Lorena Cortez

Creative Storytelling Rooted in Experience

Title: Director/Producer

Organization: Ruby Rae Productions

Age: 28

Lorena Cortez is a visionary Director/Producer and storyteller with a dynamic background in design and production. With a Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design and Production from CSU Northridge, she seamlessly transitioned into filmmaking, honing her craft through hands-on experiences that shaped her unique voice. This evolution allowed her to blend visual aesthetics with compelling narratives in innovative ways.

Lorena’s production expertise was further cultivated during her impactful tenure as a Creative Producer at eBay, where she successfully led video projects around the world from concept to completion. These experiences not only sharpened her technical skills but also highlighted her abilities in storyboarding, budgeting, and team collaboration, all of which are essential in high-quality visual storytelling.

She has successfully orchestrated ambitious projects, including her latest film, where she raised over $45,000 in funds through crowdfunding and sponsorships. Notably, for this project, she led a 68-person team—58 of them being people of color and 44 women—demonstrating her commitment to representation and inclusion in the industry.

With a keen eye for creativity and a strategic approach to leadership, Lorena continues to carve out a niche for herself in the filmmaking world, captivating audiences and inspiring change by consistently uplifting underrepresented voices, both in front of and behind the camera.