BIOGRAPHY
AWARDS/
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Yoko Okumura (she/her) is a writer and director who loves to tell rebellious stories and thrives in the intersection of grit and glamour.
Most recently, Yoko directed and co-wrote the new horror film KISS OF DEATH for Blumhouse, set for 2026 release. Her first feature was the survival thriller film UNSEEN also for Blumhouse, and she has also directed all episodes of AMERICA'S LARGEST BALL OF TWINE for the horror anthology Sam Raimi's 50 STATES OF FRIGHT. Yoko has also directed numerous episodes of GOOD TROUBLE and THE BOLD TYPE. Yoko is currently an APPLE TV Directing Program participant, as one of three mid-career directors selected out of 1600 applicants. She is also a sponsored director under the WOMEN IN FILM + SUNDANCE Reframe Rise Program. She has also participated in top directing initiatives such as the WARNER BROTHERS Directing Workshop, RYAN MURPHY Half Initiative, and the FOX Directing Program. Her films have won numerous accolades including a DGA Award, a Webby and an Austin Film Festival Jury Award. Yoko has a BFA from CALARTS and an MFA from the AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE, and lives in Los Angeles. She was born in Kyoto, Japan, raised in Minneapolis and now calls Los Angeles home where she lives with her pet parrot Melon 🦜🍈. When not working in media arts Yoko is a constant dabbler of various art forms including fire dancing, needle felting, aerial silks, and currently studying victorian hair jewelry. |
