Athina Tsoulis, was born in Greece, raised in Australia where she grew up in a large Greek community, and moved to New Zealand as an adult where she forged her writing/directing career.

Athina has produced, written and directed many short films. A Bitter Song and Revelation, were filmed in the Greek language.  Her most notable short film, The Invisible Hand, has screened internationally at numerous film festivals such as Clairmont Ferrand and Creteil, and on television (Arte, Channel 4, Canal Plus).  Her first feature, I’ll Make You Happy, had a national theatrical release, and a US video release. It has just been re-released on DVD in Ausralasia.  Jinx Sister, Athina’s second feature film, had its world premier at the Auckland International Film Festival in July 2008, was released theatrically in NZ, and is currently on DVD release in Australia and New Zealand. It has screened at  a number of independent US film festival where it garnered an Award of Excellence at the IndieFest.

Athina teaches Directing at Unitec’s Performing and Screen Arts, and she was appointed Head of Department in March this year.  She is a long-standing member of the Auckland film community: life member of the Auckland Film Society; a founding member of the Moving Image Centre and NZ Director’s Guild; past Vice President of the NZ Writers Guild and of WIFT Auckland.  Currently, she is on the Board of the NZ Writers Guild.