Sara Joe Wolansky
Documentary Filmmaker Director
Hi there! I'm a Brooklyn-based documentary filmmaker & Emmy-nominated producer.
From films about treasure hunts to mysterious voicemails to documenting death on social media, I specialize in crafting empathetic, stranger-than-fiction stories that capture the complexity of the human experience.
Previously, I was a Senior Video Producer for The New Yorker. There, I directed and produced original documentaries which were among the top viewed for the brand. In 2019, I spearheaded The New Yorker Documentary series, where I oversaw development, production, and post for films which have gone on to win Emmys, IDA nominations, and Oscar shortlist nods.
I also produced & edited The New Yorker's groundbreaking video of the January 6th Capitol insurrection, which was covered extensively on broadcast networks and viewed by millions. Excerpts were played during Trump's second impeachment and included in the Congressional Record for the trial.
I hold a M.F.A. in Film & T.V. Production from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard. I have also worked as a producer for Bloomberg and VICE, and in post-production for documentaries such as National Geographic's "Jane" and HBO's "Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck." My filmmaking is informed by my years working as a volunteer crisis counselor for mental health hotlines.

Photo by Gareth Smit