Samantha : I think a sort of “chain reaction” was triggered. At the beginning came the love for literature, then for art, until one afternoon, I was a child, I saw a film by Ingmar Bergman, “Winter Light”. Cinema conquered me that day.

Samantha : I admire many directors but I love three above all: Ingmar Bergman, David Lynch and Terrence Malick. What can I say…. They showed me another world. They gave shape to things that you don’t see in real life. There is only one inspiration: to tell your truth.

Samantha : I consider myself very lucky. For my type of film I always had what I needed. If there was a challenge, it was towards myself. I force myself to improve, I want to improve, learn. I think that’s the real challenge.

Samantha : I think that the first thing to do is to choose the right people, similar to your feelings, to your idea of cinema. And accept that the first to give everything for their movie must be the director.

Samantha : I would not know. A movie is like a child, it must be helped to grow up. I try to do everything in my power to ensure my films have a dignified life. I try to follow them in promotion, at festivals, in theaters when they are screened.

Samantha : I believe that independent cinema needs a coalition between directors and intentions to become increasingly stronger. And it needs people willing to sacrifice: in independent cinema it requires a lot of strength, a lot of dedication and a lot of health!

Samantha : “Santa Guerra” follows a woman who is unable to overcome a trauma: the loss of her daughter. It is not known how she died: perhaps an abortion, perhaps her mother’s carelessness, perhaps she killed her. This fascinated me: the sense of guilt over any real or presumed guilt.

Samantha : The post-production of my new film, Katabasis, has just finished. It is a movie full of hallucinations, ghosts, nudity, blood, drugs, milk, infernal places, toxic relationships, sick loves, It’s a very personal film.