Thymaya Payne
May 9th - 22nd

Thymaya Payne is a bi-racial/queer/writer/filmmaker. Thymaya’s first feature film was a 5-year journey into Somali piracy called, “Stolen Seas", which was hailed as “magnificent” by the New York Times and Variety. In 2015, Thymaya co-wrote and produced the independent film “Live Cargo” directed by Logan Sandler, starring Lakeith Stanfield and Dree Hemingway. Thymaya also co-wrote “Across Our Lands,” directed by Fiona Godivier and executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. In 2018 Thymaya developed a television series called “Scrap” with Samuel L. Jackson attached. 

While in residence, Payne will continue the development of a multi-tiered documentary/biopic about the life of Walter F. White, an overlooked American Civil Rights hero.