Kazina Maxine (Sheena Maxine Smith Pruiett) is an Oklahoma City-born filmmaker, writer, and actress dedicated to crafting vivid, narrative-driven stories. She is currently making her directorial debut with the short film, Inside the Paint. The film follows a young athlete whose basketball dreams are shattered by severe seizures, forcing him to rely on faith and community to fight his toughest battle yet—inside the paint of his new reality. Before pivoting to cinema, Kazina served for over a decade in the Air Force Civilian Service, a background that instills deep leadership, character, and humbleness into her creative process. A dedicated staff volunteer for the annual Sundance Film Festival and an active member of the Sundance Collab community, Kazina is passionate about TV and film development, aiming to lead by example and champion stories that uplift fellow artists in the industry.
