Sarah R. Lotfi
Sarah R. Lotfi (born August 20, 1988) is a young filmmaker known for her World War II epic "The Last Bogatyr" (2009), a finalist in consideration for the 37th Student Academy Awards. While still in highschool during production of her first historical epic "To Be Queen" (2005), Lotfi's first cinematic attempt to adapt the love-story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. In 2008 Lotfi revised the story into a surreal short "Tudor Rose" which went on to play at CineYouth International Film Festival Daughter of an Iranian immigrant and Chinese-American, Lotfi favors cinematic adaptions  that examine multi-cultural influences. "The Last Bogatyr" (2009) examines the Russian identity during the 1940s, while Lotfi's animation "La Mutacion de Fortune" (2010) a poetic bio-pic of 15th century philosopher Christine de Pizan. In 2010 Sarah participated in the "National College TV Internship Program" through the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences working on the set of HBO Films Cinema Verite (2012). Lotfi began production in 2012 on another World War II film "Menschen" (German word for 'humans') which explores developmental disability in the last days of the war. The film is deeply personal for Lotfi, since  she is the older sibling to a brother and sister with Down Syndrome. Menschen made its world premiere at Phoenix Film Festival in April 2013.