Samah El Kadi always wanted to make movies. Unfortunately, he also wanted to avoid starving, so he spent some time studying business—because, as we all know, that’s where the real art lies. But after a brief and unfulfilling detour into the corporate world, he made the leap to filmmaking, eventually earning a master's degree from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles.

Now, he spends his time crafting sharp, visually stunning commercials and feature films that, if nothing else, will make you feel something—maybe even something profound. Drawing inspiration from the frailty of human relationships (because, let’s face it, we’re all a mess), his work challenges, surprises, and occasionally makes you laugh at how hopeless we all are. He’s won some awards, worked with some big brands, and is still learning, which, of course, makes him feel a little better about himself.