Hi, hello! I’m Cynthia Oliveira Souza (also known as Cyn). I’m a Brazilian-American filmmaker, visual artist, and storyteller based in New York City. I’m passionate about capturing emotion through film, animation, and tactile visuals that feel handmade and honest.
Born to immigrant parents from Minas Gerais, Brazil, my identity and work are deeply informed by themes of cultural memory, longing, and emotional perception. My journey began in my formative years, when painting and movies became lifelines as I navigated mental health struggles. Creativity became my refuge. At age 11, I discovered video editing through fan edits on Vine and YouTube, which sparked over a decade of self-taught exploration across editing, animation, and visual effects.
I began crafting emotional edits and experimental reels at a young age. Cutting together music, film, and television scenes into poignant montages that reached tens of thousands of viewers online. One of my early edits, made before I turned 18, reached over 89,000 views and hundreds of comments; People describing the work as “a longing for something I don’t know.” These early years of montage and experimentation shaped my intuitive understanding of rhythm, emotional pacing, and visual storytelling.
Though I no longer edit professionally, that early rhythm still lives in everything I create. I hold a degree in Visual Arts with minors in Film Studies and Theatre from Roger Williams University. Since then, I’ve worked across narrative features, short films, and animation, wearing many hats such as Assistant Camera, Camera Operator, DIT, and Editor.
My films and collaborative projects have screened at festivals including the Roxbury International Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival, and the Athens Film Festival. I’ve also worked with companies like Verdi Productions, Scout Lyons, and AMP, continuing to build a body of work that merges hand drawn animation, analog film, and grounded human stories.
Beyond film, I write, sew, paint, and research endlessly. As a Brazilian-American artist, my cultural roots shape every story I tell. I believe in the power of softness and in creating stories that make people feel seen, especially those who’ve carried invisible grief, felt misunderstood, or lived in-between.
My goal is to create stories that feel like quiet revelations. Poetic, grounded, and resonant with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. Whether behind the camera, at the editing desk, or drawing frame-by-frame in Procreate, I strive to create art that connects, comforts, and transforms.
Let’s create something unforgettable.
Cyn <3
Photo by Michael Flynn
Clients:
I've honorably worked with many creatives and production companies, bringing their visions to life through animation, illustration, and design. Some clients are listed below.
- Verdi Productions: Hired to create an animated intro logo for their affiliated production company, Hyperborea Films.
- Singer Scout Lyons: Commissioned to illustrate the cover poster for her podcast, C U Next Thursday, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. (ty for trusting me, Scout, ily! <3)
-Flying Bee Productions: Commissioned to create an animated intro logo for their production company.
Whether it's animation, editing, or anything in between, I'm always excited to collaborate on new creative projects. If you'd like to work together, feel free to reach out!
Projects in the press, festivals, and more:
I've had the honor of working on projects that have been selected for festivals and covered in industry press. Below are a few notable mentions.
🏆 Winner of Best Feature at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival 2024
🏆 Winner of Gold Remi “The Lift Off - Best use of NASA Footage” at WorldFest Houston 2024
🏆 Winner of Special Recognition at the BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 (World Premiere)
Official Selections:
- Julien Dubuque International Film Festival 2024, Iowa Premiere.
- Roxbury International Film Festival 2024
- Athens Film Festival 2024 (Georgia Premiere, Opening Night Film)
- Gig Harbor Film Festival 2024 (Washington Premiere)
- Orlando Film Festival 2024 (Florida Premiere)
🏆 Winner of Best Short Story at the Milestone International Film Festival 2024
🏆 Winner of Best Super Short at the Alternative Film Festival 2024
Written & Directed by me:
- A Estrella Cadente (Coming Soon!), an animated feature set in 1995 rural Brazil, inspired by the magic of Ghibli films and the heart of Brazilian culture. It follows Andrè and his sister Luisa, two siblings navigating a changing world, discovering beauty in the quiet moments of childhood, and facing the realities of growing up. This project is deeply personal to me, it is a love letter to the stories I grew up with and the ones I want to share. Currently in pre-production.
- Gaming Hearts (2023), a short film about the blurred lines between virtual and in-person friendships, following Olivia and Tristan, two gamers who form a bond online but struggle to translate their connection into the real world. As someone who grew up (chronically) online, this story speaks to that era of Omegle chatting and KIK texting with strangers. Exploring how digital relationships can feel just as real, even when the distance is vast.
- Echoes of the City (2022) follows a young photographer lost in an artistic rut, rediscovering inspiration in unexpected places. Set in Boston, it's a reflection on creative burnout and the moments that remind us why we fell in love with art in the first place. This project is especially close to me as it was born from my own experiences of struggling with artistic doubt and finding beauty in the mundane.
(Finally, if you've made it this far, thank you!! I appreciate your taking the time to explore my work. Hope you enjoy the rest of my site.)
:3