Tracie Laymon is an American screenwriter, producer, and film director. Raised in Houston, Texas, she studied film at the University of Texas at Austin. Laymon began her film career in Texas, where she created music videos and short films recognized at various film festivals.
She directed Goodnight Burbank, recognized as the first half-hour comedy series for the internet, which premiered on Hulu in April 2011 and was acquired by Mark Cuban for HDNet later that year. Her short film A Hidden Agender premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival and won the Jury Award for Best Dark Comedy at WorldFest Houston.
Laymon was later named to the Independent Film Channel's list of emerging "Icons" and "Film Innovators." She has worked on various projects, including a segment of the women’s anthology film Girls!Girls!Girls!, which starred Elaine Hendrix and Octavia Spencer. Her scripted material has received multiple accolades, including Best Screenplay at the LA Comedy Festival and Best TV Pilot at HollyShorts.
Her 2018 short film Mixed Signals premiered at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts Fest and won several awards for Best Director at various festivals. Laymon has also directed a proof-of-concept pilot for Tess Allen's Matched and served as an observing director on Showtime's Shameless. She has taught both animation and live-action filmmaking at organizations like Ghetto Film School and on Stanford and Berkeley campuses.
Her short film Ghosted received multiple awards in 2020 and 2021, including Best Director at the Big Bear Film Summit, Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series, Method Fest and Women Texas Film Festival as well as Best Short Film, Best Director and Best Writer at the Seattle Film Festival. The film also won the top prize, the "Superstar" award, at LA Under the Stars festival.
Career
Texas Laymon was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She pursued film studies at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2004, she received recognition for her early directorial work on the music video "better?" for the group 54 Seconds, which won the SXSW Jury Award that same year. She spent time in Austin, Texas, creating short films and worked on the production staff of The Real World: Austin.
California Laymon worked as a production assistant on the 2007 film Blades of Glory and served as office manager for the 2008 film U2 3D. By 2009, she was based in Los Angeles as a filmmaker. In May 2009, her music video "Falling From Mars," featuring musician Alyssa Campbell, won the Music Video Award at the on Location: Memphis International Film Festival. Laymon directed the short film Inside, which premiered at the Milan International Film Festival in May 2009 and was nominated for Best Short Film at the festival. Additionally, she was featured as part of the Independent Film Channel's "IFC Icons," highlighting her contributions to film and video.
Filmography Year Film Role2009InsideDirector, Producer, Writer2011Girls! Girls! Girls!Director, Writer2011A Hidden AgenderDirector, Writer2011Goodnight BurbankDirector, Writer (uncredited)2018Mixed SignalsDirector, Producer, Writer2020GhostedDirector, Producer, Writer 2024 Bob Trevino Likes It Director, Producer, Writer
Awards and nominations
Year Award Project Category Result2004SXSW Film Festivalbetter?Best Music VideoWon2008Las Vegas International Film FestivalFalling From MarsGolden Aces AwardWonOn Location: Memphis International Film FestBest Music VideoWonThe Feel Good Film FestivalBest Music VideoWon2009Milan International Film Festival AwardsInsideBest Short Film NominatedFantastic FestOfficial SelectionSelectedWomen's Image Network (WIN) AwardsBest Short FilmWon2011Dallas International Film FestivalGirls! Girls! Girls! (Segment: A Hidden Agender)Official SelectionSelectedSan Diego Film FestivalBest Feature Film NominatedTwin Cities Film FestivalOfficial SelectionSelectedCarmel Art and Film FestivalOfficial SelectionSelectedBeverly Hills Short Film FestivalBest Short FilmSelectedLA Comedy FestivalOfficial Selection and Best Actress NominatedLouisville International Film FestivalOfficial SelectionSelectedLa Femme Beverly HillsBest ProducersWon2012Houston International Film FestivalBest Dark ComedyWon2013LA Comedy FestivalOne Small Step for NeilBest ScreenplayWon2018Catalina Film FestivalMixed SignalsBest Short NominatedLA Femme International Film FestivalBest Short NominatedLA Shorts International Film FestivalBest Short Film NominatedLouisville's International Festival of FilmJury Award NominatedPortland Film Festival, USBest Short Film NominatedWomen Texas Film FestivalBest DirectorWon2019Independent Shorts AwardBest Director (Female) WonMethod FestBest Director WonLA Under the Stars Film FestivalBest Writer Won2021Catalina Film FestivalSaturday Night LesbianBest Feature Screenplay 1st PlaceBig Bear Film SummitGhostedBest Director WonBest Narrative Short Film WonBig Sur International Short Film Screening SeriesBest DirectorWonLA Shorts International Film FestivalBest Short Film NominatedLos Angeles Shorts & Script FestivalBest of Festival WonHollywood Gold AwardsBest Director WonFlickers' Rhode Island International Film FestivalBest Short Film NominatedPortland Film FestivalBest Short Film NominatedSan Diego International Film FestivalBest Short Film NominatedSeattle Film FestivalBest Short WonBest Director WonBest Writer WonWomen Texas Film FestivalBest Director WonStoryteller Award WonYucca Valley Film FestivalBest Short Film Won2022LA Under the Stars Film FestivalSuperstar (Best Rated Film) Won2024SXSW Film FestivalBob Trevino Likes ItNarrative Feature WonSan Diego Film Festival Won WonHamptons International Film Festival WonNew Hampshire International Film Festival WonNashville Film Festival WonNewport Beach Film FestivalBest Actor (John Leguizamo) WonRome International Film FestivalNarrative Feature WonBest Actress (Barbie Ferreira) WonBest Support Actor (French Stewart) WonTallgrass Film FestivalNarrative Feature WonDenver Film FestivalNarrative Feature (Audience Award) WonVirginia Film Festival WonAnchorage International Film FestivalBest Director WonNarrative Feature Won2025Dublin International Film FestivalBest Screenplay WonHouston Latino Film FestivalAudience Award for Best Narrative Feature WonImagen AwardsBest Feature Film WonThe Astra AwardsIndie Spotlight Award Won
See also List of film and television directors Music video director
References
Further reading
External links