The filmmakers have spent the past 3 years traveling to some of the world’s most violent locales in order to make this documentary on Somali piracy, Stolen Seas.
Utilizing exclusive interviews and unparalleled access to real pirates, hostages, hostages’ relatives, ship-owners, pirate negotiators and experts on piracy and international policy, Stolen Seas presents a chilling exploration of the Somali pirate phenomenon. The film throws the viewer, through audio recordings and found video, right into the middle of the real-life hostage negotiation of a Danish shipping vessel, the CEC Future. As the haggling between the ship’s stoic owner Per Gullestrup, and the pirate’s loquacious negotiator, Ishmael Ali, drags on for 70 days, these two adversaries’ relationship takes an unexpected turn and an unlikely friendship is born. Stolen Seas is an eye opening refutation of preconceived ideas on how or why piracy has become the world’s most frightening multi-million dollar growth industry.
“Riveting”
“‘Stolen Seas’ assembles an impressive array of articulate experts on such subjects, cramming everything from Somali history to ethical introspection — everyone who buys imported fish and goods is implicated — into a head-spinning, pulse-pounding thriller.”
- Peter Debruge, Variety (Full Article)
“Thymaya Payne’s bold debut feature steps back for a view of Somali piracy that’s both broader and more incisive than most mainstream news coverage.”
- Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter (Full Article)
“Stolen Seas is a gripping and eye-opening film about Somali piracy that shows us that things are often not what they seem. Full of rich moral dilemmas, fresh perspectives, rigorous journalism and visually striking storytelling, Stolen Seas takes us on an emotional journey where we are forced to re-examine our prejudices about a misunderstood African reality.”
- Palm Springs International Film Fest Jury (Full report)
Cast and Crew
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