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Shortlisted, Academy Award for Short Film

Sam Henderson is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Film at Baylor University and has been recognized for his outstanding teaching and research over the last decade. Named one of the 25 Screenwriters to Watch by the Austin Film Festival and MovieMaker Magazine, he is also a highly sought-after stage actor. 

Sam's most recent short film, ADO, starring beloved Hollywood veteran Jenifer Lewis, won the HBO Short Film Showcase at the American Black Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival,  Bronzelens International Film Festival and San Jose International Film Festival making it 4x Oscar-eligible for the 2026 Best Live Action Short. It was then Shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards for Best Live Action Short Film. ADO made its World Premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Flickerfest in Syndey, Australia and went on to screen at an additional ten other Oscar-qualifying fests, including the Cleveland International Film Festival, where it won the FilmSlam Student Choice Award, Florida Film Festival, Hollyshorts, SantFe International Film Festival and the Dallas International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Texas Short. ADO also screened at several fests that perennially appear on the MovieMaker Top 50, including Catalina, Tacoma, Tallgrass, Cordillera, Cannes Indie Shorts and DC Shorts, where it won the Audience Award and the award for Best Performance. 

His previous film, BREAK, shot on black and white 35mm, premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Austin Film Festival and went on to screen at the Oscar-qualifying St. Louis International Film Festival. It was nominated for Outstanding Music at the Micheaux Film Festival in Los Angeles and won Best Drama Short at Cincinnati’s Cindependent Film Festival. Sam’s earlier film, Con Alma, premiered at the Oscar-qualifying RSF Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and again at the St. Louis International Film Festival, as well. Con Alma was also a finalist for the WeScreenplay Diverse Voices competition. 

Sam’s teleplay, The Walls, a community drama set in 90s-Huntsville, Texas, won a direct pitch to A+E and was selected as a Second Rounder at Austin Film Festival. He is also currently represented by Christian Rodriquez at AAO Entertaiment.

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Sam Henderson and Maverick Moore’s film “Ado” is one of 15 live action short films to make the cut.

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