Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Ichikowitz.
Hi Tori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sure thing! I’m Tori Ichikowitz, a filmmaker, director, and creative producer originally from South Africa, now based between Los Angeles and wherever the next story unfolds.
My path into filmmaking wasn’t a straight line. I started out in theatre, which taught me how to build emotion from the inside out, and then spent years as a fashion photographer, working with brands and publications around the world. Photography gave me an eye for composition and detail, but I craved magic of world building that is found in cinema, the movement, the dialogue, the layers of emotion that exist between frames. So I started saying yes to everything: producing, directing, writing, editing, even doing the grunt work no one else wanted to do. It was a crash course in how to make something from nothing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As a director, I’m drawn to stories that feel a little offbeat, to films that live in the gray areas between beauty and discomfort, humor and heartbreak. I love exploring emotional contradictions and characters who don’t quite fit in, especially women who challenge the boxes they’re placed in. I think of my work as a blend of grounded emotion and heightened style, where every frame feels intentional but still alive.
Beyond film, I’ve also been diving into music videos and branded storytelling, especially collaborations that fuse art, fashion, and music. I love working with artists and brands who have a clear sense of identity and aren’t afraid to experiment with narrative, texture, and tone. Whether it’s an indie musician or a global fashion house, the goal is always to make something that feels cinematic and something that lingers.
Some of my recent work has screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals and received recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which feels rather surreal. It’s been such an honour having the opportunities to travel the world with my work and meet filmmakers and audiences from across the globe.
If I had to sum it up: I tell stories about identity, emotion, and transformation, about people trying to make sense of who they are.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road but I don’t think it’s supposed to be. The creative path, especially in film, is full of uncertainty. There’s no set ladder to climb, no clear route that guarantees success. You’re constantly building the plane while you’re flying it, and sometimes it crashes before takeoff. I’ve had projects fall apart days before shooting, funding vanish overnight, and long stretches where it felt like I was shouting into the void.
Early on, one of my biggest struggles was learning how to navigate rejection and uncertainty without letting it define my worth. When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to take every “no” personally, but I learned that resilience is the only real currency in this industry. Every setback taught me something I wouldn’t have learned otherwise whether it was how to problem-solve creatively, how to build better teams or how to trust the process even when it’s messy.
Another challenge was learning how to balance the creative side with the business side. Producing taught me that art doesn’t exist in a vacuum, that you have to understand budgets, logistics, and strategy if you want your work to actually reach people. There’s a constant tension between wanting to protect the art and needing to make it sustainable, and I’m still learning how to navigate that balance.
And, honestly, there’s also the emotional side of it which is often the most difficult part. The burnout, the self-doubt, the moments when you wonder if you’re doing enough. But I think that’s part of being an artist. The road isn’t smooth, but that’s what makes it interesting. Every bump has shaped me into a stronger, more grounded storyteller. I’ve learned that the struggle isn’t a detour from the journey, it is the journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a filmmaker, director, and creative producer who tells stories that sit at the intersection of emotion, identity, and visual style. I’ve worked across narrative film, music videos, and branded storytelling. My projects range from intimate, character-driven shorts to visually bold collaborations with musicians and fashion brands. Each project feels like a new experiment, and I’ve been lucky to work with artists and filmmakers from all over the world.
I am so proud of the teams I’ve worked with in the past few years since moving to Los Angeles. It is impossible to create a film without a team of talented creatives behind you. On certain projects like Dandelion and Teen Mary, I was working with and managing teams of over 200 people. Those projects would not of been possible without each and every single person, no matter how small a role they played. Our collaboration and work ethic is something that still makes me feel like a proud project mom to this day!
I think there are two things that set my work apart. The first is that I am well versed in balancing between creative storytelling and production strategy. For most of my upcoming projects I work as both producer and director which gives clients and fellow collaborators a deep security that I know every aspect of the production inside and out.
The second is my perspective as an international who grew up in South Africa. My stories often deal with senses of loss, isolation or loneliness and how we grapple with losing community in today’s world. These themes stem directly from my own experiences and bring an international lens to all the work that I create. My South African roots have taught me how to be resourceful, collaborative, and unafraid of a little chaos, because, in filmmaking, that’s often where the best stories are born.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Definitely. I’m a big believer in finding tools that make the chaos a little more manageable and sometimes, surprisingly, the simplest ones make the biggest difference.
For writing, I love WriterDuet. It’s such an underrated platform! It is super intuitive, great for collaboration, and it keeps me organized when I’m juggling multiple scripts or notes across projects. I like that it feels built for actual storytellers, not just for formatting. I also love that it’s cloud based so it has saved me from another lost draft disaster…
When it comes to scheduling and staying on top of productions, I still swear by the good old iCal app. It sounds basic, but honestly, it’s my lifeline. Between shooting schedules, meetings, deadlines, and flights, I’d be lost without color-coded calendars. I live by the alerts. If it’s not in iCal, it doesn’t exist!
For visual pitching, Canva has become my secret weapon. I use it constantly for lookbooks, pitch decks, and mood boards, especially when I need to turn around something beautiful and cohesive quickly. It’s not about perfection; it’s about being able to communicate a tone and vision clearly, and Canva makes that part of the process actually fun.
Outside of tools, I’m constantly listening to industry podcasts like The Ankler and The Town. They’re great for staying tapped into what’s really happening in entertainment and give deep insights into the shifts, the behind-the-scenes stories, and the business side of filmmaking that doesn’t always get talked about openly. I find them grounding and motivating, especially when I’m deep in the creative trenches.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toriichikowitz/
