ABOUT
I tell stories that take complex, urgent issues and bring them to mass audiences — stories powerful enough to shift perception, influence systems, and drive real-world change. I believe in human-led, emotional, character-driven storytelling, and that when the right story is told in the right way, it moves through the world like a changing season — subtle at first, then undeniable — transforming how we see, think, and act.
I’m Sam Barton-Humphreys, a multi-award-winning filmmaker and impact producer working at the intersection of storytelling, global strategy, and social impact. I develop, produce, and consult on top-level international projects — identifying the strategic levers that allow powerful stories to travel far beyond the screen, reach vast audiences, and catalyse meaningful action.
I have worked on major international productions including the Academy Award-winning My Octopus Teacher, and served as Producer on The Letter — Laudato Si’ and Going Circular — globally recognised documentaries that translated complex environmental and societal challenges into stories reaching millions worldwide.
The Letter, created in partnership with the Vatican and Pope Francis, became one of the largest film screenings in history — reaching 1.5 million people live at World Youth Day in Lisbon, alongside tens of millions of viewers globally. The film screened at major global summits including COP27, COP15 and the World Economic Forum, generating close to a billion media impressions and helping spark dialogue across governments, faith communities, activists, and grassroots movements.
Going Circular, featuring renowned scientist James Lovelock, achieved international festival success — winning the Grand Prix for Best Documentary at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, Gold at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Silver at the Deauville Green Awards, and the Audience Choice Award at CinemAmbiente, alongside multiple global nominations across science, sustainability, and natural history.
My work frequently takes me into complex and high-stakes environments. I have filmed in conflict zones, investigated war crimes, and collaborated with institutions including the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, and international justice bodies such as the International Criminal Court. This has provided rare high-level access — from the Vatican and Pope Francis to global policy, climate, and legal institutions — enabling stories to be told from inside the places where decisions shaping our world are made.
I believe the most ambitious work is built through creative partnerships and unlikely coalitions. I’m driven by the idea that nothing is impossible when people unite around a shared purpose. Every project begins with one question: what is the very most we can do? How do we create something without limits — and then apply the discipline, creativity, and determination to make it real?
I previously led the Feature Documentary division at Off The Fence in Amsterdam, overseeing global productions and designing impact campaigns that maximise the real-world reach of film. Today, alongside producing and directing, I develop, produce, and advise on high-impact projects globally — building partnerships, campaigns, and coalitions that transform powerful stories into measurable change.
I grew up high in the Malvern Hills, where Tolkien found inspiration for The Hobbit. On many mornings the clouds would settle below like an ocean, and from that vantage point I learned to feel as at home in the hills as by the sea — drawn always to the horizon and whatever lay beyond it. Like all hobbits, albeit a tall one, I sensed there were adventures waiting — and with them, a calling to explore the unknown, to step toward the seemingly insurmountable, and to discover what becomes possible when you refuse to turn back.
© 2026 Sam Barton-Humphreys. Filmdirector and storyteller
