Filmmaker Name: Sam Szpor
Short Biography About Filmmaker: Sam Szpor is a New York City–based writer, producer, and director whose work explores the beauty and brokenness of the human experience. Believing from an early age that stories can change generations, Sam draws from life’s “good, bad, and ugly” to craft narratives that spark reflection and reveal hidden places in need of healing. His debut short film, Twice Lost, showcases his triple role as writer, director, and producer. He also produced People Watching, further cementing his reputation for bringing heartfelt, character-driven stories to life. When not on set, Sam is creating new worlds on the page—currently working on his first novel—while continuing to develop film projects that blend honesty, hope, and humanity.
What type of films do you most love to create?: The stories that speak to me most are the ones closest to home—the ones we find in the people around us. But I do love when it has an intriguing twist, whether it’s a spin on a popular figure, or a psychological bent, something to intrigue and engage without losing any heart.
Any notable awards or recognitions?:
Santa Clarita Int Film Fest
Indie Short Fest - Semi-Finalist
Brooklyn International Film Festival - Semi-Finalist
Independent Short Awards - Finalist
Fun fact or interesting tidbit about yourself: When beginning to write Twice Lost and tell Trevor and Katie’s story, I became fascinated by a story that looks beyond one’s failures and the journey one has when trying to redeem a mistake. So often in stories that deal with infidelity and betrayal, we see the progression of what led to the affair, but Twice Lost, while it certainly does explore those questions, is more concerned with the “What now?”. What do you do with the shame and regret? Are you able to make amends and correct mistakes? How do you navigate a life that is now filled with such negative emotions? We all have moments in our lives that we regret, this is a universal thing and it is often how we deal with these moments that forge our futures. In Twice Lost I sought to balance two perspectives – Trevor’s and Katie's, the betrayer and the betrayed. It was important to all of us producers to make these two perspectives rich and complex so that people could relate to each. For Katie’s perspective, I really leaned on the amazing talents and perspectives of Dominique and Lindsay, the other two producers, and our Director of Cinematography, Isabela. Throughout the story, there are little impressions of Katie’s influence on Trevor - her music taste, her creativity, her poetic outlook on life. While she does not have a dominant personality, we wanted to mark her strong influence on Trevor’s shift in perspective as the story unfolded. Often it’s the quietest people who have leave the strongest impression. One of the biggest themes in Twice Lost is forgiveness. Is it possible and if it is – what does it do for us? Twice Lost shows us what unforgiveness can do and how it can trap us in a prison of regret, shame, and anxiety. But ultimately Twice Lost shows us that when we realize forgiveness, it has the ability to free us, to continue on in this life with the scars and bruises we still carry, but at least now we are free. I would hope that anyone who watches Twice Lost, finds hope. I hope they can come to realize there is beauty in the midst and beyond the ashes that we come across in life.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twicelostfilm/
