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Bio

Isabel Rose Soloaga is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, impact strategist, and communications professional with over a decade of experience using media to advance social justice. With a background in field research, refugee advocacy, and participatory storytelling, Isabel brings a deep commitment to co-creation and community-driven change. Her most recent short film, Growing Up in America: Life After the Taliban, follows two young Afghan sisters as they rebuild their lives in Northern California after escaping Kabul in 2021. The project was developed in collaboration with Afghan refugee Najaf Ali Mohammady and is rooted in four years of trust-building and immersive fieldwork. The film has screened at international human rights forums and was used in advocacy campaigns supporting refugee education and women’s rights. Isabel’s work has been recognized with over 14 international awards and supported by partners such as CNN, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Institute of Development Studies. She has designed and implemented impact campaigns that amplify the voices of displaced and marginalized communities across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, often integrating creative methods such as participatory photography and equine-assisted therapy. As an impact producer, Isabel specializes in strategic outreach, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector partnerships that center community agency. She is currently developing a research and media project on climate displacement and gender justice, bridging storytelling, law, and policy. Isabel combines global field experience with a systems-thinking approach to impact. She holds a degree from UC Berkeley and is passionate about leveraging film and media as tools for meaningful, measurable change.