Isabel Soloaga
Research, Journalism, Film
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Resume

rose.soloaga@gmail.com

isabelsoloaga.com

ISABEL ROSE SOLOAGA

MA, University of Sussex 2020

BA, University of California, Berkeley 2018


STATEMENT: 

Dynamic advocacy and communications professional and documentary filmmaker with a decade in multimedia production, strategic communications, and research. Proven track record in humanitarian engagement, refugee support, and policy influence, expertise in UN advocacy and crisis response. Award-winning digital content creator with 14 international documentary awards and CNN partnership. Extensive field experience in refugee camps and ongoing involvement in Afghan resettlement. Strong network with international organizations, media, and think tanks. Skilled in public speaking, social media strategy and investigative research. Fluent in English with proficiency in Italian and Spanish.

SKILLS:

  • Aerial Film and Photography: Licensed FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign 

  • Cinematography

  • CSS, HTML and GIS

  • Data Journalism 

  • DaVinci Resolve Video Editor & Colorist 

  • Documentary Film Direction

  • Dolby Vision HDR Color Correction

  • Event and Policy Planning

  • Fundraising and Advocacy Direction

  • Film Direction, Production, Cinematography and Post Production

  • Graphic Design

  • Investigative Research

  • Marketing and Outreach

  • Organizational Leadership

  • Photography

  • Project Management

  • Public Speaking

  • Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Strategic Communications

  • Website Design and SEO

Languages: Intermediate Italian, Elementary Spanish 

EXPERIENCE

Filmmaker & Founder, Rose Media

May 2020 - PRESENT

Clients include: KTVU Fox 2 News, Bay Area Video Coalition, BuildOn, The Compton Cowboys, Connected Horse,

Women in Aviation International, The Institute of Development Studies, The International Rescue Committee

Research Fellow, University of Sussex School of Law

November 2021 - PRESENT

  • Write research articles and scholarly publications; direct films that make international migration law and politics accessible to international  audiences  

  • Distribution and editing consultant services for feature documentary, The Other Place; provide strategies to maximize viewership and impact 

  • Production and distribution support of Negotiating Queer Identities Following Forced Migration podcast 

  • Plan, execute and present research at conferences and events at the University of Sussex, Glasgow, Birmingham, London, Mexico City, and online 

  • Maintain and update project websites 

Research Director, Mentia

September 2023 - PRESENT

  • Direct research for Mentia’s CalGrows project

  • Train and onboard 90+ care professionals and staff

  • Develop long-term implementation, research and evaluation of Mentia’s virtual-reality based training program

  • Lead multimedia production in support of Mentia’s mission to empower individuals living with dementia

Lead Instructor & Producer, Bay Area Video Coalition

June 2022 - May 2023

  • Train 60+ youth in live film production, post production and distribution

  • Develop impactful curriculum; create powerful, supportive learning envirornments for students

  • Produce impactful short films to educate and inspire climate justice

Research Analyst, Freedom House  

September 2021 - January 2022

  • Conduct research to determine how migration policies in host countries can mitigate instances of transnational repression: attempts by authoritarian states to silence or harass dissidents who have fled their origin country

  • Analyze policy, run interviews, data collection and reportingLed field research to determine how migration policies in host countries can mitigate instances of transnational repression

  • Led video interviews related to project goals, including capturing the work of the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)

Kabul Evacuation Special Immigrant Visa Cohort Assistant, The International Rescue Committee,  Ft. Bliss, Texas  

August 2021 – September 2021

  • First responder to the emergency evacuation of Afghanistan, supporting Special Immigrant Visa holders and Humanitarian Parolees in the United States 

  • Led data collection, analytics and monitoring with the Department of Defense

  • Developed first assessment and data tools to track personnel and efficiency of the emergency evacuation of Afghanistan 

International Rescue Committee, Sacramento, California 

Career Pathways Program

August 2020 - May 2021

  • Coordinated with advocacy and outreach teams to develop key advocacy messages

  • Wrote newsletters, articles, and created multimedia content to highlight the IRC’s media work and raise awareness

  • Established, maintained, and developed robust network of media professionals and organizations, leading to the publication of five articles in national and regional newspapers and leading blogs 

  • Conducted media advocacy and employment training for newly arrived refugees

Sexual Orientation and Gender Based Claims of Asylum Research Group, University of Sussex — Research Placement 

October 2019 - October 2020

Washington Immigrant Defense Network— Communications Associate

December 2018 - June 2019

  • Led video, multimedia content, graphic design and photography for nonprofit dedicated to protecting immigrants in danger of unlawful deportation 

  • Secured $30,000+ in startup grants through FWD.US 

  • Research and pre- production support that led to the creation of the  Tahmina Talks Immigration Podcast,  now 130+ episodes and counting

Watson Immigration Law, Seattle — Legal Assistant

November 2018 - PRESENT

  • Drafted legal documents

  • Designed promotional materials for social media, web and events

Migrant Voice, London — Reporting Intern

August 2016 - January 2017 ; July 2018 - October 2018

  • Conducted original research, news and blog writing

  • Led academic conferences and educational events

  • Completed Projects: Report on The Dublin Convention, Roads to Nowhere ; Conference at the University of Birmingham, Migrants Post Brexit: Finding our Voices ; Led Various Media Trainings with Migrants; Changing Lenses, a photography exhibition at The Guardian

Care 4 Calais, France —  Humanitarian Volunteer, Filmmaker and Researcher

Oct.- Nov. 2016 - December 2023 (Ongoing as circumstances allow)

  • Forged relationships with members of vulnerable migrant populations, including refugees, children and the elderly

  • Taught English to non-native speakers in small groups in informal migrant camps and sanctuary centers

  • Distributed essential supplies to refugees in Calais, Dunkirk, Paris and Brussels

  • Recorded filmed interviews, took portraits and led photography workshops

  • Copy-edit website and social media content; direct content strategy 

  • Support content creation and management of social media channels 

  • Liaise with media outlets, nonprofits and media professionals to maximize reach 

TPI News, Rome, Italy — Multimedia and Photography Intern

January 2018  - May 2018

The Daily Cal Newspaper, Berkeley, California — Columnist    

January 2017 - September 2017

Bay Nature Magazine — Reporting Intern

August 2015-May 2017


EDUCATION

University of Sussex — M.A.

Migration and Global Development

Degree conferred with Distinction. September 2019 -January 2021

University of California, Berkeley — B.A.  

History of Art, with a focus on Art and Politics

Journalism minor

August 2015 - May 2018,  GPA 3.9


Institute of Development Studies (IDS) — Professional Development

Specialist Short Course in Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation, May 2024

In partnership with Voices That Count and Analyzing Development Issues Center in Siem Reap, Cambodia.


SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS 

2025 IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network) Migration Podcast, ‘Migration research methods’

2024 The Migration Conference: Transnational Press London, Mexico City, Panelist

2024 American University of Afghanistan, Guest Speaker

2024 Interview with The Video Consortium for The Reel Truth

2023 Interview with FilmSessions Podcast

2022 University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Guest Speaker

2021 Council for European Studies Conference, Panelist on Family Migration in Europe

2020 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Claims of Asylum Conference, Panelist

2019 University of Verona Law School, Guest Lecture, Asylum and Detention

2019 Central European University Conference, Budapest, Migration, Exile and Diaspora in Historical Perspective

2019 UC Davis Radio, Guest Speaker on Immigration and Asylum

 
 

FILM FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

2024 Official Selection, London Women Film Festival

2023 Best Humanitarian Short Film, San Francisco International Film Awards

2023 Best Social Justice, Rome International Short Festival 

2023 Film For Change Award Winner, Youth Collective Awards at Lincoln Center, New York City  

2023 Best Documentary Short, Portland New Alternative Voices

2023 Best First-Time Director, San Jose Independent Film Festival 

2023 Official Selection, Geneva International Film Festival

2023 Can Serrat International Artist in Residence

2022 Bridges Fellow, Bay Area Video Coalition

2021 Film Independent + CNN, Original Documentary Series Fellow

2021 Serial Storytellers (Nonfiction) Development Program, Bay Area Video Coalition

2019 Best Paper Award, Central European University Conference, Budapest, Hungary: “Migration, Exile and Diaspora in Historical Perspective” 

2019 Chancellor’s International Scholarship, University of Sussex

2019 Fulbright Award Finalist 

2018 Departmental Citation for thesis research, History of Art, UC Berkeley