Hi everyone, I’m Sandra. I’m a Portuguese entrepreneur turned writer‑director. Before film, I spent years running a global sustainable fashion brand across Europe, the US, and China. English isn’t my first language... but LOVE is.
Somewhere along the way, I fell head‑first into storytelling. I became a Writers’ Room and Producing Lounge Moderator here on Stage 32, joined the Education Team in 2025, and now co‑host the Euro/UK Coverage Report with Kay Ross, basically helping build a bridge between European creatives and the wider industry.
Creatively, I live in the land of character‑driven stories with emotional depth and a little strangeness around the edges. Right now I’m deep into a female-driven romantic drama, but I keep flirting with the idea of writing a romcom. The twist is my humor is very dry. Sahara‑dry. So I’m trying to figure out how to make a romcom that’s more irony, awkward honesty, and emotional tension than big comedy set pieces. A romcom that still feels like... me :)
I’m curious how everyone else is playing with genre.
Are you leaning into your natural voice or trying something new in your current project?
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Happy IYW, my friend! Always a treat to hear what you are working on with the passion and positivity you bring to everything you do! Lately, as the world has become one big instant distribution territory, I have been focusing on stories that are super specific to a region or a culture while cultivating universal themes or emotional beats that we can all relate to. A recent film that I adore is CODA - its so specific in its time, place and tone but we can all relate to finding our voice. MY BIG, FAT, GREEK WEDDING is another fav. I would always say just stay in your voice - stay in your zone - your are enough - and then don't be afraid to layer all of your onto rom-com emotional scaffolding that audiences tradiitonally relate to.
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Hi Sandra Correia ! wise words from Sam Sokolow , I believe. The best of what we can put into our stories to share with others is to give them the experience of 'seeing with our eyes.' Authenticity will always have an edge in my view - the rest is just the structure and machinery through which to manifest it. And Happy IYW! :)
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Hello, happy IYW to you!
I hope you enjoy your creative journey and keep discovering new things along the way.
For me, I’ve tried to step outside sci-fi, but I failed. I do have a few fantasy ideas, but most of them were developed when I was around 14. Now, I think I’m completely locked inside science fiction. hhh
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There's my amazing and talented friend Sandra Correia! Definitely trying something new and I'm loving every minute of it. It's really helping me to bring more focus on character work and it's been wonderful so far. Happy IY Weekend!!!
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Love that you went from sustainable fashion to writing and moderating here. English isn't your first language but love is. A dry, Sahara dry romcom with irony and awkward honesty sounds way more interesting than the usual stuff. I tend to lean into my natural voice but every now and then trying something new breaks something loose. What's the female driven romantic drama about?
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Sam Sokolow, you’re the sweetest, thank you. And I love how you think about regional stories. I haven’t seen CODA or My Big Fat Greek Wedding yet, but the way you describe them makes total sense. When something is that specific, it somehow becomes even more universal. And your reminder to stay in my voice… I’m taking that to heart. I’ll bring my dry humour, my messiness, my way of seeing people, and then let the romcom structure hold it :)) I hope you are well, my friend. Happy IYW <3
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Hi Sebastian Tudores, Happy IYW my friend. Thank you for your words, that’s really kind. And yes, I agree with you and Sam. At the end of the day, what we give people is the chance to see through our eyes. That’s the part you can’t fake. Authenticity always has an edge; the rest is just the craft and the story machinery we use to shape it.
Happy IYW to you too. It’s always good to share this space with You :))
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Meriem Bouziani, happy IYW to you too! And I love that you’re so rooted in sci‑fi. Some writers just have a natural gravity toward a world, and that’s not a trap, that’s a creative home :)) Those fantasy ideas from when you were 14 are still part of your voice. Even if you feel “locked” in sci‑fi, it just means your imagination knows where it wants to live. And that’s beautiful.
And I’m so happy to see you in our Euro/UK Coverage. Soon you’ll get your positive sandwich from us, and you know we give those with love <3
Keep exploring, keep discovering, and let your sci‑fi instincts guide you. The genre clearly chose you :))
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Oh Leonardo Ramirez, you made me blushing:)) Happy IYW my brother and friend. You’re amazing, thank you. It makes me so happy to see you trying something new and actually enjoying the process. That focus on character work is showing, and it’s beautiful to watch you grow into it. Excited to know more about it jejejeje. Always cheering for your creative stretch and the way you keep pushing your instincts forward <3
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Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m so happy to hear that Sandra Correia
You’re right — the genre and the ideas chose me; I didn’t choose them myself. Many times, I was just doing something ordinary, and then an idea came out of nowhere, hhh. I’m so excited to discuss it with you all. It feels so fun and thoughtful.
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Sam Rivera, thank you, that’s so sweet. And yes, my path from sustainable fashion to film has been… unexpected, but also the most “me” thing I’ve ever done. And I’m glad the Sahara‑dry romcom idea made you smile. I think awkward honesty might be my superpower ;))
I love what you said about leaning into your natural voice but still shaking things up now and then. That’s exactly how I feel.
As for the female‑driven romantic drama, it’s called Soul Mated. It’s a story about two women who meet at the exact wrong moment in their lives and still feel this undeniable pull. It’s intimate, emotional, a little messy, and very much about identity, timing, and the courage to choose yourself. It’s my heart on the page, honestly. Super excited:)) Happy IYW.
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That’s the best Meriem Bouziani. They find us lol :)) It will be, you will see :))
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Excited to share it with you my friend Sandra Correia!
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Rom-coms are huge right now. Your international perspective is a huge asset.
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Geoffroy Faugerolas, thank you. You are right, the timing is perfect, but I clearly need to train my dry humor … otherwise I’ll end up writing a full rom‑dry‑humor instead of a rom‑com. Still, maybe that’s my brand :)
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Very good.
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Hi Sandra Correia I hope your romcom comes to life soon and mirrors your voice and your goals :) I believe you´ll do it! Happy IYW :)