Filipina filmmaker and actress Isabel Sandoval has joined Black Dog Films for U.S./U.K. representation. In 2019, Sandoval became the first transgender woman of color to compete at the Venice Film Festival with her feature Lingua Franca. The film was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards and won the award for best narrative feature at the Bentonville Film Festival. For her performance, Sandoval was named Best Actress at the International Cinephile Society Awards, and at the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival.  

Earlier this year Sandoval directed Shangri-La, a short film for the Prada Group’s acclaimed MIU MIU Women’s Tales series. Previous contributors have included Agnes Varda, Lucrecia Martel, Ava DuVernay, Miranda July and Lynne Ramsay. Referred to as “the Queen of sensual cinema,” Sandoval brings honesty, delicacy and intimacy to her projects. 

The Museum of Modern Art described Sandoval as “a rarity among the young generation of Filipino filmmakers” while Criterion has touted her as “one of the most exciting and multitalented filmmakers on the indie scene.”   

“Isabel is an extraordinary filmmaker,” commented Martin Roker, head of Black Dog Films. “We’re delighted to welcome her to the team. At Black Dog we celebrate unique perspectives and voices and help match our directors with brands, artists and labels that complement the director’s talent. We’re looking forward to taking these next steps with Isabel.”

“What an incredible honor to be part of Black Dog Films and its roster of visionary, boundary-pushing artists,” said Sandoval who’s eager to bring her creative voice to new projects and campaigns.

Sandoval is currently based in New York where she is developing a drama for FX, and a feature film about the haunting of a Spanish conquistador in the 16th century Philippines. Her first two features, Señorita and Apparition, are currently streaming on The Criterion Channel.