Mother Of Chooks

Jesse Samos Leaman:
I’m an Australian/Spanish Writer and Director, born and raised in Geelong. My heritage and personal experiences—including living with a mild tic disorder—shape my commitment to telling authentic stories and representing underrepresented voices.

My debut short film Lorne, starring Guy Pearce, premiered at the Palm Springs Film Festival, toured international festivals, and received multiple awards. Later distributed on the premium YouTube channel Omeleto, it attracted 270k views and garnered critical acclaim.

Since Lorne, I’ve made additional short films, including Mad Martha, available on SBS On Demand. Mad Martha has received multiple awards for direction and cinematography across international festivals. I’ve also continued exploring documentary work and dived into directing music videos for many artists, including Aria-nominated artist Masked Wolf and celebrated singer-songwriter Didirri, collectively amassing tens of millions of views. My work "Skin" has earned a Best Director Award from ARFF Barcelona, Best Production and an Honorable Mention at The International Music Video Awards. I received a Best Director nomination at the 2023 Australian Directors Guild Awards (ADG) for my work on Didirri’s music video Often Broken.

Currently, I’m developing my first feature film with co-writer Taylor Adams, building on Lorne's success.

Maite Martin Samos has had a love for film making since an early age, always driving her family crazy by constantly sticking a camera in front of their faces.
After pursuing a career as a teacher and then raising three boys, she has reignited her passion for film by diving head first into this documentary piece with her son and co-director Jesse Samos Leaman.