeonju, South Korea)
• Game Designer, Artist, Screenplay Writer
• Jeonbuk State Contents Convergence Agency Award
2023
The 9th Serious Game Jam (Tokyo, Japan)
• Screenplay Writer & Cinematic Designer
• Best Design and Art Award
2021
Winner of WFWP Japanese Speech Contest (Osaka)
2020
Winner of NIRS Student Research Paper Competition (Moscow, Russia)
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.
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)