Sam Crane (he/him) is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and researcher. His debut film, Grand Theft Hamlet, co-directed with Pinny Grylls, received widespread critical acclaim, winning the SXSW Jury Award, a Grierson Award, and two British Independent Film Awards. A seasoned stage actor, Sam has starred in many West End and Broadway productions, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and 1984. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of York, investigating how the presence of a live performer is mediated and transformed within digital gamespaces.