Sam Holst

Sam graduated from RMIT University, Melbourne. While studying he wrote and directed the short film drama "Swing" which screened at various festivals around the world, including as Finalist in the Shots / CFP-e Young Director Award in Cannes. "Swing" also won Best Student Award at the Clio Awards. Holst was then selected as part of Shots New Directors’ and shortly after - with a few more spots on the reel - named as one of the ‘Top 20 Directors to Watch’ by Boards Magazine. In 2011, he directed a campaign for Otrivin through Saatchi & Saatchi, Switzerland, which picked up a Gold Film Lion at Cannes. The spots also earned him a Gold for Direction - Film Craft at the AXIS Awards in New Zealand. At Eurobest and the London International Awards, the spots picked up Silver and were named a Finalist in both male and female Best Actor categories at the British Arrows, before being listed In-Book at D&AD. As a natural storyteller who is able to work across genres, Sam is drawn to intelligent commercial work with great filmic, visual and narrative possibilities that allow for character and performance to imbue each spot with an emotive and human quality.