Sahar Sedaghat

Background

About Sahar Sedaghat

I’m an award-winning Persian-British-Kiwi writer, producer, and director turned documentary filmmaker on a mission to tell deeply human stories that make a meaningful impact. My career journey has been pretty unconventional, and I’ve come to quite like it that way. From international development in South Africa, to law school in Scotland, to building a career in media, technology, creative, and branded content across New Zealand and the UK. Now, I’m moving from London to the US to start my postgraduate MS in Documentary Filmmaking at Columbia University in New York, where I’ll be honing my storytelling chops and taking the leap into independently directing the stories closest to my heart. Through all those twists and turns, one thing has stayed constant in my career: a passion for contributing to a better world and a belief in storytelling as a tool for positive change. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve led global creative campaigns across EMEA, APAC, and US markets for brands like Google, YouTube, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, and Burger King - as well as grassroots charities, NGOs, and social enterprises. Along the way, I’ve built and nurtured diverse teams of creative thinkers and doers, always championing the unicorns and misfits: those who don’t fit neatly into one box, think a little differently, and aren't afraid to stay true to their values, voice, and unique ways of being. Having grown up in a family of scientists, I'm naturally a bit of a science nerd and endlessly curious about how people think, feel, and behave. My work often lives at the intersection of social science, creativity, culture, and community – blending ethnographic depth with experimental form to explore what it means to be human in a fast-changing world. My surname, Sedaghat, means honesty, integrity, and authenticity – and that’s what I aim to bring into every story I tell. Whether I’m leading global campaigns, shaping purpose-driven narratives, or directing personal documentaries, those values runs through everything I do. Outside of work, I’m an adventurer (currently training for my first trail ultra), lifelong learner, humanitarian, mental health advocate, and yogi. Storytelling with Sedaghat: Authentic. Impactful. Brave.