Isabella Vargas is a multimedia artist who works at the intersection of media and activism. She works with experimental and nonfiction forms through video, audio, and animation in order to find poetic ways to reconstruct the stories of her intersecting communities. She’s interested in unraveling and dismantling Latinidad while also processing the intergenerational trauma in diaspora, disabled, and queer identity. Prioritizing her community’s stories, secrets, and dreams, Isabella works with marginalized identities to amplify the voices of those traditionally silenced.
Education
2024 MFA, Integrated Media Arts, Hunter College, NY
2020 BA, Liberal Arts with a concentration in Filmmaking, Sarah Lawrence College, NY
2019, Art History Certification, La Sorbonne, Paris, France
Residencies and Fellowships
2023 Emerge Fellow at the Longmore Institute, San Francisco State University
2023 Skidmore MDOCS Fellowship
2022 RespectAbility Lab for Professionals with Disabilities
2022 BRIC Lab Resident Video Artist
2020-2021 Uniondocs Fellow
Screenings and Awards
2023, Longmore Institute Emerge Symposium, Artist and Panelist, Virtual
2023, Access Horror Summit, Filmmaker and Panelist, Virtual
2023, BRIC Video Art Screening, Filmmaker, Virtual
2021, New York Lift Off, Official Selection, Virtual
2020, Docs Without Borders, Merit Award Winner, Virtual Exhibition
2020, Revolution Me Film Festival, Screening, NY
2020, Painted Ladies Collective, Screening, Virtual / NY
2020, Oregon Short Film Festival, Screening, OR
2018, WYO Film Festival, Screening, WY
2018, YoFi Yonkers Film Festival, Screening, NY
2018, Miami Independent Film Festival, Screening, FL
Film Production Experience
HTYT Films “Untitled Phoenix Rising Sequel”, New York, NY - Camera Department PA
October 2023 - Dec. 2023
Shadowed camera department and proactively helped with setting up shots, running dailies, logging footage, and generally assisting the DOP. Also assisted the director with set design, shot lists, and needed PA tasks.
Prophets, New York, NY - Production Assistant
June 2020-December 2021
Acted as production assistant on set, distributed scripts, executed production runs, prepared and delivered call sheets. Crafted production plans, delivered pitches, created treatments and outlines and scripts.
Union Docs, New York, NY- Production Assistant
March 2021 - April 2021
Acted as main assistant to the producers of a wide-spread live video event. Communicated with participants, ran production runs, delivered vital material to everyone involved. Managed media assets, archived video projects, and assisted in editing and organization of files and content.
TBS: Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, New York, NY- Production / Field Intern
January 2020 - May 2020
Assisted several departments through research assistance, production assistance, and daily runs.Worked alongside script operations, managed tasks for any field interview shoots.
“River of Grass” Documentary Film, Miami, FL- Production Assistant
June 2019 - September 2019
Provided in-depth research, transcription, and translation of footage while helping production planning.
Bishee Media Productions, New York, NY- Camera Operator
January 2018 - December 2019
Acted as DOP on several shortform videos that highlighted an indigenous tribe in Colombia in an effort to spread awareness on their needs and advocated for better resources.
Related Experience
2021-Present, Member of the Illuminator, an activist / artist collective.
2020-Present, Continuous Video Work for Brandworkers Campaigns, NY
2020, Video Content for Nuevalife Org., FL / Colombia