ABOUT US

We tell stories to inspire

Visions & Values

Landmark Stories is a small award-winning documentary team that believes in the power of sharing untold stories about scientists' discoveries, struggles and life lessons. We are dedicated to producing cinematic, character-driven short and long-form documentaries that bring us closer together and closer to science.

Backed by the University of Arizona’s Division of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Veterinary Sciences & Cooperative Extension and guided by strong journalistic principles, we tell stories that help us make sense of the world.

Maintaining journalistic integrity is fundamental to our work. We are held to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and we strive to bring accurate and fair information to our audience.

On Assignment

Our Team

Sandra Westdahl

Lead Producer, Senior
Editor
Photographer

Sandra Westdahl

Lead Producer, Senior
Editor
Photographer

Sandra Westdahl believes stories can help change lives. In her current role as Senior Producer at Landmark Stories, she wants to find and tell those stories that build relationships and bridge the gap between people and science.

Before embarking on a career as a visual storyteller, Sandra worked as a print journalist in her home country of Sweden.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Arizona and worked as a video producer fellow with The New York Times Journalism Institute. She spent five years working for PBS 6 producing, filming and editing documentary shorts with a focus on social justice and equality.

Since making the transition to film, Sandra has received multiple Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards, as well as several regional and a national Edward R. Murrow Awards for her work. Her work has been featured nationally on PBS NewsHour Weekend and NPR Tiny Desk Contest.

Mitch Riley

Senior Producer
Photographer
Editor

Mitch Riley

Senior Producer
Photographer
Editor

Mitch Riley has worked as a documentary producer and visual storyteller in southern Arizona for more than a decade. His extensive body of work is character-driven, photography forward, and focused on the human condition. He believes the storyteller’s journey is one of building authentic relationships that uplift and honor people and speak to the greater good.

He recently joined the Landmark Stories team after serving as Senior Series Producer for the award-winning show Arizona Illustrated, a program of Arizona Public Media (AZPM), the PBS affiliate in Tucson. Two of his favorite short docs were produced in collaboration with Sandra Westdahl while they both worked at AZPM. They are COACH, the story of a former Marine and professional boxer who mentors youth from marginalized communities, and CAMP BRAVO, the story of a homeless encampment for Veterans near downtown Tucson.

Mitch has been recognized with multiple regional Emmy Awards and a 2021 Edward R. Murrow Award for his short doc, WILDLIFE AND THE BIGHORN. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and went on to earn an MFA from New York University’s Graduate Film Program at Tisch School of the Arts.

Mitch enjoys spending time with his family in Tubac, golf with friends, hanging with his dog Brando, and helping out in the kitchen. His cinematic influences include Terence Malick and Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezski.

John Casamasa

Producer
Editor
Photographer
Drone Photographer

John Casamasa

Producer
Editor
Photographer
Drone Photographer

John Paul George Ringo Casamasa, lovingly referred to by the team as “Beatles,” believes documentary filmmaking has the power to affect people's hearts and minds. John's interest in film began at a young age in Vail, Arizona with productions featuring his brothers and the family pets.

He joined the Landmark Stories team after graduating with a Bachelor's in Film and Television Production from the University of Arizona. Since then, his work has been recognized with a Bronze Telly Award. John has a deep passion for music that includes an impressive collection of vinyl records featuring many of his favorite artists like John Mayer, Taylor Swift, and yes, you guessed it ... the Beatles. He is also a certified drone photographer.

Dave Bogner

Supervisor

Dave Bogner

Supervisor

Dave Bogner keeps Landmark Stories running smoothly by applying his many years of communications technology in his role of Production Manager.

In his perfect world, Dave would be whitewater rafting class 5 rapids, surfing, skiing and mountain biking. But he also enjoys his day job of overseeing video production and educational technologies for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and remote education technologies for the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona.

Starting in his teens as a camera operator for local TV sports and studio productions, Dave worked for Capitol Records touring rock and roll bands. After college, he worked his way up to the Director of Engineering at the Virginia Tech Instructional TV studio and grew the studio to a statewide organization with multiple studios, satellite facilities, classrooms and networking operations. He also taught courses for the Faculty Development Institute, founded a state of the art digital media lab for the University, and contributed to the development of a high speed digital network in the state of Virginia with real-time video communications.

Matt Rahr

Supervisor

Matt Rahr

Supervisor

Özlem Ayse Özgür

Guest Producer

Özlem Ayse Özgür

Guest Producer

Özlem Ayse Özgür is joining Landmark Stories from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona where she is a doctoral student in Human and Film Geography.

Özlem left the birthplace of her beloved Istanbul to pursue her higher education in the United States. She received her Master's in Philosophy from Stanford University and Master's of Fine Arts in Film from San Francisco Art Institute.

Her desire to become a documentary filmmaker stems from her belief that film is a compelling way to deliver ideas, ask difficult questions, challenge, and rethink conventions. Her work focus on social and environmental justice issues in the context of refugees and immigrants in the US.

Her films have received multiple Silver Telly Awards, Rocky Mountain Emmy nominations, and an Impact Docs Award, as well as official selections in film festivals nationally and internationally.

In her free time, Özlem likes painting, gardening, cooking, Pilates, and taking long walks with her husband and their Golden Retriever, Zoë!

ABOUT US

We tell stories to inspire

Visions & Values

On Assignment

Our Team

Sandra Westdahl

Lead Producer, SeniorEditorPhotographer

Mitch Riley

Senior ProducerPhotographerEditor

John Casamasa

ProducerEditorPhotographerDrone Photographer

Dave Bogner

Supervisor

Matt Rahr

Supervisor

Özlem Ayse Özgür

Guest Producer

Lead Producer, Senior
Editor
Photographer

Senior Producer
Photographer
Editor

Producer
Editor
Photographer
Drone Photographer