Cinematic Witness: Addison Sandoval Partners with the USC Shoah Foundation
Collaborating with the USC Shoah Foundation to preserve survivor testimony, challenge denial, and inspire change through the power of film
Bearing Witness: Film as Memory and Resistance
For Addison Sandoval, filmmaking is far more than creative expression—it’s a way to bear witness, challenge denial, and keep memory alive. His partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation illustrates the vital role of film in honoring the stories of those who survived humanity’s darkest moments.
Sandoval’s early lessons in humility and respect shaped both his worldview and his art, values which took center stage in his award-winning short film, Live Another Day, created for the USC Shoah Foundation’s Student Voices contest. Drawing on powerful firsthand testimonies from the Foundation’s Visual History Archive, Sandoval’s film weaves survivor stories together with original visuals and poetic narration—bridging past and present.
Stories as Tools for Change
The USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg and USC to record, preserve, and amplify the voices of genocide survivors, gave Sandoval a new perspective on storytelling as a tool for change. “Making media like this cements what happened in the annals of history. The only way future generations will know what happened is through the pictures,” he says. Working with the Archive left a deep impression, inspiring Sandoval to use his craft to confront both historical and contemporary forms of hate.
“Genocide is not just history—it’s a warning,” Sandoval reflects. Through creative collaboration with the Shoah Foundation, he reminds us all of our shared responsibility to remember, educate, and resist bigotry in every form.
Cinema, Advocacy, and the Pursuit of Justice
Blending his passions for film, law, and advocacy, Sandoval continues to champion stories that matter—proving that cinematic witness has the power to spark empathy, action, and hope for a more just world.
For more on the power of cinematic witness and Addison Sandoval’s partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, visit the original article: Cinematic Witness: Addison Sandoval Partners with the USC Shoah Foundation.