Sam Kelly
Sam is drawn to projects with authentic performances and strong expressive moods.
Sam’s feature film debut Savage screened at Busan, London, and Shanghai film festivals and garnered glowing reviews. It opened at #1 at the New Zealand box office and is one of the top 20 highest-grossing films locally. Savage was released theatrically in the UK on 150 screens by Vertigo Releasing and in Australia by Madman Entertainment.
Sam’s earlier short film Lambs won the Jury Prize and Audience Award at the New Zealand International Film Festival 2012 and was invited to screen in competition at the Berlinale, Clermont Ferrand, Melbourne, and Uppsala international film festivals. He has also made other short films, including winning Wellington’s 48HOURS filmmaking competition three years running.
In 2010 Sam was named SPADA Young Filmmaker of the Year, New Zealand’s top award for emerging filmmakers. He has a Masters in Screenwriting from the International Institute of Modern Letters, New Zealand’s premier postgraduate screenwriting programme, and is currently writing his next film.
© Flying Saucer 2021