Today we’d like to introduce you to Yasmin Josiah.
Yasmin is a 24 yr old Brooklyn and London based Writer-Director, videographer, editor and filmmaker. Being Antiguan, British and African-American, as well as a queer, non-binary person—Yasmin’s mission inevitably originated within her complex exploration of her intersection of identity as an individual.
As a storyteller, her vocation has thus always been to give voice and perspectives to a variety of social justice narratives, reflecting the multiple communities that she represents. In 2015 Her directorial debut Consent: The Truth About Sexual Assault was a short experimental film to raise awareness for the growing number of sexually abused victims in the UK. It was accepted into the Visionaria International Film Festival and came runner up in the Malala Youth Competition, and had over 6K views on Facebook.
In her Freshman year at Purchase, she produced her thesis short film Sade Simmons a non-dialogue social narrative piece on police brutality. It went on to be showcased in The International Afro Film Festival – Ananse in Columbia. Her sophomore film Waxing Moon followed a young woman exploring her gender fluidity. Her Junior thesis film And Then Some (2018), was based on the shooting of Renisha McBride about racially motivated gun violence and gained interest to be released on a major streaming platform. Yasmin ended Purchase with her Senior thesis For Lovers, Dreamers & Me featuring a black trans lead and their complex journey through young love and relationships.
In her junior year, Yasmin was chosen to represent the college on an international film crew, Ms. Josiah proposed and co-directed a film showing how rising oceans endanger the remote island community of Ganvie, Benin. Following graduation in May 2019, Yasmin began working as a freelance project-based videographer for The Phluid Project, the world’s first gender-fluid clothing store in Soho, NY. There she develops content for their video series- In Phocus, creating short-form videos featuring queer/non-binary artists. There she also shot their campaign video for their NYFW Fall collection UNBOUND/BOUND.
During this time, Yasmin also traveled to Alabama as head producer and DP to film Forbidden Fruit, a pro-choice short film written by Liza Jane Richey. The short was based on her true experience and in response to the Alabama Abortion Ban. The film was supported, funded and acknowledged by gofundme, donors and organizations across the world e.g., Planned Parenthood and the yellowhammer fund. It has screened and premiered in NY and Alabama, and with future screening planned across the southeast.
Yasmin still freelances and regularly shoots concerts, music videos, dance shows, web series, etc. in the city. She also freelances AC and Camera PA. Her drive is to share multifaceted stories that you don’t often see on screen and to respond and reflect with socio-political work through different styles, genres and forms. Yasmin splits her time in between New York and London, the former her birthplace and the latter where she grew up. She is a dual citizen of the US and UK. She is currently living and working in New York City. She welcomes all and any pronouns.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think any road worth taking will be smooth, as cliche as it sounds. Taking risks is part of the process. I think also realising your road will look different to anyone’s: friends, peers, family. And that is a great thing but often easy to forget. I think identity is very important and I believe it’s the artists’ duty to reflect the lives we live. There is room for you and your voice and you just have to make it. Why waste your time trying to sound and be like anyone else when you are the only you to exist and therefor already unique. I think I would say that to young femmes to learn to protect their mental and process and really just remember that their biggest commitment in life should be to yourself. Especially to black femmes or nonbinary individuals, you’re already revolutionary by daring to express and be yourself and so therefore should never limit or compromise that when it comes to your art.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
After being accepted into SUNY Purchase, I was driven to push forth my interest and passion in political art, social narratives, identity and expression. With my training, it became my mission to share multifaceted experiences and give representation to stories you don’t often see on screen, responding to the socio-political climate.
She/They. I am a 24 yr old femme Brooklyn and London based freelance Writer-Director, Videographer and Editor. I am an active filmmaker and recently graduated from the Film Conservatory at SUNY Purchase with a B.F.A in Film/Film Production in May 2019.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Yes definitely. There is a lot to reflect on that I feel as though I am still finding and exploring that in my work. And my family was very supportive of that expression but gave me room and pushed me to really pursue something that makes me feel good.
Contact Info:
- Email: y.josiah11@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thisisyasminj
- Twitter: @thisisyasminj
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