Sam Chegini
Sam Chegini | |
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![]() Sam Chegini (2019) | |
Born | Sam Chegini 27 January 1992 |
Nationality | Iranian |
Known for | Illustration, Music video, Video art, Graphic design, Puppetry |
Notable work | Aqualung (2021), The Cops Don't Know (2015) Traveller (2012) |
Awards | Royal Reel Award for Traveller (2013), 2nd place Boomtown Film & Music Festival for Traveller (2013), Persbook Art Award for the Lyre of Mesopotamia |
Website | www |
Sam Chegini (Persian: سام چگینی) is an Iranian music video director, filmmaker, animator, graphic designer, video editor and puppeteer born in Tehran in 1992 in an artistic family. He has directed videos for Chris de Burgh, Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, King Crimson's frontman, Jakko M Jakszyk, Sir Lenny Henry, Linde Nijland, etc.[1][3]
Career[]
Chegini started at the local TV as a puppeteer at the age of 14. He then followed his passion for film and animation at the age of 16.[2] In 2009 Chegini joined VOP (Voice of Peace), a group that worked on reconstructing ancient Persian musical instruments, sponsored by United Nations Human Settlements Programme and . He made the artistic film The Lyre of Mesopotamia, which received an award for best video art in the 1st Persbookart Contest on Facebook in 2010.
In 2011 Dutch singer/songwriter Linde Nijland asked him to make a music video for her song "Traveller",[3] after having seen a video he made for the song A Spaceman Came Travelling by Chris de Burgh. Traveller has been the official selection of many prestigious music video and film festivals around the globe and has been screened in different countries so far.[4] In 2013, Chegini won the Royal Reel Award from Canada International Film Festival for this music video and it was also voted no. 1 in the Frisian charts in the Klipkar+TV program.[5]
in 2016 Chegini made an animated music video for British comedian Sir Lenny Henry, titled "The Cops Dont Know" produced by British record producer, Chris Porter, which was premiered on Classic Rock Magazine on April 20, 2016. Henry praised the video in his interview with Classic Rock Magazine saying the video has a "labour of love" style and "Sam is clearly gifted."[6]
in 2017 Chegini joined Verbatim Theater Group for the play MANUS, directed by . As Video Artist, Video Mapper and International affairs, Chegini worked with the team in 3 International festivals including the 36th Fajr International Theater Festival (Tehran, Iran), 2 performances in Bangladesh, (Chittagong and Dhaka) and 10th International Theatre Festival of Kerala (Thrissur, Kerala, India).
As Artistic Director, Chegini organized the 9th Wordless International Short Film Festival in the city of Qazvin, Iran, same time screening with Sydney, Australia in November 2017.
in 2018 Chegini was invited to the Talent Campus of the 36th International Fajr Film Festival, Darolfonoon and has had masterclasses with likes of Oliver Stone, Jörn Donner, Thomas Mauch, Roberto Perpignani, Karen Shakhnazarov, Reza Kianian, Mehran Kashani, Ebrahim Hatamikia, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Naghmeh Samini, Mehrdad Oskouei, etc.
In August 2018, Chegini created and hosted an online series of interviews titled "SamChats" on YouTube, interviewing the most successful international artists worldwide, designated for the Persian speaking audience for the first time. In the first 2 episodes, Neil Taylor, Lena Katina and Alex Jolig have appeared on the show.
In 2019, during the pandemic of COVID-19, Chegini directed a music video for King Crimsons frontman, Jakko M Jakszyk, titled "The Trouble with Angels". Jakszyk praised Cheginis work in a comment saying: "The first single, ‘The Trouble With Angels, makes its debut on the 14th August, 2020. Complete with an extraordinary animated video by Iranian filmmaker Sam Chegini. And getting that made amidst the pandemic is a whole other story!!" In an exclusive interview with Prog magazine, Jakko opens the story, explaining the unusual production process of the video because of the pandemic of COVID-19 along with a very bad political climate in Iran, to which Prog Magazine headline reads: "Worldwide political upheaval almost derails the shoot for King Crimson singer Jakko Jakszyks recent promo video".[7]
"The video looks amazing, but what’s most amazing is that we managed to make it at all" said Jakko Jakszyk, explaining the difficult online production of the animated video.[8] In another interview with Prog, the British journalist/TV presenter Matthew Wright describes the video saying: "I havent seen anything quite like it! Its not just visually stunning, the story behind the video is worth telling." In the same interview, Jakszyk explains about their first collaboration in the making of the video for Sir Lenny Henrys "The Cops Dont Know" which led to their second and third collaborations, "The Trouble with Angels" and "Uncertain Times".
The Trouble with Angels, has been broadcast on MTV, it has won the Stockholm International Monthly Film Festivals best music video award, has been an official selection in a number of international film festivals and has received a nomination for Best Animation at the Los Angeles Music Video Festival.
Later in 2020, Chegini directed "Uncertain Times", another animated music video for Jakko Jakszyk starring the renowned British Actor, Comedian, Al Murray which was released on October 9, 2020 from InsideOut Music.
In 2021, he directed the official music video for Jethro Tull's most celebrated title song "Aqualung" on the occasion of the album's 50th Anniversary. The video was premiered on Rolling Stone on April 1, 2021. Jethro Tull's frontman Ian Anderson, praised Chegini in his statement to Rolling Stone saying: “At the suggestion of my pal, Jakko Jaksyzk of King Crimson, I contacted a young Iranian videographer/director, Sam Chegini; He delivered a unique rendition of the ‘Aqualung’ song with abstract and documentary-type footage. A talented young man with a bright future in the music arts.”[4][5]
On April 21, 2021 on the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day, Sam participated in the virtual event "Creativity For Urban Future" held by UN-Habitat and Urban+Future. Alongside the screening of his video "Aqualung" at the virtual event, Sam gave a speech about "Limitations that can lead to Creativity and Innovation" based on his experiences making videos.[9][10]
On April 30, 2021 Gentle Giant announced the release date of a remixed version of their 1975 album "Free Hand" by Steven Wilson with custom-visuals for all tracks. The title track "Free Hand" is directed and animated by Sam Chegini. The release date is June 25, 2021. [6][7]
On October 15, 2021 British-Irish singer/songwriter, Chris de Burgh released a music video for his single "Legacy" directed by Sam Chegini. The animated music video that was released on de Burgh's 73rd Birthday is produced for his 27th Studio album "The Legend of Robin Hood".[11][12]
Chegini is also a member of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Intercultural Leaders.
Filmography[]
Year | English title | Persian title | Transliteration |
---|---|---|---|
2006-2007 | Words Like A Dream | کلماتی همچو رویا | Kalamati hamcho Roya |
2009 | The Lyre of Mesopotamia | بربط بین النهرین | Barbat-e-Beynolnahreyn |
2011 | A Spaceman Came Travelling | مرد بیگانه سفر می کند | Marde Biganeh Safar Mikonad |
2012 | Linde Nijland - Traveller | مسافر | Mosafer |
2016 | Sir Lenny Henry - The Cops Don't Know | پلیس ها نمی دانند | Police ha Nemeedaanand |
2018 | SamChats Series | مجموعه گپی با سام | SamChats |
2020 | Jakko M Jakszyk - The Trouble with Angels | عذاب فرشتگان | Azab-e-Fereshtegaan |
2020 | Jakko M Jakszyk - Uncertain Times | روزگار بیثبات | Roozgar-e-beesobaat |
2021 | Jethro Tull - Aqualung | آکوالانگ | Aqualung |
2021 | Gentle Giant - Free Hand | دست آزاد | Dast-e-Azaad |
2021 | Chris de Burgh - Legacy | میراث | Meeraas |
Puppetry[]
Year | English title | Original title | Transliteration |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | The City of Mice 2 | شهر موش ها 2 | Shahr-e-Moosh ha 2 |
2012 | Iran Student Puppetry Festival | جشنواره دانشجویی تئاتر عروسکی | Jashnvare Theatr-e-Arousaki |
2011 | Moon Kids theatre | نمایش بچه های ماه | Bachehay-e-Maah |
2011 | Sunflower TV series (8th Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی آفتابگردان 8 | Aaftaabgardan |
2009 | Sunflower TV series (5th Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی آفتابگردان 5 | Aaftaabgardan |
2009 | Goldooneha TV Series (2nd Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی گلدونه ها 2 | Goldooneha |
2008 | Sunflower TV Series (4th Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی آفتابگردان 4 | Aftabgardan |
2008 | Goldooneha TV Series (1st Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی گلدونه ها 1 | Goldooneha |
2007 | Sunflower TV Series(2nd Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی آفتابگردان 2 | Aftabgardan |
2007 | Sunflower TV Series(2nd Series) | مجموعه تلویزیونی آفتابگردان 2 | Aftabgardan |
Awards[]
- Best Music Video - Cannes World Film Festival, for The Trouble with Angels (2021)[8]
- Honorable Mention - 39th New Jersey International Film Festival, for The Trouble with Angels (2021)[9]
- Best Music Video Award, Stockholm Monthly Film Festival, for The Trouble with Angels (2020)
- Plural+ FERA-LUCERO Award, United Nations Plural+ Youth Video Festival, for The Cops Don't Know (2016)
- Best Music Video Award, ShortPole London, for The Cops Don't Know (2016)[13]
- Music Video of the Month, The Monthly Film Festival, for The Cops Don't Know (2016)[14]
- Best Music Video, The Motion Picture Film Festival, USA for Emotions of Tomorrow (2016)[15]
- Best short of the week, Reel13 WNET, PBS for Traveller music video (2014)[16]
- The Royal Reel Award for Traveller music video – Canada International Film Festival (2013)[17]
- 1st place – Music Video Category for 'Traveller – 9th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival 2013[18]
- 2nd place – Experimental/Music Video category for Traveller – The 6th Annual Boomtown Film and Music Festival, Texas (2013)[19]
- 3rd place – Best Film Poster for Maybe Sky – 11th Iranian Youth Cinema Society Film Festival (2011)
- Best Video Art The Lyre of Mesopotamia, Persbook Art Festival, Iran (2009)
Notes[]
- ^ http://archive.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/plural-awards-2016-the-cops-don-t-know
- ^ http://www.samchegini.com/#about
- ^ Folkforum report of Noordfolk festival
- ^ Traveller (2012 music video)
- ^ Klipkar+ March 16, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0NPCxruyg
- ^ "Lenny Henry launches The Cops Dont Know video". Classic Rock. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ "Virtual Live Event: Creativity for Urban Future will be held on April 21, 2021". World Architecture Community. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
- ^ Aqualung Director Sam Chegini - UN Virtual Speech on the World Creativity and Innovation Day, retrieved 2021-10-17
- ^ Chris de Burgh - Legacy (Official Video), retrieved 2021-10-17
- ^ Chegini, Sam (2021-10-15), Chris de Burgh: Legacy (Animation, Short), Sam Pictures Productions, retrieved 2021-10-17
- ^ "shortpole". shortpole. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
- ^ "The Monthly Film Festival".
- ^ "Award". International Motion Picture Festival. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
- ^ http://www.thirteen.org/reel13/shorts/traveller/
- ^ "2013 CIFF Award Winners and Official Selections". www.canadafilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
- ^ "MY HERO website". myhero.com. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ^ "BN DeStem". www.bndestem.nl. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
References[]
- Persbookart winners - Persbookart official website
- Folkforum report of the Noordfolk festival
- 'Traveller' music video on Protoclip festival website
External links[]
- 1992 births
- Living people