Yaya is a Russian-American screenwriter and director. Keep It Quiet, Yaya's directing debut, won Best Live Action Short at the Warsaw Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying), was nominated for Best U.S. Short at the Palm Springs ShortFest, and selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick after its online premiere on Short of the Week and Directors' Library. Yaya has a background in lighting and cinematography and experience in producing and editing. Currently, Yaya is finishing post-production on a new short film, co-produced with Stereotactic. Yaya earned an M.F.A. from Temple University, was an Associate Professor of Film Studies at Saint Cloud State University, and will teach Advanced Filmmaking and Screenwriting courses at Wesleyan.