Today we’d like to introduce you to Saniya Samatova.
Hi Saniya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started as a journalism student at Tiangong University in China creating documentary films, bringing up true life stories on screen. Even after the graduation, I shot a couple of advertisements on my Canon camera for a dance troupe in Astana. In late 2022, I got accepted to the New York Film Academy to do my Masters in Film production, which was my goal after getting a BA degree. And today, just recently, I screened my short film in front of a small audience at NYFA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The main struggle for me was that I came to filmmaking with a documentary background in the past. Even during the classes, I could not separate narrative and documentary stories; I wanted to combine both types of films. Also, not enough knowledge and experience in the beginning made me bringing up the stories harder than now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an artist in total: I do dance, play in musical instruments, and draw from childhood. Now I do filmmaking, write stories, shoot and communicate with the audience through films. I suppose my best side is that I finish every responsibility as soon as possible, not passing the deadline. I believe that everything is possible until we believe on it.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I have learned throughout my film production studies that time is everything, and it is very precious in filmmaking as well as in my personal life. Good pre-production will bring you up to the great ending of the production.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__samatkizis/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saniya-samatova-5533b51a1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sssamatova
Image Credits
Shuqi Yan, Kushagra Jain
