Elen Santana

Elen Santana is a Brazilian-born filmmaker who loves turning relatable stories into engaging films that challenge common beliefs. This passion can be traced back to age 13, when Santana first watched her dad create innovative TV commercials for local businesses. Amazed by the power of visual storytelling, she was nevertheless frustrated by how limited advertising could be. After exploring the worlds of law and politics, she ultimately found a career that combined all of her passions: film.

After moving to the U.S. in 2008, Santana tried on many hats in the industry. From working as a Camera Operator, Assistant Camera, and First Assistant Director on several short films, to lending her writing and producing talents to several corporate commercials, she thrived in the on-set experience. In early 2012, she directed her first short, WHAT HAVE YOU BOOKED?, a comedy about struggling actors. Not one to sit still for long, she began production on her first feature later that fall. A mystery drama, ORANGES was produced by Wisconsin-based production company, CRADEmade Entertaiment, and is now in post-production.

Santana believes film is a powerful platform for sharing stories with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and religions. She currently resides in Brooklyn where she is busy launching Loxley Pictures with fellow filmmaker, Caitlin Scherer.