Institute Film Series 2017–18: Stolen Seas

Stolen Seas is a chilling documentary which explores the current situation of Somalia, a country on the brink, through the phenomenon of piracy. The central focus is the hijacking of the CEC Future, a Danish merchant-ship. Using audio recordings, interviews, found film footage and access to the pirates themselves, the film weaves together the perspectives of the various protagonists and refutes Western notions of why piracy has become an industry in and of itself in Somalia.

Independent film director Thymaya Payne won the Best Film Swiss Critics Boccalino Award for his film Stolen Seas (2012). He is based in Mexico City and also co-wrote and produced the independent film Live Cargo.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Lee Cassanelli, Associate Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, whose work focuses on Somali Studies.