Biography

Waleska Santiago is an accomplished independent filmmaker, director of photography, and photojournalist from Fortaleza, Brazil. With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the Universidade de Fortaleza and a Master's degree in Media for Social Justice from Woodbury University in California, she possesses a strong academic foundation in her field.

Waleska's photography work has earned her global recognition, while her short film "Peixe Roncador" (2013) achieved remarkable success, winning top honors in several international film and journalism competitions, including the prestigious Libero Badaró award. Currently based in Los Angeles, she has demonstrated her versatility as an associate producer, collaborating on various documentary projects.

Among her notable works are the documentary film and television series "Do No Harm: The Opioid Epidemic" (2017), "Backfired: When VW Lied to America" (2018), and the television series "Our Kids: Narrowing the Opportunity Gap" (2019). In 2020, Waleska produced her groundbreaking documentary, "Sweet Poison," which explores the hazards of pesticides in Brazil and their detrimental effects on local communities. The film garnered critical acclaim and achieved international recognition, being screened at numerous festivals and receiving multiple awards. Notably, "Sweet Poison" marked her directorial debut, where she also showcased her talents as the cinematographer, producer, editor, and outreach director.

Over the past decade, Waleska has amassed an impressive body of work, with more than 100 hours of documentary content distributed through various platforms, including PBS, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Kanopy, and others. Her unwavering dedication to her craft and her ability to capture impactful stories have established her as an influential figure in the realm of independent filmmaking.
- IMDb mini biography by: Waleska Santiago