About
Sam Koopman (1992) is a filmmaker and visual artist based in Rotterdam. He was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Canada, where he was trained as a cinematographer. Using primarily video and (expanded) cinema he explores his encounters with people and place: the role of his lens, the tragedy and comedy within it. His work straddles and plays with the border of documentary and fiction and focuses on collective meaning making.
CV
Screenings, Selections & Exhibitions
2024︎Munich New Wave Short Film Festival (DE)
2024︎Tokyo International Short Film Festival (JP)
2023︎Roma International Short Film Festival (IT)
2023︎New York Tristate Film Festival (USA)
2023︎Flying Ideas - WORM, Rotterdam (NL)
2023︎Cinema op Zuid - Cinema Islemunda, Rotterdam (NL)
2023︎Serbest International Film Festival, Moldova (MD)
2023︎RITUS - V.O.C. Plein Delfshaven, Rotterdam (NL)
2023︎Research Labs - EYE Filmmuseum, Amsterdam (NL)
2023︎Rotterdams Open Doek - LantarenVenster, Rotterdam (NL)
2021︎Equanimity - WORM, Rotterdam (NL)
2019︎Indie Visions Film Festival, Los Angeles (US)
2019︎Stockholm Independent Film Festival (SE)
2018︎Avant Garden, Vancouver (CA)
2016︎Au Café de Paris (FR)
Residencies, etc.
2024︎RTM Guest Curator, International Film Festival Rotterdam
2023︎Green Screen Collective Cinema, WORM (residency)
2023︎Room for Sound, Willem de Kooning Academy (residency)
2023︎The Piet, Piet Zwart Institute (publication)
2021- present︎Expat Cinema Rotterdam, LantarenVenster (curator & host)
2021︎Participatory Arts and Pop Culture, Erasmus University Rotterdam (honours programme)
Awards
2023︎Most Urgent Work, EYE Filmmuseum Researchlabs (NL)
2023︎Jury Award, Rotterdams Open Doek Short Film Competition (NL)
2023︎Audience Award, Rotterdams Open Doek Short Film Competition (NL)
2012︎Impact Award, Vancouver Film School (CA)
Education
2023︎Piet Zwart Institute - MFA, Lens-Based Media
2022︎Erasmus University Rotterdam - BA, International Arts & Culture Studies
2012︎Vancouver Film School - Diploma, Film Production (spec. cinematography)
2011︎Vancouver Film School - Diploma, Visual Art & Design
In Collaboration
2023︎asst. editor - The Radiant Screen, Ine Lamers
2023︎asst. director - (Re)membering the riots in Afrikaanderwijk in 1972 or guest, host, ghos-ti, Cihad Caner
2021︎director of photography & editor, Equanimity, Kems Kriol
2021︎asst. editor & colourist, Project Pavlova Video Trilogy, The Office People
2016︎director of photography, Les Vilains, Any Given Film