Writer & Filmmaker
Artist Statement
As a writer, I aim to capture the humor and heart of every story. My stories focus on the complex journeys of characters as they navigate through love and heartbreak, passion and purpose, or addiction and sobriety. Regardless of the genre, be it romantic comedy, family drama, or thriller, I prioritize the relationships between the characters and finding the emotional core of each story
About
Sam Santana is a screenwriter and filmmaker from Phoenix, Arizona. His love for film has been with him since he was a child, inspired by the numerous films he grew up watching, including the Coen Brothers' classic Raising Arizona. Sam began writing and directing short films as a teenager and hasn’t looked back. In 2016, he wrote, directed, and starred in the romantic drama Closing Doors, an official selection at the Phoenix Film Festival.
Sam honed his craft at the Scottsdale School of Film & Theatre at Scottsdale Community College, earning his associate degree in film and a certificate in screenwriting. Today, he resides in Chicago, IL, studying for his bachelor's degree in film at Columbia College Chicago. While attending Columbia College, Sam wrote the short film Wait and Remain, an official selection for the BA Capstone Production.
Sam volunteers for the Austin Film Festival in his free time, where he shares his screenwriting expertise as a script reader for their script competition.
