Sara Carlsen was born in Kansas, grew up in the plains of Colorado, and later attended the University of Kansas. Now located in New York City, she has been working in documentary film for six years. She currently leads documentary production at Army University Press and assists in productions by director Penny Lane.

She directed Battle of Ortona (2023) about a Christmastime battle with hesitant heroes and A Visit to Peaceful Acres (2022) about generational storytelling at her century-old family farm.

She has edited and animated seven feature-length documentaries including Deception at D-Day (2022) and Liberation of Manila (2021).

She assisted on Confessions of a Good Samaritan (SXSW 2023) and the upcoming feature Mrs. America (dir. Penny Lane).

She is currently producing and editing a film about the outdoorsmen of the 10th Mountain Division. She is also directing an independent film about influential oil tycoon H.L. Hunt.

Most importantly, she’s from the Midwest.