Yasmin J. Lee

Biography

Yasmin Jaye (they/she) is an Afro-surrealist writer, director, and interdisciplinary artist based in South Carolina, whose work explores vulnerability and humanity through mixed media and intuitive storytelling. A Wofford College alum, they create emotionally rooted films that blend modern folklore with romanticized visuals to address intersectional themes such as misogynoir, collective trauma, and belonging. Their practice is shaped by generational memory and identity, unfolding like quiet thoughts before sleep. In 2019, Yasmin won a Southeast Emmy for a journalism segment on drag queens in Columbia, South Carolina. Their early films, “Black Girl Anxiety” and “Knot Just Hair,” sparked academic discussions and were presented in college courses in 2023. That same year, they completed Yale’s Summer Drama Program. After being named Best South Carolina Filmmaker at the 2024 SC Underground Film Festival, their recent work, “Girl Talks to God” and “Giant Momma Talk,” both screened at the 2024 Tryon International and 2025 Reedy Reels Film Festivals. Yasmin completed the South Carolina Film Commission’s WIDE Angle program. They’ve pitched their feature script, “Surrounded,” to executives, including Deniese Davis and Michael Quigley. They received the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Emerging Artist Grant to support their most recent short, “Spirits Talk.”