Sanaa Hamri facts for kids

Sanaa Hamri (born November 19, 1977) is a talented director from Morocco and America. She directs movies, TV shows, and music videos. She has worked with famous musicians like Prince, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Sting.

Sanaa Hamri is well-known for directing the movie Just Wright (2010) and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008). She also directed the popular music video for Nicki Minaj's song "Super Bass". Her first movie as a director was the romantic comedy Something New in 2006.

Early Life and Education

Sanaa Hamri was born in Tangier, Morocco. Her father, Mohamed Hamri, was a painter and writer. Her mother, Blanca Hamri, was a teacher. Both her parents were involved in the creative community in Morocco. This community included many artists and writers from other countries.

Sanaa went to the American School of Tangier, where her mother worked. The school was mostly for boys. At one point, Sanaa was the only girl on the soccer team. She was also the only female student in her high school class.

In 1992, Sanaa moved to the United States. She received a scholarship to attend Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. In college, she studied theater and acting. She spent a year studying in Paris. Sanaa Hamri graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1996.

Career Beginnings

After college, Sanaa Hamri moved to New York City. She wanted to become an actress. However, she found it hard to get acting jobs. So, she decided to try working behind the scenes in filmmaking.

She taught herself how to edit videos using special machines. Sanaa then started making music videos. Her work caught the eye of a cinematographer named Malik Hassan Sayeed. He was impressed by her skills.

Sayeed showed Sanaa's work to Mariah Carey, a famous singer. Mariah Carey then hired Sanaa to direct a music video. Sanaa also got her first editing job for a music group called Born Jamericans. As she became more known, she started getting more work.

Directing Music Videos

Sanaa Hamri has directed many music videos for top artists. Some of her videos include:

• Jadakiss's "U Make Me Wanna"
• Prince's "Musicology"
• Kelly Rowland's "Stole"
• Mariah Carey's "Crybaby" and "Bringin' On the Heartbreak"

She has also directed videos for Nicki Minaj, Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone, Sting, Common, Raven-Symoné, Jay-Z, and Christina Aguilera. In 2011, she directed the music video for Nicki Minaj's hit song "Super Bass."

Directing Films

Sanaa Hamri's movies are sometimes called "chick flicks." However, many people say her films show black women in new and interesting ways. Her movies often challenge common ideas about black women.

In 2005, Sanaa began directing her first feature film, Something New. This was a romantic comedy starring Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker. The movie came out in 2006 and was well-liked. It was special because it was a film about a black woman, written, directed, and produced by black women.

Her second movie was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 in 2008. This film starred America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and Blake Lively. It was also very popular.

In 2010, she directed Just Wright, starring Queen Latifah and Common. This movie also received good reviews.

Directing Television Shows

Besides movies and music videos, Sanaa Hamri has directed and produced many TV shows. She has worked on popular series like:

• Nashville
• Shameless
• Elementary
• Desperate Housewives
• Grey's Anatomy
• Glee

She also directed Mariah Carey's live concert film, The Adventures of Mimi. She also directed Prince's The Art of Musicology and Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas. More recently, she has directed episodes for big fantasy shows like The Wheel of Time and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Personal Life

Sanaa Hamri can speak several languages. She knows English, French, Spanish, and a Moroccan language she learned as a child. In 2000, she had a daughter named Laila Hamri Fletcher.

Sanaa has spoken about being a non-white woman working in Hollywood. She wants to make movies that people from all backgrounds can enjoy and learn from.

Filmography

Films

• 2006: Something New
• 2008: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
• 2010: Just Wright

Television

As director unless noted

• 1998: Mariah Carey: Around the World (TV Movie) – Editor
• 2004: Prince: The Art of Musicology (TV Special)
• 2007: Desperate Housewives (1 episode)
• 2009: Acceptance (TV Movie)
• 2010: Life Unexpected (1 episode)
• 2012: Bounce (1 episode)
• 2012: 90210 (2 episodes)
• 2013: Nashville (2 episodes)
• 2013: Lovestruck: The Musical (TV Movie)
• 2013: Hit the Floor (1 episode)
• 2013: Full Circle (1 episode)
• 2014: Glee (1 episode)
• 2013–2014: Elementary (4 episodes)
• 2014: Hemlock Grove (1 episode)
• 2014: Rectify (1 episode)
• 2015–2019: Empire (Director and Producer for many episodes)
• 2011–2015: Shameless (4 episodes)
• 2015: Studio City (TV Movie)
• 22021: 9-1-1: Lone Star (2 episodes)
• 2021: American Horror Stories (1 episode)
• 2023: The Wheel of Time (Director & Executive producer)
• 2024: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (3 episodes)

Music videos

See also

In Spanish: Sanaa Hamri para niños