Samantha Lavin

Samantha Lavin is a DGA 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 in its festival run, having continued success after premiering at the Burbank Film Festival. Her latest pilot script “Queens Village” was a 2023 finalist at the Screencraft Pilot competition, Almanac Writers Fellowship, is a current Semifinalist in the Roadmap Top Tier Competition and is in the top 1 percent of Drama Pilots on The 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. Currently, that script is optioned and in development with CL9 Productions. Samantha is anxious to direct her next project, is an avid if mostly heartbroken Clipper fan and continues to do volunteer work which has included serving on the Lesbian and Gay Advisory board of West Hollywood and the Women for Sobriety Center; an organization serving formerly incarcerated women.