We had the good fortune of connecting with Saniya Samatova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saniya, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was already engaged in art since my parents sent me to a dance troupe, later to a musical school where during 7 years I pursued my knowledge in music. Later, I went to China to do my Bachelor’s in Journalism. During that period of time we shot our documentary films. Then I realized that I want to create movies.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As I mentioned previously, I do art: it includes any form of audio and visual art. I do music, dance, play in musical instruments, draw, shoot photos and videos, do freelance voice-over, editing, write screenplay for my projects. After I graduated from my Bachelor’s I decided to study filmmaking at film school, then I got into New York Film Academy’s Master’s program which was easy.
During my studies, I learnt the basics of film production, working in a film crew and being able to reach out to the audience with your story. I do dramatic films that are close to the real stories happening in our everyday life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend was coming to Los Angeles, I would probably bring her to the Academy Museum of Arts, Universal city walk, and to the beach. Museums might sound boring but they are the places where you learn history. There are also film programs running inside the Academy museum which are interesting.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Of course, my parents Samat Z. and Maira N. are my best supporters from my childhood: they took me to this creative path and give me their help and advice. They support not only me, but also my 5 other siblings who are engaged to art as well. I feel blessed that I was born in this big family full of love, respect, support, friendship. I am also fond of S. Spielberg and J. Cameron’s movies. I do dramatic movies, and I learn from theirs films, creativity.

Instagram: @__samatkizis

Youtube: SSSamatova

Image Credits
Shuqi Yan, Tianrun Shi

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