Sofia

Narrative Short / 9 min / 2025

A quick waxing session turns into a nightmare when a Brazilian accidentally gets a brazilian.

Sofia, a 25-year old Brazilian woman, recently immigrated to the US, who suffers from the millennial disease of ‘15-second attention span’ goes to her waxing session in hopes to get lucky over the weekend. Being more interested in people she doesn't know than the ones right in front of her, a moment of miscommunication with the aesthetician turns what is to be a quick waxing session into Sofia's worst nightmare: her butt cheeks being glued together.

“The firsts are always the hardest. Everything that follows you, in a professional journey, is a result of the first time someone believed in the work you were trying to make. Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund was that for me. They were the first organization and the first grant to offer me something tangible in my filmmaking career; and there is not enough time, in this lifetime, to share how grateful I am for that belief in my first step.”

“Sofia was a big lift for me, and that made the take off extra special. There were not a crazy amount of challenges with it, but there were a lot of firsts, and a lot of lessons with it, too. Because of the amount of firsts we were tackling at once, we tried to make as much room for pre-production as possible. It was extensive, but it made sure everyone was on the same page, and it ultimately saved us time when filming came. A lot of remote rehearsals with the lead, because it was her first time acting in English, we also built a set for some extra space and the ability to move walls to adjust things, and we did a pre-light day to help move things along.”

“The way I like to work, and ultimately the team that we created for Sofia is simple: pre-pro for the worst, plan for what you can, leave space for mistakes, be respectful to one another, and have fun. To the cast and to the crew, my heart, and to Saul Zaentz, my love. Thank you, thank you, thank you. “

- Camila de Ilhéus, Director & Writer