Sandra Westdahl Documentary Filmmaker

Character-driven Storyteller. Creative Editor. Cinematographer. Director.

Sandra Westdahl is a National Edward R. Murrow award-winning short-documentary filmmaker with a driving passion for social issues and bringing intimate stories to the screen. Before joining a small documentary team called Landmark Stories, she spent five years working on character-driven documentary shorts that focused on social justice issues at Arizona Public Media (PBS 6). An adventurer at heart, Sandra left her home country of Sweden at age 19 and has lived in the United States since. Her Swedish roots drive her intrinsic and honest approach to storytelling. As an immigrant, she understands the importance of building relationships from within and seeks to craft genuine stories that celebrate the experiences and resilience of the communities she’s collaborating with. In 2019, Sandra helped launch Landmark Stories at the University of Arizona with the mission to tell cinematic, character-driven stories that make science more accessible to people around the country. As a senior producer, she focuses on bringing attention to communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental and social injustices. Sandra was recently recognized with a National Edward R. Murrow Award for best feature reporting for “Where Dreams Die.” The story centers the work and advocacy of 73-year-old Colombian artist Alvaro Enciso as he honors the lives of thousands of migrants who have died in the Sonoran Desert while trying to reach the U.S. for safer and better living conditions. In the last five years, Sandra has also been honored with four Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards as well as 12 Regional Emmy® Awards, 26 nominations, and three Telly Awards. Her work has been featured nationally on PBS NewsHour Weekend and NPR Tiny Desk Contest. Sandra is currently based in Tucson, Ariz. She is always eager to travel wherever the next story will take her!

AWARDS & HONORS

2020

Telly Awards

ONLINE GENERAL MOVIE TRAILER, SILVER Tackling Big Environmental Challenges ONLINE CRAFT-VIDEOGRAPHY/CINEMATOGRAPHY, SILVER Next Hopi Scientist [Picture Reel] ONLINE GENERAL - MOTIVATIONAL, BRONZE The Making of a Metalhead Scientist

Rocky Mountain Emmy Award

EDITOR PROGRAM (NON-NEWS) A Dancing Scientist

2019

National Edward R. Murrow Award

FEATURE REPORTING Where Dreams Die

Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

EXCELLENCE IN VIDEO The Survivor FEATURE REPORTING Where Dreams Die

Rocky Mountain Emmy Award

SPORTS FEATURE SEGMENT When Sarah Runs

2018

Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

EXCELLENCE IN VIDEO Danzacultura FEATURE REPORTING A Tucson Family Observes Ramadan

Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT - PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT Ephemeral HUMAN INTEREST – PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT The Full Nelson HISTORIC/CULTURAL-NEWS SINGLE STORY/SERIES/FEATURE/PROGRAM SEGMENT Danzacultura SPORTS FEATURE SEGMENT Coach EDITOR – PROGRAM (NON-NEWS) Coach

2017

Rocky Mountain Emmy Award

MAGAZINE PROGRAM – PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT/PROGRAM SPECIAL Camp Bravo

2016

Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards

MAGAZINE PROGRAM – FEATURE/SEGMENT Remembering Mukhi Singh HUMAN INTEREST – PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT Robert Barber StoryCorps Listens to Tucsonr

2015

Rocky Mountain Emmy Award

HISTORICAL/CULTURAL – PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT Labeled As Art

2012

New York Times Student Journalism Institute

VIDEO PRODUCER FELLOW

INTERVIEWS

2020

6/2020: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA’S “COMPASS” UArizona Documentary Team Receives National Awards 5/2019: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA’S “COMPASS” CALS Videographer Wins Two Regional Edward R. Murrow Award