Sam Chegini (b. January 27, 1992, Tehran, Iran) is an award-winning filmmaker, music video director, animator, and multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges fine art and cutting-edge visual storytelling. Raised in an artistic family, Sam developed a deep passion for the arts from an early age. By overcoming the challenges of pursuing creative work in Iran, he built an international career that spans music, film, animation, and visual design.

At just 14, Sam founded Sam Pictures Productions, his personal studio, and began freelancing as a filmmaker and artist. His early work included puppeteering for television and producing The Lyre of Mesopotamia (2009) with the Voice of Peace group, supported by UN-Habitat and IAARA. The project won Best Video Art at the 1st Persbookart Contest (2010), judged by Edward Lucie-Smith.

Sam’s breakthrough came with the animated music video Traveller (2009) for Dutch singer-songwriter Linde Nijland. The video earned international recognition, winning the Royal Reel Award at the Canada International Film Festival (2013), placing 2nd at the Boomtown Film and Music Festival, and topping the Frisian charts on Klipkar+TV.

Since then, Sam has collaborated with acclaimed artists across the globe. Highlights include:

• The Cops Don’t Know (2016) for Sir Lenny Henry (BAFTA winner), produced by Chris Porter – praised as a “labor of love” and winner of the FERA-LUCERO Award at UNAOC Plural+ Youth Video Festival.

• The Trouble with Angels (2020) and Uncertain Times (2020, ft. Al Murray) for King Crimson’s Jakko M. Jakszyk.

• Aqualung (2021, premiered in Rolling Stone) and Sad City Sisters / The Zealot Gene (2022) for Jethro Tull.

• Free Hand (2021) for Gentle Giant.

• Legacy (2021) for Chris de Burgh – winner of Best Music Video at the Tassvir Film Festival (2022).

Beyond music videos, Sam’s versatility extends to theater, puppetry, and cultural programming. He worked as a puppeteer in the feature film The City of Mice 2 (2014), served as video and mapping artist for the play MANUS (2016–2017), and curated the 9th Wordless International Short Film Festival (2017) with simultaneous screenings in Iran and Australia. In 2018, he launched SamChats, a YouTube talk show spotlighting international artists for Persian-speaking audiences, featuring guests such as Neil Taylor, Lena Katina, and Alex Jolig.

In recent years, Sam has continued to innovate with high-profile collaborations. In 2024, he directed three animated music videos for Benjamin Croft’s We Are Here to Help, featuring Jeff Scott Soto and Lynsey Ward, and three videos for Marsha Swanson’s Near Life Experience, including the animation In Touch (selected at the 30th Portobello Film Festival). His 2025 releases include Like an Angel for Swanson and festival-recognized works In Touch and Wrestling with Plato, the latter earning an Honorary Mention for Best Music Video at the 21st Tassvir Film Festival.

Sam’s work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Cartoon Brew, MTV, BBC, and PRS Guitars, and praised by industry icons including Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, who described him as “a talented young man with a bright future in the music arts.”

An alumnus of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Intercultural Leaders program, Sam continues to explore the intersections of animation, design, and storytelling. His mission remains clear: to create art that transcends boundaries and inspires audiences worldwide.