Samantha Lavin - Writer/Director
There’s a strong need for female directors with a unique vision, great storytelling ability, who know how to collaborate with actors and crew to create meaningful and impactful work.
My background as a DGA Assistant Director, experience directing successful short & long form projects along with a rich history of family insanity have built those qualities in me.
​
I bring a vision lending to dark humor, particularly to stories of family struggle, mental illness and wading through the perils of addiction and alcoholism.
I love the underdog and can crawl into the minds of these characters because I’ve been them.
Bio
​
Samantha is a DGA director, assistant director and writer who has
worked on film and television projects including
“Dear White People”, “Roar” and “Lucifer”.
​
She wrote and directed the short film, ​"In Memory of Me"​ which screened at over 40 festivals worldwide including Dances with Films and Frameline; winning multiple directing awards. Her latest short film “Val-e-ree” premiered at the USA FIlm Festival and is screening around the world.
Sam optioned a series to NBC Universal called “Out of the Frying Pan” and was hired to direct the presentation pilot.
She adapted and directed the British play “Key Change” in its West Coast premiere, receiving an LA Times 99 Seat Beat Critic’s Pick for
“…innovation and raw staging of a story highlighting women in prison.”
Her feature script "7 on 10", about a WNBA basketball player incarcerated for killing a woman in an alcoholic blackout is in late stage development with CL9 Productions and was on the 2023 Athena List for best unproduced screenplays by women. Her Pilot script
"Queens Village" is top 1% on Coverfly's Red List, a finalist in Screencraft's Pilot Competition and Runner up in Roadmap's Jumpstart Competition.
​
Samantha proudly served on the Lesbian and Gay Advisory board of West Hollywood as well as Women for Sobriety Center; an organization serving formerly incarcerated women and their children.
​