Samer S. Omar is an Iraqi-Canadian filmmaker and director based in Toronto, Canada. He is known for his award winning short films, including “The Window” and “Where I Am From”, which have screened at numerous international film festivals around the world.
Samer was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1988 and immigrated to Canada with his family in 2000. Growing up in a new country, Samer quickly developed a strong interest in film and video production. While still a student in high school, he began to make short films with his friends.
In 2010, Samer enrolled in the film program at York University in Toronto. During his studies, he received a Best Short Film award at the York University Student Film Festival for his film “The Window”. Samer also won the Best Student Film award at the Toronto International Film Festival for his film “Where I Am From” in 2012.
After graduating from York University, Samer signed with an international production company and began work on his first feature film. The film, titled “Lost in Translation”, premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and has since gone on to be screened at various international film festivals.
In 2016, Samer released his second feature film, “The Road to Damascus”. The film was well-received and won the Best Canadian Feature Film award at the 2016 Vancouver International Film Festival.
In 2018, Samer released his third feature film, “The Roads Not Taken”. The film was a critical success and won the Golden Leopard award at the 2018 Locarno International Film Festival.
Samer’s latest film, “The Name of the Father”, was released in 2020 and has since received considerable critical acclaim. The film was nominated for several awards at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, including Best Canadian Feature Film.
Throughout his career, Samer has established himself as a talented director and filmmaker. His films have been celebrated for their unique visual style and powerful storytelling. He continues to work on projects both in Canada and internationally, and is currently developing several projects for the future.
