Isabel Sandoval is a director and actress best known for her critically acclaimed film ‘Lingua Franca’ now streaming on Netflix. ‘Lingua Franca’ is a  semi-autobiographical story of a transgender migrant in New York named Olivia. In the film, Olivia is a caretaker seeing to obtain a green card through a pre-arranged marriage. Desperate to obtain legal residency, the film deals with Olivia’s anxiety around deportation, ICE raids, and gender identity. The film also captures some more nuanced moments: with scenes that highlight the sacrifice and struggles migrants face to support their families back home.

In this conversation, Isabel shares with us her many journeys: How her move from Manila to New York prompted not only her path to cinema but to trans-womanhood as well.