TRIBUTES have been paid to film director, producer, actress, singer and songwriter Samantha Rebillet, who died tragically at the age of 45 last week.

During her career, Rebillet had guest appearances on well-known Australian television shows Water Rats, Murder Call and All Saints. She also directed and produced Butterfly Man, a documentary that won a Silver Club award at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam in 2004.

"It seems impossible that we are here today remembering a person who should be here beside us, we all feel such a mix of emotions, there is pain and deep mourning and grief but we must remember from the depths of our sorrow to be grateful for the blessing of Sami's life, for the privilege of knowing her, of the beauty of her presence, the light of her smile, her laughter, her heart, her spirit," Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio said at Sami's funeral on Monday.

"Sami was loved by so many people and her last journal entries tell us that she knew and felt your embrace, your support.