Photo by Ella Pennington

Gaby Sant’Anna

is a Brazilian-American filmmaker and theatre director with a special interest in coming-of-age stories, fringe culture, and radical vulnerability.

She is currently developing a new feature-length documentary about DIY emo music and community in the 2020s.

Gaby’s previous work as a director includes the music video for Gosh Diggity’s “Wings”, which premiered with Lauren Records, and plays presented at Victory Gardens Theater, the Agnes Nixon Playwriting Festival, and Northwestern University. She was a producer and 1st AD for ALL THE WAY DOWN, THIS TIME, which won Best Short at Queer Fear Film Festival and was an official selection of Queens World Film Festival. Her work as 1st AD has also premiered with Portland (OR) Comedy Short Festival and NYLON. She has worked as an assistant theatre director at the Wilma Theater (Philadelphia), the New Ohio Theatre (NYC), Windy City Playhouse (Chicago), and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (Chicago).

She was a 2024 Spring Guest Resident at Woodward Residency, a member of the 2019 SDCF Observership cohort, and is a graduate of Northwestern University.