Nope! is Sami Schinaia’s debut as a solo director, after ten years as part of the directing duo SÄMEN. This short film, produced by Basement, was born out of the need to explore and share the director’s most recent and intimate period of his life, during which he has explored the world of psychedelics and internet dating. The short film is also a reflection on our society, as it looks at our relationship with drugs and the internet and the way these forms of addiction tend to dilute the value we place on human interactions. However, Nope! isn’t a criticism generally associated with these themes, but rather an ironic, light and playful insight into today’s youth culture. The new generation of dreamers and creators is represented as fluorescent, digital and slightly foggy. In line with Schinaia’s directorial style, the short film relies on compelling visuals and sound as much as on the script to unfold its narrative. Working exclusively with a very young team across styling, music, cinematography, post-production, sound design, graphic design and illustration, Nope! becomes a tribute to the fresh and innovative creative talent of tomorrow.

Sami Schinaia, born in 1989, is an Italian director who currently lives in Milan. In 2009, together with Ludovico Galletti, he founded SÄMEN, an internationally successful film duo. The two began their career directing music videos: a path that led them to collaborate with mainstream labels of the Italian record industry, such as Sony, Emi Music and Universal. Sami and Ludovico quickly became a point of reference for the Italian and international advertising industry, working for brands such as IKEA, Nike, Bmw, Lamborghini, Vodafone, Greenpeace, and with prominent testimonials like Usain Bolt, Bebe Vio and Gianluigi Buffon. Schinai’s touch is marked by a unique, polished, cinematic art aesthetic. He is able to create deep atmospheres by meticulous researching and working in the field of photography with sudden illuminating bursts of inspiration. While still focusing on advertising, since 2015 Sami has begun to explore his passion for the world of cinema, directing short films which premiered at festivals such as Not Film Fest, Video Art and Experimental Film Festival in New York, Kino Film Festival and Thunderdance Film Festival. 2021 marks an important milestone for Schinai, as he parted from the directing duo SÄMEN to pursue a more personal aesthetic, with a fresh ironic touch.