Isabel Sandoval is a Filipina filmmaker and

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

who lives in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. She directed the films ''Señorita'' (2011), ''

Aparisyon ''Aparisyon'' () is a 2012 Philippine psychological drama film written and directed by Isabel Sandoval. Set in early 1970s, where the story about the nuns in the period immediately preceding the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos.Eri ...

'' (2012) and ''

Lingua Franca A lingua franca (; ; for plurals see ), also known as a bridge language, common language, trade language, auxiliary language, vehicular language, or link language, is a language systematically used to make communication possible between groups ...

'' (2019). She also directed a short film called ''

Shangri-La Shangri-La is a fictional place in Asia's Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山), Uses the spelling 'Kuen-Lun'. described in the 1933 novel ''Lost Horizon'' by English author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, ge ...

'' (2021) as part of the

Miu Miu Miu Miu is an Italian high fashion women's clothing and accessory brand and a fully owned subsidiary of Prada. It is headed by Miuccia Prada and headquartered in Paris, France. History Miu Miu was established in 1992 by Miuccia Prada. The name ...

Women's Tales ''Women's Tales'' is an ongoing short film anthology series created by fashion brand Miu Miu. Aside from the stipulation that the films use Miu Miu clothing the all female directors are given carte blanche to create their films. Miu Miu has commissi ...

series of female-directed short films commissioned by the fashion brand.

Early life and education

Isabel Sandoval was born in 1982 in

Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas Regions of the P ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

.Clarisse Fabre,
« Brooklyn Secret » : une migrante transgenre au pays de Donald Trump
, July 1, 2020, ''Le Monde'' As a girl, Sandoval would go with her mother to a

movie palace A movie palace (or picture palace in the United Kingdom) is any of the large, elaborately decorated movie theaters built between the 1910s and the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opening every year between 192 ...

in the Philippines and watch

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

s such as those by

Dolphy Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. (; July 25, 1928 – July 10, 2012), better known by his stage names Dolphy, Pidol, and Golay, was a Filipino comedian and actor. He is widely regarded as the country's "King of Comedy" for his comedic talent embodied ...

; this ignited her passion for film. She graduated summa cum laude from the

University of San Carlos The University of San Carlos, also referred to by its acronym USC or colloquially shortened to San Carlos, is a private, Catholic, research, coeducational basic and higher education institution administered by the Philippine Southern Province ...

, then moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. There, she earned an MBA from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

Stern School of Business The New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business (commonly referred to as NYU Stern, The Stern School of Business, or simply Stern) is the business school of New York University, a private research university based in New York City. I ...

. She transitioned in 2014.Eugene S. Robinson,
How Making a Film Led Isabel Sandoval to Come Out as Trans
, October 19, 2020, ''OZY''

Career

In 2011, Sandoval directed ''Señorita'', a film about a trans woman working on a political campaign and raising a young boy. She played the film's protagonist, though she was not out as trans at the time, and has said that the role helped her realize her identity.Rito P. Asilo,
Trans woman of substance
, November 23, 2020, ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''Jen Yamato,
Introducing Isabel Sandoval: The ‘Lingua Franca’ filmmaker on her indie drama
, September 7, 2020, ''Los Angeles Times''Dino-Ray Ramos,
‘Lingua Franca’ Director Isabel Sandoval Is “Seizing The Opportunity” To Showcase Filipino Narratives
, August 25, 2020, ''Deadline'' In 2012, she directed the film ''

'' (''Apparition''), starring actresses

Jodi Sta. Maria Jodi Chrissie Garcia Sta. Maria (born June 16, 1982) is a Filipino actress. Sta. Maria was recognized as one of the most sought-after actresses in the entertainment industry. She is best known for her iconic roles in ABS-CBN drama shows. One o ...

and

Mylene Dizon Mylene Dizon (; born September 6, 1974) is a Filipino actress and model. Dizon has established herself as one of the most renowned actresses in Philippine cinema with an astounding 30 films and nearly 50 television roles to her credit, as well ...

, about a convent of nuns in a remote area of the Philippines in 1971, just before the declaration of martial law by

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...

.Jeannette Catsoulis,
In ‘Apparition,’ a Philippine Drama, Nuns Face Civil Strife
, July 9, 2013, ''New York Times''Apparition (Aparisyon): Busan Review
, October 7, 2012, ''Hollywood Reporter'' In 2019, she directed the film ''

'', which she shot in 16 days in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, starring herself,

Eamon Farren Eamon Farren (born 19 May 1985) is an Australian actor. Following starring roles in the films '' X: Night of Vengeance'' (2011) and '' Chained'' (2012), he came to prominence for portraying Richard Horne in the 2017 revival of ''Twin Peaks''. H ...

and

Lynn Cohen Lynn Harriette Cohen (née Kay; August 10, 1933 – February 14, 2020) was an American actress known for her roles in film, television and theater. She was especially known for her role as Magda in the HBO series ''Sex and the City'', which she ...

.Angelique Jackson,
‘Lingua Franca’ Filmmaker Isabel Sandoval Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)
, February 16, 2021, ''Variety'' In the film, Sandoval plays an undocumented Filipina trans woman who falls in love with the adult grandson of the elderly woman for whom she is working as a caregiver. Sandoval became the first out trans woman of color to compete at the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

when ''Lingua Franca'' premiered there.Erica Gonzales,
Director Isabel Sandoval Wants to Shed Light on Invisible Women
, February 24, 2021, ''Harper's Bazaar''Carole Horst,
Immigration and Transgender Issues Fuel Isabel Sandoval’s Drama ‘Lingua Franca’
, August 26, 2020, ''Variety'' The film won the award for best narrative feature at the

Bentonville Film Festival The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) is an American film festival held annually in Bentonville, Arkansas that focuses on diversity. Foundation Bentonville Film Festival was founded by actress Geena Davis and ARC Entertainment executive Trevor Dr ...

, and was released by

ARRAY An array is a systematic arrangement of similar objects, usually in rows and columns. Things called an array include: {{TOC right Music * In twelve-tone and serial composition, the presentation of simultaneous twelve-tone sets such that the ...

and streamed on

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

. Sandoval was named Best Actress at the 18th

International Cinephile Society The International Cinephile Society is an online organization of professional film critics and journalists worldwide. Founded in 2003, it has obtained approximately 100 members—among them are Mike D'Angelo, Justin Chang (''Los Angeles Times''), ...

Awards, and at the

Pacific Meridian Pacific Meridian (russian: Меридианы Тихого; abbreviated as IFFV) is an International Film Festival of the Asian-Pacific region, which has been held every September since 2003 in Vladivostok, Russia. Every year it brings together fil ...

International Film Festival. In 2021, Sandoval wrote and directed ''Shangri-La'' (filmed in two months), a short film commissioned by the

project which asks female directors to examine "femininity in the 21st century", releasing it in February 2021.Sophie Shaw,
Filmmaker Isabel Sandoval Explores Forbidden Love in Miu Miu Tales' New Short Film
, February 23, 2021, ''L'Officiel'' Like ''Lingua Franca'', ''Shangri-La'' deals with forbidden love and racial prejudice. The same year, she signed with

Creative Artists Agency Creative Artists Agency LLC (CAA) is an American talent and sports agency based in Los Angeles, California. It is regarded as an influential company in the talent agency business and manages numerous clients. In March 2016, CAA had 1,800 emplo ...

. Sandoval is also developing a drama for FX, ''Vespertine'', and a film, ''Tropical Gothic'', about the haunting of a Spanish conquistador in the 16th century Philippines and based on the 1972 short story collection of the same name by

Nick Joaquin Nicomedes "Nick" Marquez Joaquin (; May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004) was a Filipino writer and journalist best known for his short stories and novels in the English language. He also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila. Joaquin was conferr ...

. In March 2021, ''Tropical Gothic'' won the VFF talent highlight award at the

Berlinale The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

, worth 10,000

euro The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...

s towards its production and according to her recorded interview with GMA News, has plans to be screened at either

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions I ...

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

. She is also currently directing an episode of the FX drama series, ''

Under The Banner Of Heaven ''Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith'' is a nonfiction book by author Jon Krakauer, first published in July 2003. He investigated and juxtaposed two histories: the origin and evolution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da ...

'', which stars

Andrew Garfield Andrew Russell Garfield (born 20 August 1983) is an English and American actor. He has received various accolades, including a Tony Award, a BAFTA TV Award and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards. ''Time'' ...

Styles and themes

Influences

Sandoval was inspired by films that depict impossible love relationships. She has stated that she enjoyed watching Hong Kong filmmaker

Wong Kar-wai Wong Kar-wai (born 17 July 1958) is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter, and producer. His films are characterised by nonlinear narratives, atmospheric music, and vivid cinematography involving bold, saturated colours. A pivotal figure ...

's film, ''

In the Mood for Love ''In the Mood for Love'' is a 2000 romantic drama film written, produced and directed by Wong Kar-wai. A co-production between Hong Kong and France, it portrays a man ( Tony Leung) and a woman (Maggie Cheung) whose spouses have an affair toget ...

'' (2000), for its style and profound melancholy. Its concept of emotional destination was a profound theme that influenced her. She sought to express illicit emotions that were distinctive, singular, and complex as she had not seen in films before. She was mentored by

Ava DuVernay Ava Marie DuVernay (; born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, television producer and former film publicist. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee ...

in developing the styles of work. Other films which she has cited as influencing her were: '' Ali: Fear Eats the Soul'' (1974) by director

Rainer Werner Fassbinder Rainer Werner Fassbinder (; 31 May 1945 – 10 June 1982), sometimes credited as R. W. Fassbinder, was a German filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the major figures and catalysts of the New German Cinema movement. Fassbinder's main ...

. Then there was ''

News from Home ''News from Home'' is a 1977 avant-garde documentary film directed by Chantal Akerman. The film consists of long takes of locations in New York City set to Akerman's voice-over as she reads letters that her mother sent her between 1971 and 1973 wh ...

'' (1977) by

Chantal Akerman Chantal Anne Akerman (; 6 June 19505 October 2015) was a Belgian film director, screenwriter, artist, and Film studies, film professor at the City College of New York. She is best known for films such as ''Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 108 ...

, and ''

Klute ''Klute'' is a 1971 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed and produced by Alan J. Pakula, written by Andy and Dave Lewis, and starring Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Charles Cioffi, and Roy Scheider. The film follows a high-priced ca ...

'' (1971) by

Alan J. Pakula Alan Jay Pakula (; April 7, 1928 – November 19, 1998) was an American film director, writer and producer. He was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Picture for ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), Best Director for ''All the President's Men ...

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
Isabel Sandoval
at Black Dog Films {{DEFAULTSORT:Sandoval, Isabel Living people 1982 births Filipino film actresses Filipino film directors Filipino women film directors LGBT film directors Transgender actresses Filipino LGBT people Filipino expatriates in the United States