CO-DIRECTORS / CO-PRODUCERS

As a filmmaker and screenwriter SARAH SELLMAN uses genre storytelling to engage with the rural experience, focusing on the mysteries that occupy familiar places, and the role of myth in hiding and distorting personal and generational trauma. Currently, Sarah works as a Writer’s Assistant on Netflix’s Black Summer, for which she wrote an episode. She has previously worked on shows at SyFy, Netflix and Amazon.  

Sarah’s dark and surreal pilot - Cottonwood - was selected as Series Fest's Writer’s Initiative’s Grand Prize Winner and presented at IFP’s Project Forum.  Sarah’s short narrative film - Hold Your Arms Out - was offered a fellowship at Hewlett-Packard’s inaugural post-production program at Sundance Film Festival, and screened at festivals across the country in 2018.  

Sarah is developing her next feature, a magically real LGBTQ+ drama called Gillyfish which participated in both the Stowe Story Labs and the Cinestory Writer’s retreat. Sarah has shadowed as a director on three episodes of genre television for Netflix, and with her production company directed branded content for nonprofits and educational institutions, including two web series. 

She has also been selected as one of 10 finalists for the Series Fest Directing program with Shondaland, as well as the Directing Mentorship Program through Women in Film. Sarah started and runs a directing workshop in Los Angeles called Screen + Play, as well as a quarterly screenwriting retreat called Storied.

Her work has been supported by Sundance, Tribeca, IFP, Women In Film, Series Fest, The Stowe Story Labs, Cinestory, and more. Born and raised in the agricultural community of Alamosa, Colorado, a town infamous for it’s connection to the paranormal, Sarah graduated with honors from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts program for Film & Television.

FLASHBACK: Check out the behind-the-scenes video of Sarah's short film Hold Your Arms Out’s Sundance postproduction program.

GREG GRANO is a filmmaker and educator originally from Morristown, NJ. Greg studied Film and Television at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, with a minor in music. At NYU, Greg focused on writing and directing narrative films, exploring themes of missed connections, loss, and the intersection of fate and coincidence. In addition to his own short films and music videos, Greg worked as a DP, assistant director, producer, and sound mixer on a number of acclaimed short films, harvesting a range of skills in preparation for independent production work.

From 2011 - 2014 Greg worked in residence life at Syracuse University, directly serving students in leadership development, identity development, and civic engagement. As American Bear evolved into a finished film, Greg focused on these face-to-face connections and the value in listening deeply and consciously to stories in all forms. Greg received his Master's Degree in Cultural Foundations of Education from SU with an emphasis on art's potential to share stories that promote social justice.

Following the American Bear Screening Tour, Greg relocated to Denver, CO, producing freelance content with non-profits and working with young filmmakers in media programs across the state.

Greg and Sarah traveled around the world for much of 2016, expanding their interactions across the globe, and returning to the US with new perspectives on connection and compassion.

Now proud to call Los Angeles home, Greg currently teaches filmmaking through the lens of social justice at several colleges, high schools, non-profits, and museums. His creative work has led to extensive documentary content for the web, as well as experimental films about human relationships with nature. Learn more about his current work at www.gregorygrano.com.

FLASHBACK: Check out the trailer for Greg's NYU thesis film from 2011.