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SOMA

SOMA is an experimental film that uses movement and dance as its primary medium for story-telling. A contemporary myth on the genesis of the human body, the piece unfolds in two parallel dimensions: an infinite black hole where entities exist outside linear space and time; and a labyrinthine house where an uncanny gathering is taking place. As the free-associative, dreamlike narrative unfolds, different characters go through visceral experiences of pleasure, enchantment, pain and death.

  • Arturo Bandinelli
    Director
    Viscera: Autopsy of a (non)human Body; Walls of Limmerick; Otto Floss: Freelance Watcher
  • Arturo Bandinelli
    Concept
  • Esme Benjamin
    Concept
  • Ana Beatriz Meireles
    Concept
  • Klaudia Wittmann
    Concept
  • Klaudia Wittmann
    Producer
  • Arturo Bandinelli
    Producer
  • KWAM Collective
    Choreography
  • Ana Beatriz Meireles
    Movement Director
  • Dimitris Lambridis
    Director of Photography
  • Andrea Boccadoro
    Original Score
  • Arturo Bandinelli
    Editor
  • Stefano A Addae
    Key Cast
    "The Foreigner"
  • Esme Benjamin
    Key Cast
    "The Shaman"
  • Ace Hoffman
    Key Cast
    "The Introvert"
  • Alex Kamienski
    Key Cast
    "The Siren"
  • Klaudia Wittmann
    Key Cast
    "The Hysteric"
  • Tom Patrick Coley
    Assistant Director
  • Benedetta Scuto
    Production Manager
  • Emilia Anne Smith
    Costume Designer
  • Kris Limpert
    Art Director
  • Carolina Bandinelli
    Additional Cast
  • Benedetta Scuto
    Additional Cast
  • Tom Patrick Coley
    Additional Cast
  • Alberto Cossu
    Additional Cast
  • Riccardo Tarocco
    Additional Cast
  • Celina Liesegang
    Additional Cast
  • Bismark Anobah
    Additional Cast
  • Ana Beatriz Meireles
    Additional Cast
  • Soraya Phipps
    Make-up Artist
  • Alex Kamienski
    Styling and Characterisation
  • John Nick Phillips
    Sound Recordist
  • Tom Nowell
    Gaffer
  • Nacho Guzman
    First Assistant Camera
  • Vimiti Lebrere
    Second Assistant Camera & Loader
  • Barbara Van Schaik
    Additional Camera Assistant
  • William Allan
    Spark
  • Fillipo Ginestroni
    Production Assistant
  • Manthos G. Sardis
    Colourist
  • Arturo Bandinelli
    Visual Effects
  • Jakov Munižaba
    Sound Design
  • Jacov Munižaba
    Supervising Sound Editor
  • Nikola Medić
    Re-recording Mixer
  • Ivan Uzelac
    Foley Editor
  • Aleksa Prljević
    Foley Artist
  • Gabriella Opacka-Boccadoro
    Soprano
  • Andrea Bergesio
    Music Mixer
  • Filippo Ginestroni
    Backstage Photography
  • Thomas Ingram
    Backstage Videography
  • Caitlin Anderson
    Intern
  • Beatrice Bonini
    Graphic and Title Designer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Shooting Format:
    16mm, Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Montreal Independent Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    Nominee
  • Bucharest International Dance Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    September 7, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Cadro por Danza Festival
    Caracas
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    September 9, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Cinema No Estendal
    Lisbon
    Portugal
    September 15, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Thessaloniki Cinedance International
    Thessaloniki
    Greece
    September 22, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Torino Underground Cinefest
    Turin
    Italy
    September 22, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Greenwich Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    September 15, 2023
    Award Winner - Best Dance Film
  • Serbest International Film Festival
    Kishinev
    Moldova, Republic of
    September 5, 2023
    Official Selection
  • New Renaissance Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    September 29, 2023
    Honourable Mention, Nominee: Best Dance Short
  • Wild Dogs International Screendance Festival
    Calgary
    Canada
    September 15, 2023
    Honourable Mention
  • dança em foco - Festival Internacional de Vídeo & Dança dança em foco - Festival Internacional de Vídeo & Dança
    Rio de Janiero
    Brazil
    December 5, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Experimental, Dance and Music Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    November 9, 2023
    Award Winner - Best Cinematography
  • LA Dance Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    November 4, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Cyprus Dance Film Festival
    Limassol
    Cyprus
    November 5, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Make Art Not Fear Short Film Festival
    Porto
    Portugal
    October 12, 2023
    Official Selection
  • 35 Girona Film Festival
    Girona
    Spain
    November 6, 2023
    Finalist: Best Experimental
  • Paris Film Art Festival
    Paris
    France
    December 1, 2023
    Winner: Best Cinematography
  • Florence International Film Festival
    Florence
    Italy
    Winner: Best Experimental
  • Blow-Up Arthouse Filmfest Chicago
    Chicago
    United States
    November 1, 2023
    Semi-Finalist: Best Experimental
  • InShadow
    Lisbon
    Portugal
    December 1, 2023
    Winner: Best Choreography
  • Covent Garden Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 2, 2024
    Winner: Best Dance Film
  • Dança em foco Festival Internacional de Vídeo & Dança
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    December 15, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Cinedans
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    March 24, 2024
    Official Selection
  • International Festival of Film on Art
    Montreal
    Canada
    March 24, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Kalakari Film Fest
    Dewas
    India
    April 1, 2024
    Nominee
  • Bizarrya Short Film Festival
    Porto
    Portugal
    April 12, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Braga International Video Dance Festival
    Braga
    Portugal
    April 13, 2024
    Official Selection
  • The European Independent Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    April 21, 2024
    Winner: Best European Experimental Film
  • Frankfurt Film Festival
    Frankfurt
    Germany
    April 27, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Festival DanzAttacks CineDanza
    El Sauzal, Tenerife
    Spain
    May 10, 2024
    Finalist
  • Experimental Forum
    Los Angeles
    United States
    May 18, 2024
    Honourable Mention
  • ZED Festival Internationale Videodanza
    Bologna
    Italy
    July 3, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Refraction Candid Arts Gallery
    London
    United Kingdom
    July 6, 2024
  • Joburg Underground Film Festival
    Johannesburg
    South Africa
    September 28, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Zêzere CineDance International Festival 2024
    Ferreira do Zêzere
    Portugal
    October 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • LENS DANS FESTIVAL
    Barcelona
    Spain
    November 8, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Festival Internacional De Danca Contemporanea
    Sao Paulo
    Brazil
    February 20, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Bristol Independent Film Festival
    Bristol
    United Kingdom
    March 1, 2025
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Arturo Bandinelli

Arturo Bandinelli is an Italian, London-based award-winning filmmaker, researcher and psychoanalyst in formation. He holds a BA in Film and Television (London College of Communication) and an MA in Psychosocial Studies (Birkbeck, University of London).

His graduation sci-fi short film Otto Floss: Freelance Watcher (2014) acquired international recognition, including international screenings and awards at ECU European Independent Film Festival (France), London Sci-Fi Film Festival (UK), Lago Film Festival (Italy), Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France), Vigik Film Festival (Russia), Festival Utopiales (France) and Young Cuts Fest (Canada).

In the last years, Arturo started experimenting with non-fictional film formats in collaboration with choreographers, dancers, visual and performance artists. His recent experimental dance films, Walls of Limerick (2018) and Viscera: Autopsy of a (non)human Body (2021) received international acclaim.

SOMA was produced and choreographed by KWAM Collective, a London-based artist-led group (co-directed by Klaudia Wittmann, Esme Benjamin and Ana Beatriz Meireles), that brings together dance theatre, film and therapeutic bodily practices. KWAM Collective's work has been supported by various UK art organisations including The Place, East London Dance, ECHO, the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement and the Arts Council England.

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