Sarah Rachael Wainio is an independent film and television producer. Sarah has produced over 15 seasons of television both in the field and in post for leading networks including Discovery Channel, Netflix, MTV, WEtv, TLC, The Food Network, and Magnolia Network. In 2024 she field produced a series of short films encouraging civic engagement for ATTN: featuring President Barack Obama, and field produced Season 2 of THE LOST KITCHEN (HBO Max) which won Realscreen’s 2023 Best Lifestyle Docureality Food Show.
Sarah came to documentary first as a participant in THE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACK (Discovery Channel), WHAT HAPPENED?: THE STORY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: With Linda Ellerbee (Nickelodeon) and 9/11: FOUR FLIGHTS (History Channel) after her sister was murdered on United Flight 93. Because of her life experience, she brings a sensibility and care to her practice that she continues to cultivate through her work as the co-chair of the Documentary Producers Alliance Ethics Committee, and on the “Ethics Squad” – a group of documentary thought leaders touring the U.S. teaching ethics workshops.
Sarah’s filmography includes contributions to THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON (Netflix), 32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE (HBO Max), One October (PBS) and BUSY INSIDE (PBS). In 2023, she was honored as one of DOC NYC's Documentary New Leaders, an initiative co-presented by A&E IndieFilms, recognizing individuals working towards a more inclusive documentary industry.
She is producing a feature documentary about the Paul Taylor Dance Company, METAMORPHOSIS, which is currently in production. Sarah lives in New York City with her cats Theodora and Tovah.
