Sofía Déniz Pihlaja
Project Manager
A seasoned business leader with 15 years of experience, possessing a growth mindset, and characterized by a strategic, creative yet pragmatic approach to projects. Demonstrates a preference for and excels in collaborative multicultural work environments. Utilizes organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail, while also considering the broader needs of the enterprise. Exhibits proficiency in multiple languages and adeptly balances local and global client needs alongside company objectives. Possesses emotional intelligence to assertively communicate across the organization and various teams.
Team Leadership
Project Schedules & Strategies
International experience
Budget Management
Communication with clients
Digital Marketing
Creative thinking
Understanding processes with freelancers
Setting priorities
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PRODUCER & DIRECTOR Remote and travel (Barcelona) Sept- 2021 – Feb 2024
PSL GROUP
Leads the creation and production of digital audiovisual content tailored for the biotech sector in the European region, distributed worldwide through online platforms or showcased live at conferences.
Partenered with the Senior Producer and director Owen Cooper
ON SET ASSISTANT PROPS MASTER IN TV SERIES Vancouver, BC Nov- 2020 – Aug 2021
NETFLIX PRODUCTIONS – MIDNIGHT CLUB & MIDNIGHT MASS
Oversees the Properties department on set, responsible for organizing and supplying props to the cast while ensuring continuity and meeting production requirements. Adapts creatively to solve problems as they arise, addressing challenges on the fly.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Mexico City, 2019 SEVERAL ADVERTISEMENTS at THE MAESTROS
Managed every aspect of commercial service productions, from pre- to post-production. Developed comprehensive long-term timelines and budgets for projects involving prominent clients such as Nike, Volkswagen, Amazon, Jack Daniels, Nescafe, various pharmaceutical products, and more. Oversaw budget allocations and expenditures, led local crews, and facilitated communication with foreign casting agencies in Canada, Europe, and the US. Maintained prompt communication with production companies and agencies, ensuring seamless collaboration. Supervised photo and video shoots, rigorously reviewing output for optimal quality. Played a central role in conflict resolution, fostering internal cohesion while bridging communication gaps internally and externally to ensure all stakeholders were aligned.
PRODUCTION MANAGER Vancouver, BC - 2019 PUNCHLINE PRODUCTIONS - ALL JOKING ASIDE Feature Film
Contributed extensively to the pre-production and production phases of this captivating feature film. Following its premiere, I'm thrilled to share that the film has garnered significant recognition, including winning a prestigious award and securing three nominations. It's immensely gratifying to see the hard work and dedication of the entire team recognized in such a meaningful way.
CCO, EXEC PRODUCER, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Vancouver, BC - 2017- 2018
SOCIAL SCI-FI PRODUCTIONS - BEYOND THE OLD ROAD Short Film
Demonstrated leadership by efficiently managing casting, crew assignments, and film production within budgetary constraints. Oversaw all aspects of film creation from pre- to post, including VFX and color correction. Utilized social media management skills to cultivate fan bases and generate excitement for film festivals. Coordinated logistics by developing schedules and checklists. Secured $25K in financing for a film with a $300K production value. Won Best Short Film Award at the London Independent Awards and received a nomination for Best Producer at the Palm Springs Short Fest. Film currently available on YouTube.
Acquired $25K to finance and distribute a film that delivered production value of $300K.
Won Best Short Film Award in London Independent award. Nominated Best Producer in Palm Spring Short Fest.
Currently released on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLYOKYfxdjo
PRODUCTION MANAGER Vancouver, BC - 2016
AITO MEDIA - AU PAIRS IN CANADA, S.3
Effectively managed all expenses and payroll processing, ensuring the successful completion of production within budget. Monitored project status closely and promptly communicated any changes to stakeholders, ensuring that creative processes remained on schedule. Facilitated clear communication with team members regarding production status, ensuring that all understood and aligned with daily objectives.
Conducted local casting which eliminated need for an agency, slashing costs by 25%.
Saved 30% by personally scouting locations and obtaining necessary filming permits.
Acquired working visas for foreign members without the use of a lawyer, saving the company thousands of dollars.
NORDIC ON AIR PROMO PRODUCER Helsinki, Finland – 2014 -2016
FOX & NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNELS
Managed 60 projects concurrently from inception to completion, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to budget. Led promos for FOX and National Geographic channels across Nordic countries. Handled crew recruitment, actor casting, scheduling, and scriptwriting for network broadcasts including The Walking Dead, NCIS, Limitless, and more. Successfully negotiated contracts with third parties, optimizing value and cost savings. Directed voice-over sessions for high-quality outputs.
Employed foreign language and communication skills to recruit Spanish freelancers, saving 40% in salaries.
Utilized over 15 platforms such as Fox Fast, Gorilla Database, FTPs, Premiere Pro, Encoder for productions.
Collaborated with supervisor and creative director Ricardo Galiot of Fox Networks Group on projects.
PRODUCER, MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Helsinki, Finland - 2013
CINEMAISSI, A Latin American Film Festival
Accomplished the development of marketing strategies for the ninth annual festival, resulting in extensive national media coverage across television morning news, daily journals, and radio stations. Collaborated closely with the film festival operations team to orchestrate successful opening and closing ceremonies, along with associated industry events and parties. Responsible for determining ticket prices and scaling, as well as coordinating social media campaigns and logistics for screenings.
Spearheaded effective marketing tactics resulting in 25% of movies selling out in screenings.
Promoted festival resulting in 30% increase in attendance over the previous year.
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND DIRECTOR Helsinki, Finland - 2013
LEMEON PRODUCTION
Conceptualized, scripted, and directed an educational series for schools, alongside producing commercials broadcasted nationwide. Spearheaded the recruitment of top-tier production crew and talented actors. Efficiently scheduled shoots, conducted location scouting, and managed operating expenses to ensure projects were completed within budget and on schedule.
Worked with supervisor and producer Ville Virtakainen of Lemeon.
PRODUCTION MANAGER Helsinki, Finland and La Rochelle, France - 2012
ZODIAK MEDIA -FORT BOYARD, S2
Oversaw filming operations to ensure efficiency and seamless collaboration between local and foreign crews, resolving any issues as they arose. Interviewed and cast contestants, managed travel logistics, and controlled expenses to align with budget allocations. Developed script breakdowns, preliminary shooting schedules, and production status reports for streamlined workflow.
Partnered with supervisor and producer Sanna Padua of Zodiak Media on the television show.
LANGUAGES
ENGLISH – FLUENT WRITTEN AND ORAL
SPANISH – MOTHER TONGUE
FINNISH – MOTHER TONGUE
FRENCH – C1 LEVEL, FLUENT
SWEDISH – BEGINNER
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Master's in Audiovisual Communication University of Seville, Seville, Spain (2009)
International Exchange University of Lumière Lyon II, Lyon, France (2009 - 2010)
UX Experience & Design Courses University of British Columbia, Canada (2018)
3D Animation and VFX Workshops Vancouver Film School, Vancouver, BC, Canada (2018)
Lighting: LED and DMX Training Riggit Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada (2018)
SOCIAL MEDIA & UNION STATUSES
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9690018
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sofiadeniz
Websites: www.sofiadeniz.com
UNION: Iatse 891 Senior Member (in Canada)
Sofía Déniz Pihlaja https://www.imdb.com/sofiadeniz
+34-623****** *******@*****.*** Whats: +1-778-***-****
Spanish, Finnish and Canadian Citizen