Michelle Sanders | Filmmaker

I finally put the finishing touches on my showreel (12 exports later…). What amazes me when putting these together is just how much of my work is enabled by the generosity of others — people who donated time to tell their stories, those who have hired me repeatedly and recommended me to others, the feedback and support from other filmmakers on the work. I feel like I’m starting to get the balance right in my work, splitting time between making things about the outdoors, and filming for campaigns that are working to end polluting industries and build better futures. These themes feel symbiotic to me, working on one necessitates working on the other. I also really enjoy going into topics completely unrelated to these themes, as it keeps it all fresh and gives me new perspectives: a reminder that there are many people thinking and working on many things in the world. To those that have continually hired me, recommended me, or thought of me when hearing about a project, thank you doesn’t feel like enough but it’ll have to be a start! I love this job more than anything and I’m so passionate about the work. My biggest goal for 2026 is to find ways (and budget!) to work with other filmmakers and do more collaborative projects. I’m excited and daunted by where it’s all headed, and hope to have some fun new shots and stories to add next year.

Huge congratulations to @_michellesanders , winner of the inaugural @climate__spring X @sheffdocfest Documentary Pitch! Following an exciting finalists pitch session at the festival last week, Michelle will receive £10,000 in development funding to help make their idea a reality. Michelle Sanders is a documentary filmmaker focused on stories about climate and nature. She has worked across digital media, campaigns, and documentaries on topics including the loss of arctic sea ice, stopping oil and gas development in the UK, and the emerging debate over deep sea mining.  She has worked for clients including Fujifilm, 90 North Foundation, The Oscars, The Listening Planet, National Wildlife Federation, and Ffern. She was also a researcher on Netflix’s hit documentary Tiger King. Michelle’s project was chosen by a fanastic panel of expert judges chaired by Climate Spring’s Head of Unscripted, @david_leach - thank you to Emma Loach (BBC Documentaires), Jono Stevens (JustSo Branded Content Studio) Shanida Scotland (DOC SOCIETY) and Harjeet Harjeet Chhokar - Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. 🔗Read more via link in bio. #ClimateStories #ClimateStorytelling #Documentaries #Festival #Pitch

What does it take to know a mountain? ⛰️ Tired of all the stories focused on racing to the summit, Hannah Westhenry fell into the pages of her beloved book The Living Mountain, by Scottish writer & explorer Nan Shepherd. Inspired by Nan’s work, Hannah brings together a diverse group of women to follow in Nan's footsteps, adventuring into the UK's largest and wildest mountain range to tell a different story. We’re excited to announce our film ‘To Know A Mountain’ will be premiering at Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 as part of the ‘Mountain Blue’ collection on Friday Nov 22nd at 12:15pm and Sunday Nov 24th at 9:30am. You can find tickets through @kendalmountainfestival Directed, Shot, and Edited by @emily.pbaker & @_michellesanders Super8 Cinematography by @moonseungsung Music by @aliceboydmusic Photography by @ameenarojee Produced with @following_nanshepherd With Support From @explorewhatmatters @alpkit @staywildswim @ffern.co

When I jumped on a call with @stoma_chameleon last year to talk about this project, I asked "who do you want this film to be for?" she paused, and then said "people who have gone through birth trauma or are living with an ostomy." That became my guide-- learning about an often invisible struggle, and how many women are hiding their stomas or feel that their life is limited as a result. 'cloudline: where women rise' is a film to empower women living with birth trauma and ostomies to see what's possible in their life. It also raises awareness for @chameleon_buddies , who deliver stoma supplies to communities in neighboring Kenya that don't have the same access to supplies that help them live with their stomas. The film is premiering in Alnwick June 11th, followed by screenings in Cornwall, Shrewsbury, Totnes, Leeds, Parliament, Sindford, and Seaham (tix available through @chameleon_buddies ) if you know of, or are someone, living with birth trauma or an ostomy: this film is for you.

new work for @ffern.co it was lovely to make this lil piece with @aliceboydmusic at @kneppwildland for their Spring campaign, check it out on their page 🌱

Left my editing and writing hole for a week and headed up to Scotland with @_michellesanders to join @scottish_adventure_film_tour in Glasgow and Edinburgh 🏔️ It’s been awesome to see our film screened alongside so many diverse stories about Scotland’s adventure communities. I’m really proud of how far To Know A Mountain has come since we filmed it in 2023 and I don’t think either of us expected it to resonate with so many people across the UK. For me, it’s seems as though Nan Shepherds meditative prose and teachings from the Living Mountain feel more relevant today than when she wrote them in the 1940s. We also travelled further up the east coast for a new project we’re working on 🌊 #documentary #sony #womeninfilm

on the way back from a shoot in Texas I stopped by a campaign in Houston, marching to oppose an oil and gas conference. Little did I know I'd be heading straight to a 7.5 hour TSA line at Houston Bush Airport due to the government shutdown over DHS/ICE funding, even though the wait time had been reported as 4 hours 🫠 Straight home, to a shoot at parliament, and I have to move house tomorrow! February/March have kicked my bum in good and bad ways

Cloudline: Where Women Rise Tickets now on sale for the premiere of our fabulous documentary of the incredible Mount Kilimanjaro trek undertaken by 17 brave women, from around the UK and America. More than a documentary screening, we also have: Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, Dr Caroline Pryer Gill Castle BEM, Guinness World Record Holder Geoff Watson, Alnwick Mayor Nicola Napier, Chameleon Buddies co-founder Q&A Panel with @_michellesanders Filmmaker together with the trekkers Plus! Raffle, handmade Kenyan baskets and bags to buy AND… A special surprise on the night! DON’T MISS OUT! Our only Northumberland screening. All for £12:50 Adult, £9:50 child. No seat reservations but special seating for assistance needs can be requested by emailing [email protected] . Tickets available via QR code at the Playhouse reception or on our website: chameleonbuddies.org.uk All proceeds directly fund our monthly stoma support group in Alnwick, and the women and girls with ostomies in Kenya 🇰🇪 We look forward to seeing you there 💕

getting back in the north sea this week had me reminiscing on a shoot with @stoma_chameleon for our upcoming documentary about birth trauma, ostomies, and adventure. the edit is starting to shape up and I'm excited to share more about it in the coming months 🌊⛰️

one of my favorite photos from last year while I'm deep in laptop mode before another set of shoots next month on my @fujifilmx_us

Shell announced over £13 billion in profits while climate impacts take hold. Recent studies show that half of global emissions are caused by only 36 companies. @fossilfreelondon campaigners staged an action outside the headquarters, posing as shareholders celebrating the destruction of the planet (especially highlighting damages from Typhoon Odette-- which Shell is now going to court for).

🎬 FILMMAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🎬 We’re thrilled to have Emily Baker and Michelle Sanders, the filmmakers behind To Know A Mountain, joining us at the Glasgow and Edinburgh screenings on 11th and 12th March! Emily is a filmmaker and photographer exploring our diverse relationships with the natural world. Michelle is a documentary filmmaker working at the intersection of nature, climate and adventure. Join us to hear about their creative process, what it takes to bring an outdoor film to life, and the story behind the Following Nan Shepherd Project. 🎟️ Tickets via the link in our bio or on @scottish_adventure_film_tour website Photos by @ameenarojee , @worldwidewallace , and @conservation.diaries #ScottishAdventureFilm #OutdoorFilmTour #ScottishOutdoors #MountainStories