Cause-Driven Projects

These are the projects that move me. They give meaning to my craft and, in many ways, to my own existence. They are born from a sense of urgency, empathy, and the conviction that storytelling can be a powerful force for change.

Happy Planet on Fire

Conceived for the COP30 moment, the film uses dark humor and surreal imagery to expose the contradictions of our “green” civilization — the illusion that progress and destruction can coexist beautifully. It’s a mirror held to our collective denial, a planet dressed for its own funeral. Visually, the piece blends the elegance of advertising with the unease of dystopian dreams. Every frame was designed to feel seductive at first glance, then deeply unsettling once you notice what’s really happening.

Verses for Democracy

My production company created this film at the invitation of Marina Silva, then a presidential candidate and now Brazil’s Minister of the Environment. She gave us complete creative freedom at a time when democracy in Brazil was under threat and the secular state increasingly endangered by religious interference.

My idea was to stage a familiar scene: a man enters a bus and begins speaking as if he were a pastor. At first, the passengers look wary, but they gradually listen. By the end, he leaves not a Bible, but the Brazilian Constitution: a reminder that this is the only book that guarantees democracy, and that democracy remains the best system to protect our rights.

The film went viral nationwide, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Unfortunately, it was later misappropriated by the candidate who would go on to become president, who circulated a version of the film with his own signature. The story of that appropriation is part of Brazil’s recent history, but so is the lesson that democracy must always be defended and protected.

Imagination Medicine

The book was kindly illustrated by artist Fabiano Tatu, who interpreted Isabela's universe with sensitivity and depth.

Imagination Medicine was born out of my personal exploration of how imagination can act as a healing force, not as a metaphor, but as a fundamental tool for well-being and resilience. I first developed the concept through independent projects, launching a self-published book that later became a reference in palliative care, and staging a free theater play at Livraria Cultura, then the largest bookstore in Brazil.

I partnered with GRAACC, a leading children’s cancer hospital, to explore how storytelling and imagination could support children undergoing treatment. For several years, I actively advocated for the cause alongside Marilia Chinazzo, an innovative therapist. Together, and without external funding, we created imaginative and immersive podcast episodes for Spotify, featuring narration, an original soundtrack, and cinematic sound design that placed the listener at the center of the story. Each scene was built through layers of symbolism, inviting a journey into the depths of one’s own subconscious. We also developed an app and envisioned taking the project to schools and hospitals across Brazil.

Although the lack of investors placed the initiative on hold, Imagination Medicine remains a guiding force in my creative journey. It was my first conscious attempt to merge art, health, and social impact, a reminder that stories can be more than narratives; they can be medicine.

Anne Frank speaks at the UN

I wrote and directed this short film as a contemporary echo of Anne Frank's voice, bringing her words into dialogue with the present. Using AI tools for video, voice, and soundtrack, I "recreated" Anne Frank. I wove her presence into a montage of historical and contemporary images, connecting the intimacy of her diary with the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, where children still live under siege, stripped of safety and dignity.

The film was conceived not to offer answers, but to awaken recognition: that Anne's story is not only history, it is a mirror of our time. By placing her voice against today's conflicts, the work reminds us that the struggle for life, freedom, and dignity is as urgent now as it was then.

Storytech for Education

I believe education needs a revolution, and that technology can become a faithful ally for children in schools. In 2017, I developed a prototype for a hybrid board game with augmented reality: an astronaut chicken traveling through different planets to recover her lost eggs, overcoming math challenges to face cosmic dangers along the way.

The project was a collaboration between my former production company and the design studio Índice Design, led by my friend and inventive mind Jonattas Poltronieri. We built a fully functional MVP and presented it to potential investors at Meta (then Facebook). Although we did not secure funding, Storytech for Education remains a milestone on my path as an education activist, demonstrating how play, storytelling, and technology can converge to spark new learning experiences.

March for Freedom

In June 2011, a peaceful demonstration in São Paulo was violently repressed by police, igniting a broader movement for freedom of expression.

I documented the protest in a short film that went viral among activists, which led to an invitation from a national activist network to lead the communication strategy for a large, nonpartisan march to be held simultaneously across Brazil.

I created a comprehensive branding system for the movement, featuring slogans, visual identity, and calls to action tailored to various groups within society. I also invited friends from the creative industry to contribute their talents, building a team effort that expanded far beyond my own role.

Most innovatively for that time, we built a digital platform for collaborative content creation, where designers, filmmakers, journalists, students, and activists from all over Brazil could contribute banners, flags, virtual flyers, videos, and all the materials needed to mobilize people for the march.

On June 18, 2011, the March for Freedom took place in more than 40 cities, attracting significant attention in traditional media and inspiring various user-generated content across social networks.

It became the spark of what would later be known as Brazil’s democratic spring.

At the time, a boss of mine scolded me, saying, “You can’t sell toothpaste and be anti-system.” My answer still stands: “Why not?”

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