WRITER-DIRECTOR

Writer-director-singer-songwriter Samantha (Sam) Shaber grew up around the industry as daughter of screenwriter David Shaber (THE WARRIORS, HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER). Her debut feature script PEEPING MAUREEN has won 3 Best Screenplay awards (2025-26) and a Top Ten Finalist, and her two TV pilots “IVFU” and “Ed Fringe” have earned finalist and semifinalist nods. Sam’s directing debut, comedy short MY MOTHER THE STALKER, is an official selection this year at LA International Shorts Fest.

As a singer-songwriter, Sam’s released 12 albums and toured over 200,000 miles and as a live storyteller, she’s performed with The Moth, UCB, and her award-winning, sold-out, solo show Sam Shaber: Life, Death & Duran Duran which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe then had successful runs in New York and LA.

“I love the wholistic nature of filmmaking – how every sound, color, face, texture, emotion, eyeline, neck line, skyline, prop, setting, car, curtain, quip, backstory, coincidence, and craving mean something to the story you’re trying to tell. I love the collaborative aspect of filmmaking, (especially after years on the road as a solo singer-songwriter); how a large, diverse range of talented people, all with different specialties, bring their A-game to a singular project, building something both carefully mapped-out and utterly spontaneous at the same time.

“I love working with actors. As a writer, I aim to give them challenging, nuanced parts to explore. As a director, my goal is to nourish and support them as they nail the performances they want, finding the most productive and fun ways to communicate what we each are aiming for. And I love what they bring to the script, improving it many times beyond the page.

“Overall, filmmaking to me is the combination of every thought, person, pursuit, and lesson I’ve learned in my life, brought into focus and color. There’s nothing I want to do more!”

Sam Shaber, 2026