FILMMAKER SHOWCASE
Sandy Schwertfeger
Sandy Schwertfeger, 16, is a junior at CIVA Charter High School in Colorado Springs. Sandy loves CIVA because of its emphasis on non-bullying, celebration of diversity, and its emphasis on arts education.
Raised in a Mormon household, Sandy enjoys long-boarding on her skateboard and the music of Bob Marley.
Her film project OUR FOREVER HOME, explores the topic of foster parenting through the eyes of close family friends who have adopted three foster kids. Previous to their adoptions, these youngsters had been living in difficult, sometimes destitute, circumstances. The film reveals the multiple layers of love in its celebration of family in all its forms.
OUR FOREVER HOME premiered at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Rocky Mt. Women’s Film Festival where it received enthusiastic accolades. Sandy was also invited to participate in the Boulder International Film Festival’s Teen Filmmaking Competition where she collaborated with a young composer to score original music for her film.
Sandy is interested in pursuing journalism and potentially becoming a war correspondent and/or an independent documentary photographer, traveling to less known places like Africa and telling stories through pictures. She will graduate from high school in 2016.
I want to keep making films. There are so many issues that people don’t know about, especially outside the U.S. Documentary is a great way to shine light on those issues.
Sandy Schwertfeger, 16
