IYABO KWAYANA
EDUCATION
UCLA School of Theater Film and Television, Los Angeles, CA
MFA in Production (Cinematography, Directing)
Graduated with honors December 2014
SPELMAN COLLEGE, (Atlanta, GA)
Bachelor of Arts, English Minor: French
Graduated with honors 2002
•16mm film, 35mm film, Digital RedOne MX, Red Epic, DSLR•
WORK EXPERIENCE
Relevant Production Expereince
2015 Los Soñadores, Los Angeles/ Arizona 19 minute narrative film, Director, Cinematograher
Camera Operator: Nate E.
2015 Macarrão, Brazil(Narrative) 19 minute Writer, Director, Executive Producer
2014 Urban Jewels, United States (Documentary, Series) Director, Producer, Cinematographer
2013 Permangola: Preparando oFuturo, Brazil (Documentary about Permaculture and Capoeira in Brazil) Cinematographer, Editor
2013 Bound (feature length Documentary) Co-Cinematographer
2011 Los Gigantes, The Giants, Cuba (Documentary 30 minute) Co-Producer, Director, and Co-Cinematographer
2010 La Receta: (The Recipe) narrative, 8 minute short film, Producer, Director, Writer, Editor
2010 El Nazareno (Black Christ), Panama (Documentary 20 minute) Producer, Director, Writer, Cinematographer
2009 My Name is Ani Acta: (narrative ) Producer, Director, Writer, Editor
2009 Gentelle’s Wings: (Narrative) Writer, Director, and Producer
2008 Light Under the Shroud: (Documentary ) Producer, Writer, Director
2008 Righting the Wrongs: (Documentary) Producer, Writer, Director
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
2014 Urban Jewels, Director of Photography
2014 Resistencia da Capoeira Angola, Director of Photography
2013 All Men are Flowers, Director Shirley Kim
2012 Special Moments by Oksana, Director Sarah Jean Kruchowski
2012 Maria Moderne, Director Shirley Kim
2011 Live the Dream, Kamillah Meek
2012, Interviews, WPA Political Struggles, Produced Rawle Parris, Guyana, South America
2011, A Love Story, Director Fernando Scarpa
2012, Fulbright Hays Doc on Umbunto Societies, Tanzania, Produced Dr. Fredoline Anonobi
2011, Los Gigantes, Co-Director of Photographer
2011 Guyana cultural association, The Village Hang Festival
2010, El Nazareno, Director, Producer, Director of Photography
2010 Little Creatures, Dir Chelsey Dubiel
2009 See No Evil, Dir. Charlie Guillen
RELEVANT PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE
Gaffer: The Shelter
Gaffer, Camera Operator, Focus Puller: A Love Story Dir Lauren Hoekstra
Assistant Camera: The Wiz, Dir Doug Turner
Assistant Camera El Renacimeinto (Rebirth) Dir Angel Granados
Assistant Camera Take Your Child to Work Day Dir of Photography Rose Frandem-Johnston
Assistant Camera, The Wiz, Dir Doug Turner
Assistant Camera Dad’s Gone Director of Youna Jin
2nd Assistant Camera Don’t Break the Circle, Dir Chen Wei
2nd Assistant Camera Family Pride Dir Moana Sherril
Assistant Director: The Splendorettes Dir Doug Turner
Assistant Director: Pretty Dresses, Dir Moana Sherril
2nd Assistant Director: Family Pride, Dir Moana Sherril
Art Assistant: Arthur and the Bunnies, Dana Turken
Special Affiliations and Honors:
2015 UCLA Spotlight Film Festival Myrl Schribeman Award for Directing "Macarrão
2015 UCLA Festival Best Cinematography "All Men are Flowers"
2015 BlackStar Film Festival Audience Choice Award
2015 Game Changers Fellowship for social change
2013-2014 Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, Department of Education (Portuguese)
DJANGO UNCHAINED, Quentin Tarantino, Locations Department- Intern Title: Locations coordinator- October 2011- March 2012
2012 CARROLL SAX AWARD IN MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION (THESIS AWARD)
2012 EDIE AND LEW WASSERMAN FILM PRODUCTION FELLOWSHIPS
2012 WOMEN IN FILM FOUNDATION / LOREEN ARBUS FELLOWSHIP IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
2012 STANLEY KRAMER FELLOWSHIP IN FILM DIRECTING
2012-2013 GRADUATE DIVIION FELLOWSHIP FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
2012 MARY PICKFORD AWARD
2011 MARY PICKFORD AWARD
2011 MOTION PICTURE AWARD
2011 UC INTIAVIVE CUBA RESEARCH GRANT
2010 FULBRIGHT-HAYES TANZNIA
1997-2001 BONNER FOUNDATION AWARD for faithful and consistent community service
1998-2001 SCHOOL WIDE HONORS
1998-2001 DEPARTMENTAL HONORS, ENGLISH, SPELMAN COLLEGE
2014 MFA WITH HIGH HONORS, UCLA
Special Projects and Enterprises:
Solidarity Project, founder: a study abroad, film and photography program that teaches youngsters between the ages of 9 and 14 the fundamentals of photography and video production and takes them education culturally enriching trips around the world.