WRITER/DIRECTOR SKINNER MYERS is an award-winning filmmaker who currently resides in Lafayette, Colorado. Skinner wrote and directed four short films: CHIMERA, THE LAST SUPPER, OBSCURED, and NIGGER, while studying film at USC School of Cinematic Arts. His sixth film, LA TIERRA DEL EXODO, played in over 90 festivals worldwide and garnered a ton of awards including Best Screenplay and Best Short Film. His film, FRANK EMBREE, took home the Grand Jury Award at Hollyshorts Film Festival and was in the Oscar competition for Best Short Live Action. His film, NIGHTMARES BY THE SEA, premiered at the Art Film Festival in Cannes and his ninth film is still on the festival circuit.
THE SLEEPING NEGRO, had its World Premiere at the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, and its International Premiere at the 2021 Champs- Élysées Film Festival in Paris, France. It won the FIPRESCI Prize at IFFMH, and a VISIONARY AWARD at Cinequest. L.A. TIMES said, “Thematically, and in its magical realist flourishes, this furious meditation shares the lineage of recent films such as “Sorry to Bother You” or “Blindspotting”. SLANT MAGAZINE said, ““As befitting its title, The Sleeping Negro adopts an illusory aura throughout, aided by vibrant 16mm photography and a trancelike score. It’s clear that Myers is indebted to the aesthetic stunts performed by American auteurs like David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, and Darren Aronofsky at the turn of the century.” THE SLEEPING NEGRO was picked up for domestic and international distribution and is currently streaming on MUBI in the US and Universciné in France. His second feature, BEFORE YOU FLOAT AWAY INTO NOTHING will be released sometime in 2024/2025. Skinner is rep’d by THE GERSH AGENCY.
  • Producer (7 Credits)
    Moodswing Whiskey
    Feature
    Before You Fade Away Into Nothing2025
    Experimental, Feature
    The Sleeping Negro2021
    Feature
    Things of Beauty Burn2019
    Short
    Nightmares by the Sea2018
    Short
    Frank Embree2017
    Short
    The Land of Exodus2016
    Short
  • Writer (7 Credits)
    Moodswing Whiskey
    Feature
    Before You Fade Away Into Nothing2025
    Experimental, Feature
    The Sleeping Negro2021
    Feature
    Things of Beauty Burn2019
    Short
    Nightmares by the Sea2018
    Short
    Frank Embree2017
    Short
    The Land of Exodus2016
    Short
  • Director (7 Credits)
    Moodswing Whiskey
    Feature
    Before You Fade Away Into Nothing2025
    Experimental, Feature
    The Sleeping Negro2021
    Feature
    Things of Beauty Burn2019
    Short
    Nightmares by the Sea2018
    Short
    Frank Embree2017
    Short
    The Land of Exodus2016
    Short
  • Acting (4 Credits)
    Before You Fade Away Into Nothing2025
    Experimental, Feature
    The Sleeping Negro2021
    Feature
    Nightmares by the Sea2018
    Short
    Frank Embree2017
    Short
Official Selection
Before You Fade Away Into Nothing
Berlinale Critics Week
Berlin
2025
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
deadCenter Film Festival
Oklahoma City
2022
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
D'A Film Festival
Barcelona
2022
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Athens International Film + Video Festival
Athens
2022
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Ashland Independent Film Festival
Ashland
2022
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Manchester Film Festival
Manchester
2022
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
San Francisco Indie Fest
San Francisco
2022
Runner Up Best Narrative/Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Denton Black Film Festival
Denton
2022
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Afrykamera Film Festival
Warsaw
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
African Diaspora International Film Festival
New York City
2021
FIPRESCI AWARD/Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg
Mannheim
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
American Film Festival
Wroclaw
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Tertio Millennio Film Festival
Rome
2021
VISIONARY AWARD/Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Cinequest Film Festival
San Jose
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Denver Film Festival
Denver
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Champs Élysées Film Festival
Paris
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
African Diaspora International Film Festival
Washington D.C.
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Atlanta Film Festival
Atlanta
2021
Official Selection
The Sleeping Negro
Slamdance Film Festival
Salt Lake City
2021
Grand Jury Award
Frank Embree
Hollyshorts Film Festival
Los Angeles
2017
Best Short Film
The Land of Exodus
The Ridgewood Guild Film Festival
Ridgewood
2016
Best Cinematography
The Land of Exodus
Victoria TX Independent Film Festival
Victoria
2016
Finalist
The Land of Exodus
USA Film Festival
Dallas
Gold Remi Winner
The Land of Exodus
WorldFest International Film & Video Festival
Houston
Special Jury Mention
The Land of Exodus
PromoFest Short of the Year - Autumn
Madrid
College
Columbia University
BA East Asian Studies
20052008
College
Brooklyn College
MA International Affairs
20092011
College
USC
MFA Film and TV Production
20132014
College
University of Amsterdam
PHD Film Philosophy
2022Present
Birth Date
April 22, 1980
Nickname
Skinz
Birth City
Kalamazoo
Current City
Lafayette
Height
6'1"
Gender
Male
Ethnicity
Black
Eye Color
Brown
Zodiac Sign
Taurus
Married To
Azusa Yabe
Children
Yutaka and Jyuno
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