Isabel Sandoval is a Filipino filmmaker and actress who lives in the United States. She directed the films Señorita (2011), Aparisyon (2012) and Lingua Franca (2019). She also directed a short film called Shangri-La (2021) as part of the Miu Miu's Women's Tales series of female-directed short films commissioned by the fashion brand.

Isabel Sandoval
Born1982
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actress
Years active2010–present

Early life and education

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Isabel Sandoval was born in 1982 in Cebu City in the Philippines.[1]

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Carlos,[2] then moved to New York City.[3] There, she earned an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business.[2][4] She transitioned in 2014.[2][5]

Career

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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.[2][3][6] In 2012, she directed the film Aparisyon (Apparition), starring actresses Jodi Sta. Maria and Mylene Dizon, about a convent of nuns in a remote area of the Philippines in 1971, just before the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos.[7][8][9]

In 2019, she directed the film Lingua Franca, which she shot in 16 days in Brooklyn, New York, starring herself, Eamon Farren and Lynn Cohen.[10] In the film, Sandoval plays an undocumented Filipino trans woman who falls in love with the adult grandson of the elderly woman for whom she is working as a caregiver.[10] Sandoval became the first out trans woman of color to compete at the Venice Film Festival when Lingua Franca premiered there.[8][10][11] The film won the award for best narrative feature at the Bentonville Film Festival, and was released by ARRAY and streamed on Netflix.[10][11] Sandoval was named Best Actress at the 18th International Cinephile Society Awards,[12] and at the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival.[2]

In 2021, Sandoval wrote and directed Shangri-La (filmed in two months), a short film commissioned by the Miu Miu Women's Tales project which asks female directors to examine "femininity in the 21st century", releasing it in February 2021.[8][10][13] Like Lingua Franca, Shangri-La deals with forbidden love and racial prejudice.[8][13] The same year, she signed with Creative Artists Agency.[10]

Sandoval is also developing a drama for FX, Vespertine,[10] 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.[3][6][14] In March 2021, Tropical Gothic won the VFF talent highlight award at the Berlinale, worth 10,000 euros towards its production and according to her recorded interview with GMA News, has plans to be screened at either Cannes, Venice or Berlin.[15][16][17][18]

She directed an episode of the FX drama series Under The Banner Of Heaven, which aired in 2022; it stars Andrew Garfield.[19][20]

Sandoval plans to direct her next film Moonglow, set in late-1970s Manila with Arjo Atayde attached into the project.[21]

Styles and themes

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Influences

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Sandoval was inspired by films that depict impossible love relationships. She has stated that she enjoyed watching Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai's film, In the Mood for Love (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 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, News from Home (1977) by Chantal Akerman, and Klute (1971) by Alan J. Pakula.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Director Writer Producer Actor
2011 Señorita Yes Yes Yes Yes
2012 Aparisyon Yes Yes No No
2019 Lingua Franca Yes Yes Yes Yes
2021 Shangri-La Yes Yes Yes Yes
2022 The Actress No No No Yes
TBA Moonglow Yes Yes No Yes
TBA Tropical Gothic Yes Yes No No

Awards and nominations

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Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
American Film Festival 2019 Narrative Feature Lingua Franca Nominated
Bentonville Film Festival 2020 Best Narrative Lingua Franca Won
Cabourg Romantic Film Festival 2020 Best Film Lingua Franca Nominated
Chéries-Chéries 2019 Feature Film Lingua Franca Won
Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2012 Best Film - New Breed Aparisyon Nominated
Cinemanila International Film Festival 2011 Lino Brocka Award/Digital Lokal Señorita Nominated
Deauville Asian Film Festival 2013 Audience Award Aparisyon Won
Best Film Nominated
Film Independent Spirit Awards 2021 John Cassavetes Award (shared with Darlene Catly Malimas, Jhett Tolentino, Carlo Velayo) Lingua Franca Nominated
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics 2021 Trailblazer Award Won
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards 2020 Breakthrough Performance Lingua Franca Nominated
Hamburg Film Festival 2019 Sichtwechsel Film Award Lingua Franca Nominated
Hawaii International Film Festival 2012 Netpac Award Aparisyon Won
International Cinephile Society Awards 2021 Best Actress Lingua Franca Won
Best Director Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Nominated
Locarno International Film Festival 2011 Golden Leopard - Filmmakers of the Present Señorita Nominated
London Film Festival 2019 Official Competition Lingua Franca Nominated
Molodist International Film Festival 2020 Special Jury Diploma Lingua Franca Won
Best LGBTQ Film Nominated
Mons International Festival of Love Films 2020 International Competition Lingua Franca Nominated
Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival 2020 Best Feature Film Lingua Franca Won
Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries 2020 Best Actress Lingua Franca Won
Pusan International Film Festival 2012 New Currents Award Aparisyon Nominated
Queer Lisboa - Festival Internacional de Cinema Queer 2020 Best Feature Film Lingua Franca Won
SoHo International Film Festival 2010 Best Showcase Short Film Señorita Nominated
Thessaloniki Film Festival 2019 Mermaid Award Lingua Franca Nominated
TLVFest - The Tel Aviv International LGBTQ Film Festival 2020 Best Film Lingua Franca Won
Vancouver International Film Festival 2011 Dragons and Tigers Award Señorita Nominated
Venice Film Festival 2019 Best Film (Venice Days) Lingua Franca Nominated
Queer Lion Nominated
Wicked Queer: The Boston LGBT Film Festival 2020 Narrative Feature Lingua Franca Nominated
Young Critics Circle, Philippines 2020 Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role

Best Screenplay

Best Achievement in Film Editing

Best Film

Lingua Franca Won

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

2013 Best Screen Play (shared with Jerry Garcio)
Best Achievement in Film Editing (shared with Jarrold Tarog)
Aparisyon Nominated
2012 Best Film

Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role

Best Screenplay (shared with Roy Sevilla Ho[writer])

Señorita Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Clarisse Fabre, "« Brooklyn Secret » : une migrante transgenre au pays de Donald Trump", July 1, 2020, Le Monde
  2. ^ a b c d e Rito P. Asilo, "Trans woman of substance", November 23, 2020, Philippine Daily Inquirer
  3. ^ a b c Jen Yamato, "Introducing Isabel Sandoval: The ‘Lingua Franca’ filmmaker on her indie drama", September 7, 2020, Los Angeles Times
  4. ^ "NYWIFT Talks with Director Isabel Sandoval", January 5, 2021, New York Women in Film and Television
  5. ^ Eugene S. Robinson, "How Making a Film Led Isabel Sandoval to Come Out as Trans Archived May 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine", October 19, 2020, OZY
  6. ^ a b Dino-Ray Ramos, "‘Lingua Franca’ Director Isabel Sandoval Is “Seizing The Opportunity” To Showcase Filipino Narratives", August 25, 2020, Deadline
  7. ^ Jeannette Catsoulis, "In ‘Apparition,’ a Philippine Drama, Nuns Face Civil Strife", July 9, 2013, New York Times
  8. ^ a b c d Erica Gonzales, "Director Isabel Sandoval Wants to Shed Light on Invisible Women", February 24, 2021, Harper's Bazaar
  9. ^ "Apparition (Aparisyon): Busan Review", October 7, 2012, Hollywood Reporter
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Angelique Jackson, "‘Lingua Franca’ Filmmaker Isabel Sandoval Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)", February 16, 2021, Variety
  11. ^ a b Carole Horst, "Immigration and Transgender Issues Fuel Isabel Sandoval's Drama ‘Lingua Franca’", August 26, 2020, Variety
  12. ^ "Isabel Sandoval hailed best actress by International Cinephile Society", February 23, 2021, ABS-CBN News
  13. ^ a b Sophie Shaw, "Filmmaker Isabel Sandoval Explores Forbidden Love in Miu Miu Tales' New Short Film", February 23, 2021, L'Officiel
  14. ^ Jacqueline Arias, "‘Lingua Franca’ director Isabel Sandoval to helm ‘Tropical Gothic’ drama set in 16th century Philippines", February 19, 2021, NME
  15. ^ "Isabel Sandoval wins production award in Berlin", March 9, 2021, Philippine Daily Inquirer
  16. ^ Michael Rosser, "Annemarie Jacir's ‘The Oblivion Theory’ wins Berlinale Co-Production Market award", March 3, 2021, Screen Daily
  17. ^ "'Lingua Franca' filmmaker Isabel Sandoval to shoot her 'most ambitious film' in Cebu". GMA News. April 22, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Cabral, Katrina (2021). "Wait a sec, is the 'Lingua Franca' director making a Nick Joaquin film?". Scout Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  19. ^ FX's UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN Series Filming in Didsbury, Ab.
  20. ^ "FX Drama 'Under the Banner of Heaven' Taps 'Lingua Franca's' Isabel Sandoval to Direct (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. November 3, 2021.
  21. ^ Shackleton, Liz (March 13, 2024). "'Lingua Franca' Director Isabel Sandoval Returns To Philippines To Shoot 'Moonglow' Starring Arjo Atayde". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 7, 2024.

Further reading

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  • Tauer, Kristen. "Eye: Isabel Sandoval on Directing 'Shangri-La' For Miu Miu Women's Tale'." WWD, (2021):29-. Print
  • Macnab, G. (2019). ‘Lingua franca’ director isabel sandoval lines up next project ‘Park lane’ (exclusive). Screen International, ProQuest 2301102622
  • How Trump's Presidency Helped Shape Isabel Sandoval's “Lingua Franca” Movie.(Broadcast Transcript). Washington, D.C: National Public Radio, Inc. (NPR), 2020. Print.
  • Dalton, B. (2019). Luxbox boards isabel Sandoval's venice days premiere ‘Lingua franca’ (exclusive). Screen International, ProQuest 2268074900
  • Morgenstern, J. (August 27, 2020). 'Lingua franca' review: Looking for love; A filipina caregiver hopes to find a husband, and thereby a green card, in isabel sandoval's touching feature. Wall Street Journal ProQuest 2437556233
  • Sandoval, Isabel. (20xx). "Meet Isabel Sandoval", Passerbuys: real recommendations, real people. http://www.passerbuys.com/profiles/isabel-sandoval, Biography.
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