Proud moments from a decade of storytelling — including Emmy and Telly Awards for editing.

Celebrating a collaborative win at the New York Emmy Awards — where teamwork and storytelling took center stage.

First steps onto the Emmy red carpet — a night that honored the journey behind the edit bay.

Screening Reviving Nepal Bhasa — a deeply personal documentary about language, heritage, and cultural revival.

Behind the lens during a cultural how-to video — part of a series born from Reviving Nepal Bhasa, created to pass on sacred traditions through film.

Sharing the craft — teaching future editors and producers to tell stories that matter.

About Me

Sam Shakya is an Emmy-winning video editor, producer, and educator based in San Diego — and the creator of Shakya Creative, a personal portfolio and creative identity that reflects his storytelling philosophy: purposeful, impactful, and grounded in cultural depth.

Currently, Sam serves as a lead freelance editor for Everytown for Gun Safety’s Be SMART campaign, crafting both short-form and long-form documentary-style videos that promote secure firearm storage and community advocacy. His work centers on emotionally resonant, real-life stories that inspire awareness and action.

With a career spanning over a decade, Sam is known for his editorial precision, motion graphics artistry, and immersive sound design. At CUNY TV, he helped shape the Emmy-winning series Urban U and contributed to Theater: All the Moving Parts, which earned a Bronze Telly Award in 2025. He also worked on LATiNAS, a program that has received multiple Telly Awards.

Through Shakya Creative, Sam showcases a portfolio of meaningful freelance and independent work — including projects with Mothers Out Front, TV Asia, and his award-nominated short documentary Reviving Nepal Bhasa. The film was selected for the Hoboken International Film Festival and was runner-up for Best Documentary Short at the Queens World Film Festival.

Beyond production, Sam is a dedicated educator. As an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College and City Tech, he has mentored the next generation of editors and producers, helping students discover and develop their unique narrative voices.

He holds a BFA in Digital Arts and a BS in Mathematics from the University of Oregon, and an MFA in Television Production from Brooklyn College.

Outside the edit bay, Sam enjoys photography, hiking, exploring new places, and spending quality time with his family.

Highlights at a Glance

Freelance Editor & Producer for Everytown for Gun Safety – Be SMART Campaign
Senior Editor, CUNY TV (11 years) — Urban U, Theater: All the Moving Parts, LATiNAS (NY Emmy and Telly Award wins)
Director/Editor, Reviving Nepal Bhasa — Hoboken & Queens World Film Festival honors
Freelance work for Mothers Out Front, TV Asia, and more
Adjunct Professor, Brooklyn College & City Tech — mentoring emerging creators

Education

MFA in Television Production — Brooklyn College
BFA in Digital Arts & BS in Mathematics — University of Oregon

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