M.F.A. in Film Production from UCLA and B.A. in Women Studies from UC Santa Barbara
Shammi Samano is a director and producer whose films have been screened at numerous film festivals and cultural institutions worldwide, including the Dubai International Film Festival, San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and the Berkeley Pacific Film Archive. Drawing on her personal journey as an Iraqi immigrant, her films craft compelling narratives that illuminate the complexities of diaspora life while foregrounding issues of gender and sexuality—particularly within the context of the Middle East.
Among other films, she produced Finding Mr. & Mrs Right: Dubai Style -- an off-beat documentary that follows Dubai’s young generation as they juggle tradition and newfound freedom, revealing how they redefine love, dating, and family expectations while searching for their “perfect” match. Most recently, her film Doorways is a vivid portrait of the immigrant experience in Lisbon, Portugal, set against the historically multicultural neighborhood surrounding the Martim Moniz metro station. It premiered at the Lisbon Indie Film Festival in 2025.
Ms. Samano holds an MFA in Film Production from UCLA and a BA in Women’s Studies from UCSantaBarbara. She has taught film and video production at various higher education institutions in the United States and Dubai.
