Sonrie - Smile

Nikki is a sweet teen. Just don’t ask her to ‘smile.’

  • Maria Rusolo
    Director
  • Maria Rusolo
    Writer
  • Nicol Ortiz
    Key Cast
    "Nikki"
  • Adriana Bermudez
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
  • Gabriel Dunkin
    Key Cast
    "Gabe"
  • Temirlan Yerzhanov
    Key Cast
    "Tema"
  • Oswaldo Esteves
    Key Cast
    "Ozzie"
  • Maria Rusolo
    Producer
  • Adriana Bermudez
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    coming of age, horror, women
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    9:16
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Maria Rusolo

Maria Rusolo is a filmmaker from Coconut Creek, Florida. She is the founder of ROAM Pictures, an award-winning film production company. ROAM’s mission is to influence the prevailing attitudes and practices regarding and on behalf of women working in film, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes; and is committed to producing female forward content. Rusolo has been creating content since 2008 and has been acknowledged for her work most notably by USA Film Festival, Columbus International Film Festival, Mexico International Film Festival, and has received the Panavision New-Filmmaker Award. She co-wrote the short “Black Saturday,” a recipient of a DCA Premier Grant from the Council on Arts and Humanities of Staten Island. Her Docu-Series on the Vietnam War Era, “I Am Number…,” received a Soroptomist International Community Grant; was selected to exhibit at the Staten Island Museum as part of “War and Aftermath on Staten Island” in cooperation with the Library of America and a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant. She is an active member of Women in Film, SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity Association, and has been continuing her film education with Sundance Collab.

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Director Statement

The short film “Sonríe (Smile)” was a long time in the making. Growing up surrounded by male bravado and chauvinism a smile was often demanded by strangers on the street. Named for my grandmother, ‘Maria’ was a gift and a curse. Older men broke into their best Tony from West Side Story daily sending bashful me behind my mom to hide. ‘Smile, honey.’ The command would come from everyone. Mom. Strangers. Teachers. But what if…. What if I permitted myself to scream? What if I had been defiant? What if I turned the tables? As a filmmaker I get my chance.