Isabel Sandoval is an independent Filipino filmmaker and actress who is currently based in the United States. She directed the films Señorita (2011), Aparisyon (2012) and Lingua Franca (2019). She also directed the short film Shangri-La (2021) as part of Miu Miu's Women's Tales series of female-directed short films commissioned by the fashion brand.
Early life and education
Isabel Sandoval was born in 1982 in Cebu City in the Philippines.Clarisse Fabre, "« Brooklyn Secret » : une migrante transgenre au pays de Donald Trump", July 1, 2020, Le Monde She is an only child raised by a single mother. Her love for film began at the age of four, when her mother took her to a pre-war movie palace to watch a Filipino slapstick comedy.
She studied Psychology at the University of San Carlos, where she graduated summa cum laude. She then moved to New York City to pursue her MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business. Not long after she finished her MBA, she got together with her cinematographer roommate to shoot the short version of Señorita, her debut feature.
Career
Feature Films Isabel Sandoval has produced, written, and directed three feature-length films. In 2011, Sandoval directed her first feature, 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 InquirerJen Yamato, "Introducing Isabel Sandoval: The ‘Lingua Franca’ filmmaker on her indie drama", September 7, 2020, Los Angeles TimesDino-Ray Ramos, "‘Lingua Franca’ Director Isabel Sandoval Is “Seizing The Opportunity” To Showcase Filipino Narratives", August 25, 2020, Deadline This film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was nominated for Best Picture by the Young Critics Circle of the Philippines.
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.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 2017, Apparition was screened at MoMA as a part of the “A New Golden Age: Contemporary Philippine Cinema” series alongside works of other Filipino filmmakers, Lav Diaz and Brillante Mendoza. She mentioned that after finishing this film, she “was certain and discreetly started my transition shortly after.”
Her third feature film is Lingua Franca, released in 2019 and was shot in 16 days in Brooklyn, New York, starring herself, Eamon Farren and Lynn Cohen.Angelique Jackson, "‘Lingua Franca’ Filmmaker Isabel Sandoval Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE)", February 16, 2021, Variety 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. Lingua Franca is her first feature film to be set and produced in the United States and is her first film after her gender transition. She began her gender transition when Trump was first elected to the white house, and she stated that Lingua Franca came to her during that period. Although it’s not an autobiographical film, it captures the emotional state she was in at the time. Sandoval became the first out trans woman of color to compete at the Venice Film Festival when Lingua Franca premiered there.Erica Gonzales, "Director Isabel Sandoval Wants to Shed Light on Invisible Women", February 24, 2021, Harper's BazaarCarole 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, and was released by ARRAY and streamed on Netflix. Sandoval was named Best Actress at the 18th International Cinephile Society Awards,"Isabel Sandoval hailed best actress by International Cinephile Society", February 23, 2021, ABS-CBN News and at the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival.
Short Films and TV Shows 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.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.
In addition to her feature-length and short films, she has also worked on numerous TV show episodes. In 2022, she directed her first TV episode for the FX drama series Under the Banner of Heaven, which stars Andrew Garfield. In a TV interview, Andrew Garfield recalls his unforgettable experience working with Sandoval, “I love her (Isabel). She’s incredible. She’s so precise, so sensitive, so professional, so talented and astute. She’s great.” In the same year, she directed two episodes of the Hulu series Tell Me Lies, created by Meaghan Oppenheimer.
In 2023, she directed two episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, a coming-of-age romantic television series created by the author Jenny Han.
Sandoval recently wrapped her upcoming film, Moonglow, set in late-1970s Manila with Arjo Atayde attached into the project.
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.Jacqueline Arias, "‘Lingua Franca’ director Isabel Sandoval to helm ‘Tropical Gothic’ drama set in 16th century Philippines", February 19, 2021, NME 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."Isabel Sandoval wins production award in Berlin", March 9, 2021, Philippine Daily InquirerMichael Rosser, "Annemarie Jacir's ‘The Oblivion Theory’ wins Berlinale Co-Production Market award", March 3, 2021, Screen Daily
Influences and themes 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. Sandoval consistently explores the themes of marginalization and the intersectionality between complex identities and socio-political issues. As she progresses as a filmmaker, she realizes that she is more inclined to use this medium to shed light on the female experience. In her interview with Vogue Philippines, she stated, "I'm drawn to women protagonists that are disempowered in some way [...] who in the bigger picture, might seem powerless but in their realm, with their relationships, they try to assert themselves somehow as a way to hold on to their dignity."
In 2020, Ava DuVernay's ARRAY, acquired Lingua Franca and led to its streaming on Netflix and screening in selected theaters. in developing the styles of work. Other films which she has cited as influencing her were: Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974) by the director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, News from Home (1977) by Chantal Akerman, and Klute (1971) by Alan J. Pakula.
Filmography Short film +YearTitleDirectorWriterActressEditor2004Ritwal2009Señorita2017Woman2020A 1984 Period Piece in Present Day2021The Actress2021Shangri-La2022Maria Schneider, 19832026Tropical Gothic
Executive Producer Anino (2025)
Feature film +YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerActress2011Señorita2012Aparisyon2019Lingua Franca2022Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale2026MoonglowLet Us Through, Dear Ancestors
Television +YearTitleNotes2022Under the Banner of Heaven 1 episodeTell Me Lies 2 episodes2023The Summer I Turned Pretty 2 episodes
Awards and nominations +AwardsYearCategoryTitleResultAmerican Film Festival2019Narrative FeatureLingua Franca Bentonville Film Festival2020Best NarrativeLingua Franca Cabourg Romantic Film Festival2020Best FilmLingua Franca Chéries-Chéries2019Feature FilmLingua Franca Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival2012Best Film - New BreedAparisyon Cinemanila International Film Festival2011Lino Brocka Award/Digital LokalSeñorita Deauville Asian Film Festival2013Audience AwardAparisyon Best Film Film Independent Spirit Awards2021John Cassavetes Award (shared with Darlene Catly Malimas, Jhett Tolentino, Carlo Velayo)Lingua Franca GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics2021Trailblazer Award Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards 2020 Breakthrough Performance Lingua Franca Hamburg Film Festival 2019 Sichtwechsel Film AwardLingua Franca Hawaii International Film Festival2012Netpac AwardAparisyon International Cinephile Society Awards2021 Best ActressLingua Franca Best Director Best Original Screenplay Locarno International Film Festival 2011 Golden Leopard - Filmmakers of the PresentSeñorita London Film Festival 2019 Official CompetitionLingua Franca Molodist International Film Festival2020 Special Jury DiplomaLingua Franca Best LGBTQ Film Mons International Festival of Love Films 2020 International Competition Lingua Franca Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival 2020 Best Feature Film Lingua Franca Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries 2020 Best Actress Lingua Franca Pusan International Film Festival 2012 New Currents Award Aparisyon Queer Lisboa - Festival Internacional de Cinema Queer 2020 Best Feature Film Lingua Franca SoHo International Film Festival 2010 Best Showcase Short Film Señorita Thessaloniki Film Festival 2019 Mermaid Award Lingua Franca TLVFest - The Tel Aviv International LGBTQ Film Festival 2020 Best Film Lingua Franca Vancouver International Film Festival 2011 Dragons and Tigers Award Señorita Venice Film Festival 2019 Best Film (Venice Days) Lingua Franca Queer Lion Wicked Queer: The Boston LGBT Film Festival 2020 Narrative Feature Lingua Franca 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 FilmLingua Franca Nominated
Nominated
Nominated 2013 Best Screen Play (shared with Jerry Garcio) Best Achievement in Film Editing (shared with Jarrold Tarog) Aparisyon 2012Best 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])SeñoritaNominatedHollywood Critics Association Television Awards2022Best Directing in a Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or MovieUnder the Banner of Heaven NominatedGold List Awards2021Best Original ScreenplayLingua FrancaWonSociety of Filipino Film Reviewers (Pinoy Rebyu Award)2021Best film Best Director Best Lead Performance Best Screenplay Best EditingLingua FrancaNominated Nominated Nominated Won Nominated
See also List of transgender film and television directors
References
Further reading 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,