2018 Festival de Cannes
Short Film Corner

Screened

May 17, 2018 as a Private Screening

11am in Palais H

About The Film

PLAY TRAILER

KICKS

Written and directed by: Maria Soccor

Duration: 12 minutes

Produced in: November 2017

Country: USA

Language: English (USA), Chinese

Category: Fiction

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Social

Filmed in: Digital

Synopsis: Four sneakerheads of varying Amerasian descent are brought together by their quest to be the first to buy the hottest new sneakers, the Yakisoto’s. As an intense racial discussion ensues through their heated conversation, they eventually realize how they are different, yet alike at the same time.

Director of Photography: Sergei Franklin

Editing: Tarek Kannan

Sound: Mariya Culichkova

Composer: James Manno

Casting: Donna McKenna

Producers: Marcos Acevedo and Dena Greenbaum

Executive Producer: Alycea Nightingale

Actor/Filmmaker

Maria Soccor

As a producer and director on her acclaimed documentary feature film, Lords of BSV, which has won 13 awards across the world, and her 2018 Cannes Film Festival entry Kicks, which she wrote and directed, Maria Soccor is demonstrating her outstanding talent behind the camera, while simultaneously continuing to distinguish herself as a successful actress and filmmaker.

More About Maria

MARIA SOCCOR

As a producer and director on her acclaimed documentary feature film, Lords of BSV, which has won 13 awards across the world, and her 2018 Cannes Film Festival entry Kicks, which she wrote and directed, Maria Soccor is demonstrating her outstanding talent behind the camera, while simultaneously continuing to distinguish herself as a successful actress and filmmaker.

With Kicks, Soccor makes her Cannes debut with a timely film about racism as cultures are further divided by United States President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban and immigrations policies.

Lords of BSV, which captures the inspiring story of the breathtaking Brukup dancers in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, represents the most honored work in Soccor’s impressive 20 year career.

In 2016, Lords of BSV received the Jury Award for Best Documentary, and Best Cinematography In A Documentary Feature, at the London International Film Festival. The film also won Best Documentary at the Berlin international Film Festival, and Soccor was honored as Best Producer at the International Achievers Awards in London.

In 2015, Soccor won Best Director of a Feature Documentary, and Lords of BSV was also recognized for Best Music in a Feature Film, at the Madrid International Film Festival. Lords of BSV was also honored as Best Documentary at the I Filmmaker International Film Festival Marbella 2015, Milan International Film Festival 2015, 2015 Visionfest Film Festival in New York City, and the Rahway International Film Festival 2015. Lords of BSV received The Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature Film at the Hudson Valley International Film Festival 2015, and the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Long Island International Film Expo 2015. Also, Soccor was named Emerging Director at the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival 2015.

In 2015, and 2016, Soccor’s achievements were recognized by WABC-TV in New York City. She was profiled in the program Above and Beyond: Inspiring People In Our Community which was broadcast on June 25, and June 26, 2016. In 2015, she was interviewed by one of the world’s most esteemed movie critics, 30 year veteran Sandy Kenyon of WABC-TV Eyewitness News, who applauded the powerful message of Lords of BSV.

In September 2016, Soccor was proud to be recognized in her hometown, Newark, New Jersey, where Mayor Ras Baraka hosted a free screening of Lords of BSV at the Shaquille O’Neal CityPlex Theater. The film made its digital television debut on July 31, 2016 on Red Bull TV and is now available on VOD (Video On Demand).

Through her companies Maria Soccor Productions, A Jersey Girl LLC, Arachnids With Pistolas Productions LLC, and Wild Iris Films, Soccor created and produced the web series NewJerseyChef.com, and produced another web series, My Parents Are Crazier Than Yours, directed by Marlene Rhein.

She produced the short film, Play House, directed by Brandon LaGanke, which was screened at the 2013 South by Southwest Festival (SXSW), and the 2013 HollyShorts Film Festival. Soccor also produced the short comedy, Cinemacoma, which was picked up for distribution by Just the Story TV. Her new comic series SPEAR, illustrated by artist Rolo Ledesma, launched in October 2015 at Comic Con in New York City.

As an actress, Soccor has been featured in over 20 movies including Playmakers of New Orleans starring Zoe Saldana and Boris Kodjoe in which she played Saldana’s sister, and Jersey Justice starring Emmy award winner Blanche Baker. She has also appeared in films starring Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro, John Malkovich, Famke Janssen and Martin Landau (Rounders), Queen Latifah and Danny Glover (The Cookout), Danny Aiello and Joe Piscopo (The Last Request), and John Leguizamo (Undefeated on HBO).

Her television credits include NCIS New Orleans, Cosby, the recurring role of Caroline Diaz on the NBC series Another World, and Laurencia Leon in K-Ville on Fox starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser, as well as appearances on ABC, CBS, PBS, and the Lifetime channel.

For her latest acting role, Soccor is featured in the new short film Light Withheld, including a reunion with veteran actor Robert Hogan, who she worked with at the start of her career in 1998 in the iconic daytime soap opera, Another World. The multi-talented performer was also chosen to star in the upcoming television family sitcom Life As It Is set in New Orleans in which she will portray television news reporter Marie Martinez. The series was created by George Clinton Brown whose credits include the movie Prom Night.

Soccor is a member of the Poetry Society of America, and is an accomplished writer, poet, and poetry teacher. She began her entertainment career as a member of Gallman’s Newark Dance Theater, and as a print model represented Fortune 500 companies in several advertising campaigns.

After studying acting under the late three-time Tony Award winner Uta Hagen, Soccor appeared on Broadway and in several Off-Broadway productions, and founded The Anagnorisis Theater Company. She is a member of The Screen Actors Guild/The American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, Actor Equity Association, New York Women In Film and Television, The Sommelier Association, and the Feature Documentary Chapter of Film Fatales. Soccor also serves on the Theater/Arts and Film Committees at New York’s prestigious National Arts Club.

Soccor is active in her community as a volunteer at a local women’s battered shelter in Newark, New Jersey, as well as actively participating in Amnesty International, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, and numerous charity events. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Suits for Success/Dress for Success Hudson County, New Jersey; serves as Media Director/Head of Operations for Educate The Block, a career training program in Hudson County, New Jersey, under the leadership of her childhood friend, Alycea Nightingale, and appeared as a motivational speaker at the Kearny Correctional Facility in Kearny, New Jersey.

Her awards include New Jersey Essex County Young Woman of The Year, Miss New York, and Ms. National USA.

AWARDS WON BY MARIA SOCCOR AND LORDS OF BSV

Berlin International Film Festival 2016

Best Documentary

London International Film Festival 2016

Jury Award for Best Documentary

Best Cinematography In A Documentary Feature

International Achievers Awards 2016

Best Producer

I Filmmaker International Film Festival Marbella 2015

Best Documentary

Milan International Film Festival 2015