Though she was too young to know the definition of an artist, Hana Mitchell knew she’d be one. Her artistic impulses and keen eye for detail exhibited as a child were a foreshadowing. Little did she know how right her instincts were. Today, Mitchell is known as a Telly Award-winning and Emmy-Nominated Film Editor and Storyteller and co-owner of Chicago’s renowned Impakt Studio.
While still finishing up her studies at Columbia College Chicago, Mitchell, along with her business partner Chris Adams, launched Impakt Studio, where she began making her mark directing and editing music videos for artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Eric Roberson, and Teresa Griffin. Since then, her storytelling and technical mastery have shaped a diverse range of projects, including documentaries, specialized broadcast content, and feature films and shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BET, and major film festivals around the world.
N’DIGO recently caught up with the in-demand visual craftswoman to learn more about her journey into the world of film editing and what she has in store for the future.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Hana Mitchell?
Hana Mitchell: I’m a visionary at heart, a creative soul in every aspect of the word—a visual storyteller at her core.
What are three words that family and friends would use to describe you?
Creative. Intentional. Maverick.
What did you dream of being as a child?
I always knew I wanted to thrive in an artistic space in some capacity, even before I had the language for it. I couldn’t have told you then that it would look like film or editing, but I knew I wanted to be part of creating something that visually moves people.
Do you remember the first show or movie that caught your eye and opened your mind to the other side of the camera?
I don’t think it was just one show or movie for me; it was the realization that what I was watching was carefully crafted. There were moments where I started paying attention beyond the story itself… noticing the cuts, the pacing, the music, and how all of it worked together to shape how I felt. That curiosity turned into respect for the craft behind the camera.
How did you begin your path into the world of filmmaking and editing?
As a teenager, I got a chance to work on a project as a Production Assistant because a family friend worked as a Set Designer. I instantly fell in love with everything that happens on the other side of the camera, and the experience sparked what turned out to be a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. I even gave a couple of other gigs a try, including working as a floor runner at the Chicago Stock Exchange, but by the time college came around, I was still bursting with creativity, and that led me to attend Columbia College Chicago, and that is where the legend of Impakt Studio began.
Please tell us all about your company, Impakt Studio, and your role as partner and lead editor.
Impakt Studio is more than a media company; we are a creative hub. We specialize in visual storytelling that centers authenticity, culture, and connection. As partner and lead editor, I shape the narrative vision behind our projects. I’m responsible for turning footage into something meaningful, something that resonates. We work with brands, creatives, and organizations that want their stories told with intention and impakt, not just content. True to the name 🙂
For those who don’t know, editing can be really tedious. What is it about the craft that keeps you excited?
It’s definitely a time-intensive craft, but editing has always felt natural to me as a woman because I feel it’s where emotion and structure meet. What really pulled me into editing is that you’re helping curate someone else’s vision and you’re shaping how it lands in the world. That responsibility felt so dope to me. Once I started learning the tools, and realizing I had a natural instinct for timing and storytelling. Over time, that curiosity turned into a skill. That skill turned into a profession, and the profession has become my purpose in helping tell people’s stories.
What are some of the unique challenges you’ve faced as a Black woman in your industry?
When I first started in this field, being a Black woman in this space was kind of rare. You’re not always immediately seen as the authority in the room, so being underestimated was definitely one of the biggest ones. At the same time, I’ve also seen and experienced so much support and opportunity from Black Women firsthand. Black Women are magic, and we have been magic!
Do you have a favorite or little-known Women’s History fact?
What I love most is how many women, especially us Black women, have shaped storytelling and media without always getting the credit. That quiet influence, that legacy, that paving of the way. That magic I was speaking of. It just reminds me that our presence and our voices matter, even when history doesn’t immediately acknowledge them.
Last great book you read?
I recently revisited Kahlil Gibran‘s “The Prophet“. It still holds up. I encourage anyone who hasn’t read it to check it out, and if you have read it, read it again. You get new things from it after living life.
Best advice to youth?
Keep going. Things will get in your way, but keep going and striving toward your goals.
Any favorite quotes or affirmations?
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison.
I think that idea extends to filmmaking as well, if there’s a story you want to see, you may be the one who has to help bring it into existence.
What’s next for Hana Mitchell?
I’m focused on expansion in every sense. Growing as a businesswoman and creative, stepping into larger projects, and helping tell stories on a bigger scale. Just continuing to build a life that honors my family, my faith, and the gifts I’ve been given.
For more on Hana Mitchell and Impakt Studio, please visit www.hanaedits.com and www.impaktstudio.com
