Samad Davis
Davis in 2022
Occupation(s)Director, producer
Years active2001–present
Notable workThree Can Play That Game, Kings of Jo'burg

Samad Davis is an American entrepreneur focusing on film and television development, financing, production and distribution. He is known for directing Three Can Play That Game, Love By Chance and Kings of Jo'burg.[1]

Early life

Samad was born in Newark, New Jersey.[2]

Career

Samad began his journey into film in 2001 with the release of Comedy Only in Da Hood. In 2007, Samad directed Three Can Play That Game, a sequel to the 2002 movie, Two Can Play That Game.

In expanding his work in Africa, he made the first stop in Ghana, where he directed the music video for Becca's "African Woman".[3] His work won the Music Video of the Year at the 2011 4syte Music Video Awards, Ghana.[4]

He also directed the music video for "Dadie Kye" by Samini, a Ghanaian dancehall artiste[5] which won the Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Video at the Channel O Music Video Awards in 2011.[6]

Samad made his way to South Africa in 2013, where he launched his TV debut, the Top Actor SA (later renamed to Top Actor Africa) as a reality show on Viacom's BET Africa to discover acting talent from Africa.[7][8]

His biggest break came in 2017, when he directed and released Love By Chance.[9][10] It featured at the Carthage Film Festival,[11] the Greater Cleveland Film Fest[12] as well as the American Black Film Festival[13] and won the Best International Feature Film at the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival in 2017.[14]

Alongside his business partners creators Shona Ferguson & Connie Ferguson, they launched and Executive Produced Season One of the Kings of Jo'burg franchise, which released December 4, (2020) globally on Netflix.[15] He later Executive Produced and served as the series Showrunner and Lead Director for Season Two of Kings of Joburg released globally in January(2023) on Netflix.

Filmography

Filmography
YearTitleRoleTypeNotes
2007Three Can Play That GameFilm DirectorFilmSequel to Two Can Play That Game
2010Mooz-lumFilm ProducerFilmWinner of Best Narrative Feature Film at the Urban World Film Festival[16]
2013Top Star SAExecutive ProducerReality Show
2017Love By ChanceFilm DirectorFilm
2020–2022Kings of Jo'burg
  • Executive Producer Season One
  • Showrunner – Season Two
    		• Television Series
    2020–2022Terror Lake DriveFilm ProducerMiniseries

    References

    1. ↑ "Samad Davis". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    2. ↑ Stories, Local (2020-03-12). "Meet Samad Davis – Voyage ATL Magazine | ATL City Guide". voyageatl.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    3. ↑ "World Premiere Of Becca's Video For 'African Woman'". AmeyawDebrah.com. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    4. ↑ "2011 Vodafone 4syte Music Video Awards winners". GhanaWeb. 2011-11-20. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    5. ↑ Ob, GC Staff (2011-11-12). "American Film Maker, Samad Davis Chases 4Syte Music Video Awards After Giving Ghana First Ever Award At Channel O Awards With 'Dadie Kye'!". GhanaCelebrities.Com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    6. ↑ "Samini Grabs Channel O Award". GhanaCelebrities.Com. 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    7. ↑ Admin (2016-05-10). "BET Top Actor SA Reality Show". RtB. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    8. ↑ inyese, amaka (2015-11-15). "Entertainment channel reveals cast for "Top Actor Africa" reality show". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    9. ↑ "Love By Chance – ACI". aci-americancinema.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    10. ↑ Herimbi, Helen (2017-05-05). "Love By Chance: Rom-com with purpose". IOL. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    11. ↑ "Focus on South Africa – JCC 2017". www.jcctunisie.org. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    12. ↑ Heaton, Michael (2017-09-18). "Greater Cleveland Urban Film Fest now in sixth year: Event preview". cleveland. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    13. ↑ "The 2017 American Black Film Festival Announces Films in Competition and Documentary Lineup". American Black Film Festival Miami. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    14. ↑ "Urban Mediamakers Awards 2017" (PDF). Urban Mediamakers Film Festival.
    15. ↑ "'Kings of Jo'burg' (2020) Season 2: A Different Kind of Plot for a Series that Is Not at All Conventional". martincid.com. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    16. ↑ Burton, Nsenga (2010-09-21). "The 14th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Winners". The Root. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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