Experiencing Interruptions?

Saint Vegas

A young woman, Anastasia, escapes far from home and takes up an unusual job in Las Vegas following the loss of her mother. On one particular night she meets an older woman who tests her emotional boundaries which opens the floodgates to Anastasia’s grief and forces her to face everything she has left behind.

  • Samantha Herrera
    Director
  • Samantha Herrera
    Writer
  • Helen Romeu Coombes
    Producer
    Heights
  • Samantha Herrera
    Key Cast
    "Anastasia"
    Marvel's Iron Fist
  • Mariele Atienza
    Key Cast
    "Carmen"
  • Ansi A. Rodriguez
    Key Cast
    "Gabriel"
  • Ellin Aldana
    Director of Photographer
  • Alanna Murray
    Editor
    TILL, MUTT
  • Deeba Montazeri
    Composer
  • Melissa Olguin
    Production Designer
  • Nate Attias
    Sound Supervisor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, LGBTQ+
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 8, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    ARRI AMIRA
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    May 2, 2025
    World Premiere
    Helter Shelter Shorts Program
  • Charlotte Asian Film Festival
    Charlotte
    United States
    September 13, 2025
    East Coast Premiere
  • Imagine This Women's International Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    September 13, 2025
    New York Premiere
  • Bushwick Film Festival
    Brooklyn
    United States
    October 3, 2025
    Brooklyn Premiere
  • Soho Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    October 12, 2025
Director Biography - Samantha Herrera

Samantha (she/her) is a queer, Filipina filmmaker born & raised in New York City. Her roots began in theatre at LaGuardia H.S. of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She trained at The Neighborhood Playhouse, Hunter College and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Tales of a Shadowboxer was her directorial debut with producer, Sharif McFadden which won Best TV Pilot & Best Female Director for Los Angeles' Independent Shorts Award '19. In 2023, she co-directed the film, Heights, with Lucy Sarasin.

Saint Vegas, is the first narrative film she has both directed & written which is currently in its festival run. It had its World Premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2025.

In addition, the Canadian-based film Goodbye, with a Side of Lechon (dir: King Louie Palomo) is also hitting the film festival circuit in which she plays the lead role with an all-Filipino cast.

Aside from directing & acting, Samantha worked as a Stage Combat Assistant Teacher alongside Fight Director Brad Lemons, teaches yoga and runs a Filipino food pop-up business called Tikman Mo Ko 'Taste Me' with her partner.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I seek bold, truthful and genre-bending storytelling through a LGBTQ+ lens.