Samantha Stevens was born and raised in the East Bay, in the quaint small town of Point Richmond, CA. She received her education at California State University of Monterey Bay obtaining a degree in Teledramatic Arts & Technology, a major that combines Film, Television, Theatre, Radio and New Media. Documentary films are her passion, life looking through the camera lens is what she lives for.
Samantha's first film, Bingo: A Game of Chance is a five-minute documentary on the underground world of bingo, giving you a sneak preview into the lives of bingo players at the Marin Rod & Gun Club. This film stars a popular East Bay psycho-billy rock band, the Phenomenauts, for the soundtrack. Bingo: A Game of Chance was awarded the Rose Bud Award from the CSU Media Arts Film Festival 2004, received finalist status in 2005 at the Tiburon International Film Festival, and won First Place Documentary at the Alice Radio Three Minute Film Festival in 2005.
Her second film, THRIFT TOWN: GET USED., is a celebration of a beloved Bay Area Thrift Store. It provides a look inside the thrift culture, showing how shopping second-hand can be so much more than just a good deal. This film features local San Francisco band, La Plebe! Samantha is excited to share this film with the world. This film was screened at the San Francisco Doc Fest in 2010 and won first place in the Indie Roar Online Film Competition in 2010. Her latest film, The Salt of the Earth, is currently in production.
Samantha's other passion is directing activist theater. She has been involved with the V-Day movement for seven years, helping raise money for organizations dedicated to stopping violence against women.
Samantha is passionate about stories that celebrate the human spirit and the working class, to represent the people that are often misrepresented or forgotten altogether. She also aspires to create and collaborate on films that empower women and show them in roles of strength and survival.
