Mahaliyah Ayla O is an award winning filmmaker from the Bay Area. She holds an MFA in Film & Television Production from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Her MFA thesis film, Masks, experienced an extensive festival run, during which it won 3 awards in the NBCUniversal Short Film Festival and was a Finalist in the Student Academy Awards®.
She is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment.

___________AWARDS & NOMINATIONS___________

"MASKS"

NBCUniversal 2018 Short Film Festival
Outstanding Drama
Audience Award
Critics Choice Award

2018 Student Academy Awards
Finalist

Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival
AT&T Audience Award for Best Short

Iris Prize
Finalist

BENT: the 27th annual Sacramento LGBTQ Film Festival
Best Short

TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival
Audience Award for Best Lesbian Short Film

Dayton LGBT Film Festival Audience Award
Best Drama

Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
Best LGBT Short

New York Los Angeles International Film Festival
Best Narrative Short

OUTshine - Fort Lauderdale Film Festival
Audience Award for Best Short Film

Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival
Best Student Director

Freiburger Lesbenfilmtage
Golden Tanna Award

North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Festival
Best Emerging Filmmaker

DC Black Film Festival
Best Student Film
Best Director

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