“AFI won a leading two of the eight total competitive awards tonight, with They Won’t Last from Richard C. Bailey, Brandon Gale and Portlynn Tagavi taking the Comedy prize.”
-Deadline
Out of Tune
We follow Maya from adolescence to adulthood, hiding, stumbling and otherwise challenging what it means to be Black. A grown woman still in search of her authentic voice. Yearning to live comfortably, Out of Tune.
Director - Portlynn Tagavi
Producer - Alexis Sterling
DP - Kalilah Robinson
Writer, Producer - Erika Hamilton
EPs - Christian Loubek, Mel Jones, Kristen Gerweck
Co-Producer - Diana Zollicoffer
Production Designer - Danny Cistone
ABOUT
Portlynn is a half Persian, half Creole Writer/Director.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois / Houston Texas, Portlynn moved out to California in 2010 to study Character Animation at the California Institute of the Arts. During her studies, she interned with Pixar Animation Studios where she developed her skills in visual language and narrative structure.
Before received her Masters in Directing at AFI (2019), she spent three years working professionally as a Character and Story Artist for Fox, Paramount, Psyop, the Jim Henson Company (SPLASH AND BUBBLES) and DreamWorks (TROLLS: THE BEAT GOES ON!) before making the jump to live action directing.
Her short film They Won't Last was shortlisted for the 2020 Student BAFTA and has been recognized by festivals such as LA Comedy Film Festival - (Best Director Winner), First Glance Film Festival - (Audience Award For Best Comedy Winner), Prague International Indie Film Festival - (Best Student Female Director Winner), Pensacola Indie Fringe and Comedy Festival - (Best Director Winner & Best Relationship Comedy Winner), and College Television Awards - (Best Comedy Short). She was also a Semi-Finalist for the 2020 HBO Directing Fellowship.
In addition to finishing up her festival run on her short Out Of Tune (Written by Erika Hamilton), and completing post on her other project We’re Gonna Die Alone, she has been working as a story artist at Netflix, where she just finished developing and leading their 2023 NETFLIX Story Trainee Program.
Netflix Credits Include The Magician’s Elephant and the upcoming feature comedy Thelma The Unicorn.
She will also be participating in the Film Independent’s 2024 Project Involve Program as a Directing Fellow.
CONTACT
Please use the form below to get in touch regarding work inquiries, teaching, guest lectures, interviews, etc. Thanks!
You can also email me at PORTLYNNTAGAVI@GMAIL.COM
