Karina Lomelin Ripper is a Mexican-American writer and director whose films focus on the rebels, misfits, and rule-breakers, characters who push against society and institutions, in order to stay true to themselves.  

She was selected for a coveted spot in the AFI Directing Workshop for Women+ class of 2025. In the program, she directed her coming-of-age short, There’s a Devil Inside Me. The film won for Best U.S. Latina Director at its world premiere at LALIFF 2025. 

Her previous short, a gothic horror film, Chispa, was supported by Fujifilm and won the Audience Award at the Rise Showcase and Best Oregon Filmmaker at the McMinnville Film Fest.  

Karina has a background in producing on commercials for clients such as Nike, Google, and Adidas and associate producing on shows for National Geographic WILD, The Discovery Channel and HBO Documentary Films. 

She is a fellow of the Hola Mexico’s: Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today 2024. Her films have received a Vimeo Staff Pick, premiered on PBS and No Budge and screened at festivals all over the globe. 

Karina is in development on a feature film, Silver Blankets, which was a finalist for the inaugural Sundance Cultural Impact Residency 2025. 

She splits her time between Los Angeles, California and Portland, Oregon, where she enjoys growing flowers and camping with her partner and pup.