Peter Sanders, a renowned documentary filmmaker, comes from a family with a rich tradition in cinema. His father, Denis Sanders, was a two-time Oscar-winning director, and his grandmother, Altina Schinasi, was a nominated filmmaker. Sanders holds a graduate degree in broadcast journalism from New York University and an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Vermont.
Sanders' filmmaking career spans over a decade, with his first feature-length film, "The Disappeared," winning a special prize for Best Documentary at the Documentary and Fiction Film Festival of Hollywood in 2007. The film was also featured at several international film festivals and was broadcast on The History Channel and The Documentary Channel.
His second film, "Altina," is a documentary about his paternal grandmother, a wealthy avant-garde New York artist who invented the Harlequin or cat-eye glasses and created unique functional sculptures. The film won the David A. Stein Memorial Prize for Best Documentary and Best Director at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival in 2013.
Sanders' most recent film, "On the Shoulders of Giants: The History of NYU Langone Orthopedics," is a one-hour documentary that captures 120 years of medical history and the scientific achievements that shaped the specialty of orthopedics at NYU Langone Orthopedics. The film was selected as a finalist for a Jury Prize at the 2024 Tribeca X Film Festival.
In addition to his formal education, Sanders has also pursued his passion for exploration, spending time in Argentina, Europe, and Patagonia. He currently resides in Cold Spring, NY, with his wife and two sons.
Sanders' filmmaking style is deeply influenced by his study of the masters of cinema, and he has said that he feels equally at home in Hollywood, Argentina, Denton, Texas, and New York. His films reflect his deep understanding of the human experience and his ability to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences.
