Logline
During an improvised trip to the California desert, a self-conscious French girl studying in the US finds herself lost and, desperate for a sense of belonging, decides to act on her growing obsession towards her charismatic new friend.
An intimate tale of female friendship and desire
Soredia is a character-driven film that dives deep into the emotional life of a young woman in search for her identity and place in the world.
Thematically, Soredia offers an in-depth exploration of female desire and intimacy, its multifaceted nature and specificity, in order to convey the unique fragility of female bonds and the extent to which they inform our identity as women.
LICHEN AS A METAPHOR
FINDING THE HIDDEN POETRY OF THE LANDSCAPE
Lichen will be an explicit and visual motif throughout the film, a metaphor for the bond our main character is trying to form with her friend.
Lichen do not exist until two separate organisms meet and converge, allowing them to live and survive in environments they otherwise wouldn’t. This illustrates the unique dynamic portrayed in our film, as well as the specific complexities of female relationships, in which the identity of one’s self can evolve or even be obscured in relation to another individual.
Soredia, the title of our film, refers to the reproductive structures of lichen. Lichen reproduce by fragmentation, releasing particles that germinate into another organism, the same way fragments of our identity are often shared with those around us, also becoming a part of their own identity.
Director’s Statement
I have always been drawn to stories around identity, or most importantly, our never-ending search for it. In a world that seems to get more and more scattered every day, what interests me are the little moments of connection, with others and also within ourselves.
Since I became an adult, I haven’t lived in the same place for more than two years. Moving forces you to look inside, to rearrange yourself, to reinvent who you are. In this process, far from home, it was only friends that helped me do this, especially female friends.
With this film, I want to explore the multi-faceted nature and specificity of female relationships; those grey areas where female intimacy and desire live and develop, the unspoken truths and insecurities; the feelings repressed but always so close to exploding…
I strongly believe that relationships between women, especially during formative years, can be acutely observant and thought-provoking guides to deep emotions of the self, and I’m extremely interested in exploring the profound ways in which they inform our identity and define who we are and who we will become.
Donations
We need your help to make Soredia happen!
$50 – 249
Donor
$250 – 499
Benefactor
$500 – 999
Partner
$1,000 – 4,999
Associate Producer
$5,000 – 10,000
Executive Producer
How to donate?
DONATE ONLINE
Make sure to select "2114 Soredia", enter your donation amount and complete checkout by clicking Donate Now
The easiest and fastest way to make your donation!
MATCHING GRANTS
Many companies in the US and abroad will match donations made by their employees to non-profit charitable institutions. This can DOUBLE your donation! Your Human Resources Department will be able to inform you if your employer offers this benefit. If so, please select "My company will match my gift" on the AFI Web Donation Portal.
Please contact us for additional help on matching grants at cbavahelms@afi.edu
DONATE BY MAIL
Make check payable to "American Film Institute." Note "Soredia #2114" in the check memo. Please include a return address with the check so AFI can send a letter acknowledging the donation.
Send check to: Thesis #2114, Soredia c/o American Film Institute 2021 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
IN-KIND DONATION
We will happily accept all kinds of donations, including those that are not in currency form — which might be as helpful as monetary donations, earning you a credit!
Here are a few things you can help us with:
TAX DEDUCTIONS
The American Film Institute is a Government recognized 501(c)(3) non-Profit Organization and holds tax-exempt status. Donations toward "Soredia" may be tax deductible under Section 170 of the U.S. Tax Code. A letter of acknowledgment from AFI will be sent for all contributions.
Please don't hesitate to contact if you think you can provide something we can use at cbavahelms@afi.edu
About the American Film Institute
At the world-renowned American Film Institute Conservatory, a dedicated group of working professionals from the film and television communities serve as mentors in a hands-on, production-based environment nurturing the talents of tomorrow’s storytellers. The Conservatory is consistently recognized as one of the world’s top film schools.
With an emphasis on narrative visual storytelling and personal expression, each class breaks into teams that mirror a real production environment. Those teams collaborate on and produce more films than any other graduate level film program.
Established in 1969, the two-year Master of Fine Arts program provides training in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Admission to AFI Conservatory is highly selective, with a maximum of only 140 graduates per year.
AFI alumni continually celebrate critical recognition, including wins at the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, and Grand Prizes at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.
In 2020, The American Film Institute was ranked number one film school in America by The Hollywood Reporter.
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