Lena Tsod

Lena Tsod is a Los Angeles based director, screenwriter, and producer drawn to visually striking and emotionally charged stories. Born in Moscow, she is the granddaughter of an engineer who, outside his uniform, was devoted to photography and film. Carrying that legacy, Lena blends discipline with imagination — a balance that has defined her decade of filmmaking in the United States.

A graduate of Columbia University’s MFA program in directing and screenwriting, Lena explores complex characters and unexpected perspectives at the intersection of genres, where drama collides with folklore, and romance brushes against thriller. Her films seek to build an emotional bridge between characters and audiences, unfolding darker inside worlds that are as visually immersive as they are emotionally raw.

Her shorts — the dark comedy Luisa and Anna’s First Fight, about two teenage girls at a schoolyard fight, and the genre-bending thriller Storm, about a couple trapped inside a horror movie — have screened at major festivals around the world (Palm Springs ShortFest and Sitges — Best Midnight Short nominations, Beyond Fest, HollyShorts, FilmQuest) and were featured on platforms like Short of the Week, Omeletto and Director’s Notes.

In advertising, Lena brings the same cinematic eye to global campaigns, creating work that marries bold imagery with authentic human performance. She has directed for creative agencies and brands including BBDO, Ford, Pepsi, Disney, and Visa. Beyond the screen, she continues to experiment through her enduring passion for black-and-white film photography.

Lena is currently developing the psychological thriller Bitsy and the feature-length expansion of Storm.

REPRESENTATION