While Tom Hanks and the new Captain Phillips film are hotly tipped for Oscar glory, another film about Somali piracy sees one of its main protagonists facing possible prosecution.

Stolen Seas tells the true story of the hijacking of a Danish vessel by Somali pirates in 2008.

Director Thymaya Payne spent months on the ground in Somalia to understand why so many turn to piracy. Ishmael Ali, a Somali native and US citizen who negotiated on behalf of the pirates participated in the film.

Asked on The Green Room, whether Ali was paid by the hijackers, the director says he doesn’t know.

“He never answered yes or no to that question to me. I don’t have any evidence that he was or wasn’t.”

Ishmael Ali was subsequently arrested and accused of being a pirate himself and now faces trial in the United States.

Thymaya Payne expects to be called to appear at the trial. 

“I know Ali didn’t think he was doing anything wrong,” says Payne.

Listen here for the full interview with the Director of Stolen Seas Thymaya Payne on The Green Room with Orla Barry:

The Green Room airs at the brand new time of 9pm-11pm Saturday evenings.