Sanctuary Content has signed Kayla Abuda Galang, a filmmaker and second-generation Filipino-American whose shorts have made their mark on the film festival circuit. This marks her first U.S. commercial signing.
“When it comes to commercial work, I get excited about being present and attuned to the needs, dreams, and funny bones of people. And even more so with people who share this mentality,” said Galang. “Everyone at Sanctuary is disarmingly kind and wonderful. I immediately felt we were a good fit and the right fit for where I want to go as a filmmaker.”
Born in Olongapo City, Philippines, Galang migrated to the U.S. at just six months old. This history, and her own experiences growing up in San Diego and Houston as an immigrant, are the springboard for her colorful, funny, and poignant work, which is often anchored by rich, deeply-developed characters who share the underrepresented perspective of living life at the intersection of two cultures.
After graduating from film school at the University of Texas in 2014, Galang began her formal journey in the industry by working on her friends’ films and in video production to make a living. It wasn’t until the pandemic that Galang returned to making her own films. “I was going through an existential crisis and wondering what to do with myself. So, I made Learning Tagalog With Kayla and re-experienced how pure and plain fun the expression of filmmaking was,” she said.
That short film and the latest one following have been met with acclaim by juries and festival spectators alike. Learning Tagalog With Kayla, which premiered at SXSW in 2021 and received an Audience Award, then went onto screen at festivals such as Palm Springs, Indie Memphis, Encounters, and Reel Asian. Likewise, her recent film, When You Left Me on That Boulevard, brought home the SXSW 2023 Special Jury Award in the Texas Shorts category and the Grand Jury Prize for the Short Film Program at this year’s 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
“I first saw Kayla’s film when it premiered at Sundance,” reminisced Preston Lee, Sanctuary’s managing director. “It was incredibly heartwarming and perfectly quirky. Literally everything in the film was on another level–the natural performances, the framing, editing and sound choices. I reached out straightaway. We connected after she won, and in the first conversation, I could tell that she was not only special but had an unmistakable voice as a filmmaker. Her blend of naturalism and humor combined with emotional connection will separate her not only in the long-format world but in the ad world as well. Excited to be working together!”
Galang brings empathy, fresh perspective, and a discerning understanding of what makes for impactful, groundbreaking short-form storytelling. “What I love most about the short form is that you often find bolder and more experimental voices in the space. I love what a stretch of skills it takes to make something so concise, effective, and engaging, and I’m just excited to stretch and expand my directorial voice,” Galang shared. “I’m ready to start flexing my directing muscles without a ceiling, and Sanctuary is the key to helping me do that.”
