BIOGRAPHY

British Ghanaian writer/director Sam Kessie, has loved the arts since she was a child. Her parents encouraged her passion by taking her to see pantomimes, theater and movies. Returning to Ghana from England at a young age introduced Sam to another culture she had never seen or experienced - a culture she pays tribute to everyday. As a Wesley Girl's High School student, Sam was heavily involved in the Drama and Writers Clubs even though she majored in the Sciences.

After high school, Sam immediately left for the United States to continue her university education in Appleton, WI studying first computer science, business and then switching to do psychology. After a few years she knew her calling was in something more creative. She found herself writing a lot of story ideas in her spare time and even at work.

Sam quit her job and enrolled for media production classes in Atlanta in late 2003. Through hard work and diligence, Sam stood out and commanded respect for her work and attitude from both her classmates and the faculty. Her senior thesis film, ‘Sales Day’, caused a stir on campus winning first place at her school's video festival. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude and was awarded with the Outstanding Student Award in the media department. After school she was hired to direct a low-budget independent movie, ‘Life 101: Angel's Secret’, for UG Productions in Atlanta. Based on a true story, this low budget tells the tale of a young girl’s search for love and security in all the wrong places which leads her along a dark path and leaves her faced with a terrible decision to make as well as the consequences. This small film has been well received with some impressive reviews. ’Life 101: Angel's Secret’ went on to win 2nd place the Urban Media Film Festival in Atlanta in 2006.

Sam has worked extensively with the film and commercial community in Atlanta for the last five years as well across the nation and internationally. She has heavily participated in numerous projects, working as a Script Supervisor, Set Decorator, Production Assistant, Assistant Director and Director.

While Sam grows as a strong director and a skillful storyteller, she is also a gifted writer. At the end of 2009, Sam wrote and directed a 10 minute corporate video for the West African Drilling company, ‘Geodrill’ in Ghana. In April 2010, her company, Sankofa Pictures, helped produce and write the documentary, "Zoom Zoom - The Professor": a story about a very prestigious former WBC African boxer from her motherland, Ghana. At the end of 2010 Sankofa Pictures produced and directed two music videos for an aritst who many have considered as one of the hardest working men in the fusion of true school hip-hop and West-African home grown hiplife.
She is hoping to direct her debut feature film script, "Killing Harry", a dark comedy about a corrupt man who, before can enter heaven, is sent back from the dead to first confront his murderer.

Sam intends to establish her creative footprint in the film industry both internationally and domestically through her independent production company, Sankofa Pictures, which focuses on exceptional storytelling and visual artistry. The West African adinkra symbol and word Sankofa is derived from the Akan words; SAN (return), KO (go), FA (look, seek and take). This symbolizes one's quest for knowledge with the implication that the quest is based on critical examination, intelligence and patient investigation. It reflects her Akan belief that the past serves as a guide for planning the future and the wisdom in learning from the past in building the future.

Sam has a strong love the theater and from this love stems her additional passion for production design. When she is not writing or directing, she focuses on set design, production design and photography.

She also has a soft spot for children especially unfortunate ones who also have a passion for the arts. Being a strong supporter of a profession and talent that isn't always encouraged, she embarks on a commitment by contributing a portion of her profit proceeds from projects to charities that encourage arts and music education, especially in Africa.

Check our Charity page TKAFoundation for more information on our 2011 projects.

Sam enjoys watching movies, especially old ones as well classic cartoons and Japanese anime.

Download RESUME (PDF)