BIO
Lena Sami is a British–Swedish–Assyrian–Iraqi screenwriter and author whose work blends commercial storytelling with emotional depth. She writes character-driven, cinematic stories centred on humour, heart, and escapism, with a strong international sensibility. Drawing on her experiences growing up between cultures, her work often explores themes of identity, belonging, family, and cultural connection through accessible commercial storytelling. Lena works across romantic comedy, adventure, fantasy, action, and grounded science fiction, and is currently developing multiple feature projects.
She is currently developing a character-driven romantic comedy with global crossover appeal, in the tone of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Crazy Rich Asians, which has been submitted to the Academy Nicholl Fellowships, Austin Film Festival, the Sundance Institute Development Track, Final Draft Big Break, and the Red Sea Fund.
In parallel, she is developing a high-energy action-comedy as both a feature screenplay and a novel, in the tone of Bad Boys and Rush Hour, designed as a fun, globally appealing story.
Originally a performer, she trained at Identity School of Acting before transitioning into writing and story development. She also holds a double Master's degree in Innovation Design Engineering from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, where she developed skills in world-building, narrative design, and concept-driven storytelling.
Lena is also the author of the children's books Amira and The Emerald Falcon of Baghdad and The Sultan and His Three Daughters.
GALLERY
WRITER
SCREENWRITING - SHORTS
Valentine’s Day Therapy – Romantic Comedy Short
A romantic comedy short screenplay about love, grief, and second chances that has gained international recognition.
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Winner – Best Short Screenplay, Bridge Fest Vancouver (Canada)
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Honourable Mention – Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival (Greece)
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Semi-Finalist – WIKI Screenplay Contest, Beverly Hills (USA)
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Honourable Mention at the Macroproject Film Festival (New York, USA)
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Shortlisted – Covertly Screenwriting Competition (Top 18% on The Red List). Ranked #15 – Comedy Short Screenplays on The Red List
404:Layla – AI-Generated Short Film
A psychological sci-fi short created using Google Gemini / Flow tools.
The film explores a woman who disappears from a fully tracked society and becomes the one person the system cannot decode.
404 Layla was submitted to the 1 Billion Summit AI Film Award (Dubai, UAE).
Pulse – Action Feature Concept
An action-driven concept centred on human–technology integration and moral consequence.
Pulse has been officially selected and recognised at various international screenplay festivals.
Sargon – Adventure Feature Concept
An adventure feature inspired by Mesopotamian history and mythology, blending modern cinematic pacing with ancient worlds.
Sargon has been nominated at the FFTG Awards (New York, USA) and recognised at multiple international film festivals.
SCREENWRITING - TELEVISION
Threshold – TV Drama Pilot
A grounded drama pilot about identity, ambition, and the clash between worlds, following a young man moving from Stockholm to London and being pulled between hope and the estate culture around him.
Threshold has been officially selected and recognised at various international festivals as a proof-of-concept for a potential series.
AUTHOR
BOOKS
Amira and the Emerald Falcon of Baghdad — Amazon (2024)
Children’s fantasy adventure.
The Sultan and His Three Daughters — Amazon (2025)
Children’s folktale-inspired story.
Lena’s children’s books are available worldwide on Amazon, written to spark imagination, cultural pride, and adventure for young readers. If you enjoy magical tales rooted in heritage and heart, her books are a perfect addition to any child’s library — or a meaningful gift for curious young minds.