Sally Aitken

Sally Aitken is a twice Emmy®-nominated director and writer, and a showrunner of multiple international series. Known for visually arresting work characterized by compassion and humor, she delights in unknown stories, adventurous collaborations and the world’s complexities. Her most recent film is the Sundance Film Festival hit, Playing with Sharks (Mountainfilm 2021), the remarkable story of maverick conservationist Valerie Taylor and her love affair with the ocean’s most terrifying predator. Aitken’s debut feature, A Cinematic Life, about esteemed film critic David Stratton and his love affair with the movies, appeared in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 where Aitken was also nominated for the Camera d’Or. Other major works includes directing The Pacific with Sam Neill, a six-part television series with the actor and raconteur retracing Captain Cook’s voyages and the indigenous perspective on Cook’s impact. Her architectural films include Getting Frank Gehry (2015, BBC/ABC) as well as Streets of Your Town (2016, ABC) for which Aitken collected both the Australian Director’s Guild Award as well as the Australian Writer’s Award for Best Documentary series. Passionate about innovative storytelling, Aitken holds an MA in Documentary (with distinction) from Goldsmiths College, London and is also developing various dramatic projects. He most recent project Every Little Thing is having its Colorado Premiere at Mountainfilm 2024.