Sophia Cacciola

Sophia Cacciola is a Los-Angeles-based, American filmmaker, artist, and musician.[1][2][3]

Sophia Cacciola
Portrait of filmmaker Sophia Cacciola.
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, artist, musician
Known forBlood of the Tribades, TEN, Clickbait, Magnetic

Career overview

Film

Cacciola is known for her sociopolitical[4] genre feature films that showcase women:[5] TEN,[6] Magnetic, Blood of the Tribades,[7] Clickbait, and The Once and Future Smash. Her films have received festival awards including Boston Underground Film Festival's "Best New England Film",[8] the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival "Best Retro" award,[9] and GenreBlast Film Festival "Best Score".[10] Cacciola was the recipient of the 2018 GenreBlast Film Festival "Les Femmes Du Genre" wrestling belt award for her work in the community, directing, producing, and cinematography and the "Nuclear Pen" award for outstanding screenwriting achievements.[11] She also received the Lois Weber award at the 2018 Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival.[12] In 2022, Cacciola was the winner of the Innovation in Film award at Nightmares Film Festival along with partner, Michael J. Epstein.[13]

Cacciola's filmmaking interests were summarized as, "I love horror because you can be very bold about inserting themes and sociopolitical commentary and still make an entertaining movie. The possibilities are unlimited. You can create a whole world and mythology. Horror fans are incredibly engaged and loyal, so it’s really possible to build an incredible community of like-minded people to work with and to champion the films."[14] Cacciola is currently in development talks with Epic Pictures Group for a witch-themed film, The Caul.[15]

In addition to producing and directing films, Cacciola is also a cinematographer, working on narrative film as well as being the head shooter for the Women of Rock Oral History Project.[16]

Cacciola also often collaborates with other filmmakers including: Michael J. Epstein, Izzy Lee,[17] and Johannes Grenzfurthner.

Music

Cacciola often blends her film and music work, noting in an interview the book, Indie Science Fiction Cinema Today: Conversations with 21st Century Filmmakers:[18] "I come from a rock'n'roll music background, where an independent DIY ethic is very ingrained, so I've always just charged in where I don't belong and done what I wanted."[19]

Cacciola drums and sings for The Prisoner-themed "loud, arty, minimalist rock working in the realm of proto-punk/new wave/no wave"[20] band, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,[21] which won a best video award from TIME in 2011.[22] The Boston Globe wrote: "the songs deal with troubled states of mind — fear, paranoia, claustrophobia — and the distinct feeling that, yes, they are out to get you. In other words, the harrowing music that marks “The New Number 2’’ is in keeping with the premise of The Prisoner: a former British secret agent held captive by unseen forces with an unknown agenda in a mysterious village."[23]

Her musical career also includes stints with the children's rock band, Space Balloons,[24] garage punks Darling Pet Munkee,[25] and indie ensemble The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library.[26]

Art

She was awarded an art residency at Museumsquartier in Vienna, Austria in autumn 2017.[27] She created Nothen für die Tothen, an interactive music art installation for Roboexotica.[28]

Politics

Cacciola identifies as a feminist activist. In an article published by Quartz she addresses the problem that in today's film industry women can't rise when men overwhelmingly promote other men: "The only way I see any of this changing is to put multiple women at the top with firing power."[29]

Personal life

Cacciola is married to filmmaker, artist, and frequent collaborator, Michael J. Epstein.[30]

Selected filmography
Year Film Director Writer Producer Actor Cinematographer
2023 Craving No No No No Yes
2022[31] The Once and Future Smash Yes No Yes Yes Yes
2021[32] The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2018[33] Clickbait Yes No Yes Yes No
2017[34] Hipster Ghost Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2017[35] Grindsploitation 2: The Lost Reels Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2017[36] Blood of the Tribades Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2016[37] Weekend Vampire Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2015[38] Innsmouth No No No Yes No
2015[39] Magnetic Yes Yes Yes No No
2014[40] TEN Yes Yes Yes Yes No
2013 Wake No More No No Yes Yes No
2013[41] Fat No No No Yes No
2011 Quiet Desperation No No No Yes No

References
  1. "Genreblast Film Festival Artist Spotlight".
  2. "Letterboxd".
  3. "All Music". AllMusic.
  4. "Trainwreck'd Society". 28 April 2017.
  5. "SYFY: Sophia Cacciola Discusses Showcasing Women in Film via Sociopolitical Horror and Sci-Fi".
  6. "Film Thrills: TEN".
  7. "Exclusive comments/details: Erotic vampire movie BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES sees release".
  8. "BUFF 2016: Indie Vampire Film Blood of the Tribades Takes Flight as Best New England Film - Dread Central". www.dreadcentral.com. 28 March 2016.
  9. king-theme.com. "PAT SWINNEY KAUFMAN RECEIVES LOCAL SERVICE AWARD AND OTHER WINNERS FROM BUFFALO DREAMS 2016". www.filmbuffaloniagara.com.
  10. "GenreBlast Film Festival - 2016". GenreBlast Film Festival.
  11. "GenreBlast 2018 Awards".
  12. "Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival schedule announced". Bloody Flicks. 31 October 2018.
  13. Baldwin, Daniel (24 October 2022). "Ethereal Thrills and Nostalgic Zeal: Day Three of Nightmares Film Festival 2022". Dread Central.
  14. "Sophia Cacciola: Actress, Director explores Career and Horror". 22 May 2023.
  15. "Announcing the Winners of the Epic Pictures/Dread Central/ScareLA Pitch Contest!". 11 August 2017.
  16. "Women of Rock Oral History Project Staff".
  17. "Sophia Cacciola; Actress, Director Explores Career and Horror - DecayMag". 13 October 2017.
  18. "Indie Science Fiction Cinema Today: Conversations with 21st Century Filmmakers".
  19. Kaay, Kathleen Fernandez-Vander; Kaay, Chris Vander (30 January 2018). Indie Science Fiction Cinema Today: Conversations with 21st Century Filmmakers. ISBN 978-1476669335.
  20. "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling talks about their new EP - The New Number 2".
  21. "Break-Out Star". 14 December 2010.
  22. "TIME Best of Everything 2011". Time. 7 December 2011.
  23. Perry, Jonathan (2 April 2010). "Happily, prisoners in their own world". Boston.com.
  24. "Local musicians cater to all ages with kindie rock".
  25. "Darling Pet Munkee's monster songs".
  26. "A rock fan's guide to books with the Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library".
  27. "Q21". MuseumsQuartier Wien.
  28. "MQ Journal". MuseumsQuartier Wien.
  29. "Harvey Weinstein: Hollywood's indie film industry is still waiting for—and in need of—a dose of #MeToo — Quartzy". quartzy.qz.com. 26 February 2018.
  30. "GenreBlast Film Festival - Sophia Cacciola". GenreBlast Film Festival.
  31. "Sophia Cacciola talks The Once and Future Smash". 27 July 2022.
  32. "GenreBlast 2021: Five Film Favorites". 22 September 2021.
  33. "Movie Review: Clickbait (2018) - horrorfuel.com". 24 July 2018.
  34. "10 Shorts to Stream this Women in Horror Month #WiHM9". 9 February 2018.
  35. "Exclusive World Premieres of Grindsploitation 2, La Isla Del Infierno & short film French Kitty - Horror Society". 2 February 2017.
  36. "BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES: Film Review - THE HORROR ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE". 24 September 2016.
  37. "Flicks4Chicks: "Sophia Cacciola: Weekend Vampire"".
  38. Yanick, Joe. "Izzy Lee puts a New Spin on Lovecraft with Short INNSMOUTH - Diabolique Magazine". diaboliquemagazine.com.
  39. Jenson, Kristofer. "The Death of DIY? - Scout Somerville". scoutsomerville.com.
  40. "TEN: An Interview with Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola - Film Thrills". 14 April 2014.
  41. "TIFF 2013: Fat one of three films to focus on obesity at the festival - The Star". Toronto Star. 12 September 2013.
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