Samuel Barnes is an Australian filmmaker based in Djaara country/Campbells Creek, Victoria. Born and raised in Eora/Sydney, Samuel is a Media Arts and Production grad from the University of Technology Sydney. In 2013, he studied abroad at the University of Texas, Austin, and in 2019, he moved to Melbourne to finish his Masters of Narrative Film and Television at the Victorian College of Arts. Since 2022, he’s been working with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image as part of their video design team.
His award-winning short films Dream Reel (2015) and Kent Stays in the Woods (2017) have been successful in international markets, having screened in various global film festivals. In 2019, Samuel wrote and directed the short film Mira (2019), during the COVID pandemic completed his graduate short film Home (2021) and recently delved into the world of 16mm filmmaking on his latest short, Being Here (2025). He is currently developing his debut feature film.
Blending fiction with documentary, Samuel's filmmaking practice is inspired by a yearning to explore his connection with nature and himself. As he continues to explore and hone his craft in audio-visual storytelling, he is intrigued by stories that give insight into different ways of seeing and understanding our place within the world. Samuel hopes to make films that cultivate a sense of empathy and wonder in his audiences.
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