About Sam
Born into an artistic family in Tehran, Iran, in 1992, Sam Chegini developed a deep passion for the fine arts from an early age. Despite the challenges of pursuing art and music in Iran, Sam’s determination and quest for knowledge led him to connect with artists worldwide, participating in international contests and expanding his creative horizons.
In 2006, he founded Sam Pictures Productions, establishing himself as a freelance artist. His first major international success came in 2009 with the animated music video Traveller for Dutch singer-songwriter Linde Nijland. The video gained critical acclaim, winning awards such as the Royal Reel Award at the Canada International Film Festival in 2013.
Sam’s collaborations span globally renowned names and projects. In 2016, he directed the music video The Cops Don’t Know for British actor and singer Sir Lenny Henry, produced by legendary producer Chris Porter. The video earned multiple awards, with Sir Lenny Henry praising Sam’s work as “a labor of love” and calling him “clearly gifted.”
His creative versatility extends beyond music videos. Sam contributed as a puppeteer to the acclaimed Iranian feature film The City of Mice 2 (2014) and served as video and mapping artist for the international play MANUS (2016-2017).
Between 2019 and 2022, Sam worked with globally celebrated artists, including:
Jakko M. Jakszyk (King Crimson) on music videos for Secrets and Lies.
Jethro Tull on videos for Aqualung, Sad City Sisters, and The Zealot Gene.
Gentle Giant on the title track for their Free Hand album remixed by Steven Wilson.
Chris de Burgh, directing the music video Legacy for his album The Legend of Robin Hood, which won the Image of the Year for Best Music Video at the Tassvir Film Festival in 2022.
Most recently, in 2024, Sam collaborated with British musicians Benjamin Croft and Marsha Swanson, directing multiple videos for their albums We Are Here to Help and Near Life Experience, respectively.
Sam’s work has been featured in prestigious platforms such as Rolling Stone and international film festivals, earning him accolades for his creativity and vision. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull described Sam as “a talented young man with a bright future in the music arts.”
An alum of the Intercultural Leaders at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Sam continues to break creative boundaries, bringing stories to life through innovative visual storytelling.