BIO
SAMANTHA LAVIN is a director, assistant director, and writer who has worked on film and television projects including “Dear White People”, “Roar” and “Lucifer”. Sam 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” is beginning its festival run after a premiere at LA Live in Los Angeles. Her latest pilot script “Queens Village” was a 2023 finalist at the Screencraft Pilot competition, Almanac Writers Fellowship and is in the top 1 percent of TV Drama Pilots on Coverfly’s Red List. Samantha optioned a hybrid scripted/reality show to NBC Universal called “Out of the Frying Pan” about a queer female former addict who tries to open a restaurant under the shadow of her wealthy conservative restaurateur father. She was hired her to direct the presentation pilot. She also 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.” Sam has several other scripts including "7 on 10", about a WNBA basketball player incarcerated for killing a woman in an alcoholic blackout. It was accepted to Outfest's Screenwriting Lab and placed as a finalist in several screenwriting competitions. Samantha has served on the Lesbian and Gay Advisory board of West Hollywood as well as Women for Sobriety Center; an organization serving formerly incarcerated women.