 “Here was a woman who made films in the ’90s; who was screaming about that stuff in her work and in her life before it became a fashion accessory button at a Hollywood awards ceremony.”

Jacobson died from endometrial cancer in New York City on February 13, 2004, aged 32.After her death, Marc Savlov wrote in "The Austin Chronicle," "There's no doubt in the minds of anyone … that she greatly helped stoke the flames of the guerilla and indie filmmaking movement while becoming a voice for grrrl-positive cineastes everywhere".The Sarah Jacobson Film Grant was set up by Sarah’s longtime friend and collaborator filmmaker Sam Green and annually awards grants to young female directors.