Michelle Paymar

Michelle Paymar is a director, producer and writer specializing in documentary film and television. Her work has aired in prime-time on the major networks and cable channels and been recognized with awards and honors including the prestigious Cine Golden Eagle, The Genesis Award for ""ongoing commitment to environmental issues,"" the Nancy Susan Reynolds Advocates for Youth Award, the Environmental Media Award for ""best special on the environment"" and the Silver Medal for documentary at the Houston International Film Festival.

She was a fellow at the American Film Institute where she received a Master of Fine Arts degree in film directing. Paymar also attended Stanford’’s Mass Media Institute and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California at Berkeley where she majored in English Literature and Women’’s Studies.

Her documentary film on the classic blues singer and songwriter Sippie Wallace, was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, screened for the PBS JAZZ ON FILM series, the San Francisco International Film Festival and other film festivals in the U.S. and Europe.

Her pioneering AIDS documentary, FOR OUR LIVES, was completed in 1984 as the devastating health crisis was just emerging on the American scene. The film received the Cine Golden Eagle award, and was honored with screenings at film festivals in the U.S. and abroad.

Paymar’’s assignments for television take her all over the world. She is currently producing, directing and writing documentary productions for the Discovery Channel and developing independent film and video projects.