About Us
THORNBYRD FILMS
Thornbyrd is a boutique female led production company with branches in the US and Australia that focuses on telling unique and inclusive stories featuring female protagonists.
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The Legend of The Thornbird
There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. The whole world stills to listen, and the Goddess in her heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain, or so says the legend.
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Meet the
T-BYRDS
Shantell Yasmine Abeydeera
Executive Producer
Founder/CEO
Shantell Yasmine Abeydeera is an Australian-born, Sri Lankan made actor, director, writer, and producer who now occupies a small slice of Los Angeles, where she is committed to amplifying diverse and female-driven narratives.
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She is the founder of Thornbyrd Films, and led the production of its debut feature, ‘HEALED’, that earned the prestigious REFRAME STAMP from the Sundance Institute and Women in Film for its dedication to gender-balanced hiring.
Before establishing Thornbyrd, Shantell served as the Director of Content for queer female channel, OML.tv. She played a pivotal role in launching OML on Revry, the first 24/7 live TV channel dedicated to queer women and non-binary individuals. During her tenure, she created noteworthy LGBTQ+ titles like 'GIRLS LIKE MAGIC' and 'DATING IN PLACE.'
In addition to her work behind the camera, Shantell has appeared in various television shows, including HACKS (MAX), IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (FX), THE LINCOLN LAWYER (NETFLIX), GOOD GIRLS (NBC) and GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC).
Stacy Schneiderman
Executive Producer
Creative Development
Paul Bertolino
Consulting Producer
Creative Development
