Sebastien Tobler is a Filipino-Swiss writer-director whose storytelling reflects his mixed-race background and upbringing across seven countries—from Switzerland to the Philippines, Poland to Indonesia, Thailand to England, and the United States. This foundation of cultural fluidity and impermanence shapes his cinematic vision, exploring themes of identity, migration, and belonging.

His feature directorial debut THIS TIME was acquired for North American distribution by Freestyle Digital Media (releasing February 2026) following festival recognition including the Emerging Filmmaker Award from the Asian American International Film Festival and a Centerpiece selection at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. International sales rights were acquired by EST/N8 Studios.

Sebastien was named a 2024 Stowe Story Labs Launch Fellow, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, where he developed BODIES OF WATER, a Mediterranean social thriller about an aging fisherman forced to choose between economic survival and human dignity. The project is currently in development with Over the Fence Films.

Beyond filmmaking, Sebastien works with an LA-based immigrant rights organization, centering economic and labor justice in Southern California's Filipino community. His films explore underrepresented communities, characters in search of belonging and a sense of identity.

He is currently packaging KAMIKAZE BLUE a coming-of-age story about '90s expat teens in Bangkok.

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2024 Stowe Launch Fellow - Advanced Development Fellow - Bodies of Water
2023 Asian American International FF - Winner Emerging Director Award
2023 DC APA - This Time
2023 CAAMFest - This Time
2023 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival - This Time - World Premiere
2022 Austin Film Festival - Bodies of Water
2022 SHORT OF THE WEEK - Joyrider
2022 STOWE LABS SELECTED PROJECT - This Time
2021 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL - Joyrider
2021 Austin Film Festival - Kamikaze Blue
2021 LA SHORTS - Joyrider
2021 WeScreenplay Diversity Competition - Kamikaze Blue - Finalist
2021 Stage 32 Diversity Springboard Competition - Kamikaze Blue - Finalist
2020 TSL Screenwriting Competition - Kamikaze Blue - Finalist
2019 Hollywood Independent Filmmaker Awards - #Ghostwriters - Gold
2016 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival - Anamnesis - Best SciFI
2016 Mexico International Film Festival - Anamnesis - Bronze Palm