'Lingua Franca' filmmaker Isabel Sandoval to shoot her 'most ambitious film' in Cebu

After releasing her record-breaking film "Lingua Franca," Filipina filmmaker Isabel Sandoval is on to what she calls her "most ambitious film" yet.

In an episode of "The Howie Severino Podcast," Isabel said the movie will be based on Nick Joaquin's "Tropical Gothic."

It's going to be filmed in Cebu, and will be set in the first years of the Spanish regime in the country when "the transition between the precolonial way of life and a new subjugated way of life as colonial subjects of Spain" happen.

"It’s going to be very different," Isabel said. "First, it's gonna be my most ambitious film."

"I guess I'm choosing to shoot in Cebu for now, you know that's the plan, for sentimental reasons. I was born and raised there and it feels right to shoot a story about colonial Philippines in the Philippines at least. And even if we're shooting there, that doesn't mean that our market is necessarily just limited to the Filipino market. It's still very much an international co-production and it's going to be an international release."

Aside from being shot in the country, Isabel said that the main language of the film will also be in Cebuano or Visayan.

Asked if she'll star in her upcoming film the same way she did in "Lingua Franca" where she was both the lead actress and the director, Isabel said that she was still unsure.

"I’m making myself open to the idea especially with the success of 'Lingua Franca' and you know my performance having received some acclaim. And approaching this from a logistical and pragmatic point of view as well," Isabel said.

She added, "Having me in this mix both as a director and potentially a performer, could increase my chances of funding, abroad especially in Europe."

Isabel made headlines with her film "Lingua Franca," the first film ever to be directed and starring an openly trans woman of color to make it to the Venice International Film Festival. — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News