My name is Isabella Bastos and I am a filmmaker, documentarian, and photojournalist from São Paulo, Brazil. Throughout my time at Ithaca College, NY, and Idyllwild Arts Academy, CA, I've crafted narratives that intersect geography, education, and social change.
My goal is to continue learning as much as I can about all aspects of environmental media, while building a path through nonprofit work and eventually working with NGOs as a photojournalist and documentarian. I’m driven to experience and document as much of the world as possible, with a focus on stories rooted in the relationship between humans and the environment.
Wherever my career path may take me, I want my work to be grounded in connection, passion, and a deep love for telling people’s stories. It’s through storytelling that I hope to foster empathy, awareness, and meaningful change.
About me
Leadership Involvement
Campus Leadership
Bold Scholar Fall 2024 - Present
Political Study Club E-Board Member Falll 2024 - Present
Brazilian Student Assosiation E-Board Member Spring 2022 - Present
Resident Assistant Spring 2023 - Present
Campus Jobs
Student Engagement Assistant Fall 2022 - Present
Pro Film Equipment Technical Assistant Spring 2023 - Present
Film and Photography Learning Coach Fall 2023 - Present
Advanced Non-fiction Production Teaching Assistant Spring 2025 - Present
Awards
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2022 Outstanding Film Student Award
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Alexis Echavarria Screenwriting Award (2022)
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2023-2024 Stillwater Magazine Print Edition: Photo cover and official selection photos included in print issue
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Gil International Screenwriting (Best Screenplay), for Midnight Art Class (2021)
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Festopedia Cinema (Best Student Short), for Midnight Art Class (2021)
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Centre Film Festival (Best High School Film), for Midnight Art Class (2021)
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International Short Festival (Honorable Mention, Best Young Director), for Midnight Art Class (2021)
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Best Director, Best Capstone, Best Producer, Best Cinematography (Idyllwild Arts Academy), for A Cheater Like Me (2022)
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Media Arts Award, Babylon Teachers' Association Scholastic Awards (2020)
Links to film festivals and social media profiles:
Networking Opportunities
My first semester as a BOLD Scholar was enriched by meaningful companionship, community building, self reflection, and valuable networking opportunities.
During a campus visit, we had a lovely lunch and discussion with members of the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation!
During our annual BOLD retreat in Rochester, NY, we had dinner with alumni and engaged in discussions about being women leaders and aligning leadership with our core values.
During our weekly Friday meetings, we learned about the power of listening and discussed our future careers, leadership styles, ethics, and communication. I also discovered that my personality type is INFJ!
At the end of our retreat, we watched Les Misérables during a Broadway tour. It was a fun and heartfelt experience that I will never forget!
Storytelling and Social Change
I believe in the power of storytelling and the impact we have as creators. I see media as one of the most impactful and poetic ways to spark change. Stories have moved me for as long as I can remember — from The Little Mermaid to City of God, I’ve always been passionate about the immense power that media and images hold.
At 15, I came to the U.S. to pursue my dream of studying art. A year later, I was accepted into Idyllwild Arts Academy, where I completed high school with an additional diploma in Film and Digital Media. It was at Ithaca College, however, that I truly found my voice as a storyteller.
I use framing and lighting to craft both real and fictional stories about connection, community, and the shared humanity that unites us all.
Latin Voices Documentary Work
Voters of Ithaca
Environmental Media
I grew up in Brazil, which means I grew up surrounded by nature. Environmental stories and struggles appeal to me because they feel like the most natural way to show how we are all connected on this planet. This is the one topic we must agree on and protect—it’s what roots us all together as humans. In my recent projects, I’ve been exploring sustainability as a love language to each other and to our planet.
Enviromental Documentary Work
