Alicia Sams has extensive experience in both documentary and feature films as both producer and director. She has produced award-winning documentaries for theatrical release and for broadcasters including HBO, IFC, the Sundance Channel, AMC, PBS, Bravo, and TBS. Currently, she is producing and directing White House Ghosts, about presidential speechwriters. Other recent films include: Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay, which aired on American Masters in January 2015; “The Battle for Kansas,” a series of short films for Al Jazeera’s flagship show America Tonight; Arab American Stories, an Emmy-Award winning 13-episode public television she conceived, produced and directed for presenter Detroit Public Television. She produced and directed (with Amy Rice) the Emmy-Award winning film By The People: The Election of Barack Obama, which premiered on HBO in 2009. Also in 2009, Sams was executive producer of Cherien Dabis’ award-winning debut feature AMREEKA, which premiered at Sundance and won the Critics Prize at the Director’s Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival. Past films include: Toots, Wanderlust, Grateful Dawg, Hello He Lied: And other Tales from the Hollywood Trenches, Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s, and the series Keeping Time: New Music from America’s Roots.
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