Soma
Date:
December 15, 2022
Soma
Soma
by Miklós Keleti
Velvet Films | Belgium
Amrion | Estonia
Volya Films | Netherlands
Live-action feature | 1st feature
*the access to our meeting platform and director’s previous works will start from January 10, 2025
Logline
A scientist and his primatologist wife explore new methods to help their son with a rare language disorder.
Synopsis
PAUL is a renowned neuroscientist who focuses his research on brain diseases and enhancing cognitive capabilities. When his son THEO is diagnosed with a rare language disorder, Paul puts all his energy in pursuing the research into a new drug that could help Theo.
SARAH, Paul’s ethologist wife believes in the power of nature and a strong emotional bond. She manages to establish a form of communication with Theo through sign language and arranges to work from home, continuing her research with the young chimpanzee ALBERT. Albert becomes Theo’s best friend. However, both parents are struggling with the evolution of their son’s handicap and progress seems slow.
This is when Paul’s work on the experimental drug “Soma” is showing progress: the product hugely increases the language and communication abilities on chimpanzees. But time is slipping away for Paul to treat his son. In an attempt to make things move faster, Paul breaches protocol. The lab immediately halts the drug trial and suspends him.
Unwilling to let go, Paul secretly continues the research from home, testing an enhanced version of Soma on Albert. The chimp’s behaviour changes, and Paul notices major improvements in the communication between Albert and Theo. The drug seems to help Albert evolve towards humanlike consciousness. In an ecstatic moment, Albert shares the product with Theo, who also shows signs of progress. But things quickly take a turn for the worse when Albert causes an accident involving Theo.
Director’s Profile
Miklós Keleti graduated from the directing department of Belgian Film School INSAS. His graduation film “Back Against the Wall” and his following short-film “Patterns” won multiple awards around the world and were screened at Sitges, Seattle, Shanghai IFF, Rhode Island, Bristol, Brest among others. “Back Against the Wall” was nominated for Best Short Film at Les Magritte du Cinéma (Belgian Academy Awards). He has received script writing support for the psychological thriller “Watching You Sleep” from the Belgian National Fund Wallonia-Brussels Federation, which has also been selected to Atelier Grand Nord. Miklós is also co-creator of the sci-fi tv series “BioDome” which has been featured among the 5 finalists of the OCS-SACD Series Fund Contest. His first feature “Soma” is an English language sci-fi film, to be co-produced by Belgian, Estonia and Holland.
Company Profile
VELVET FILMS was created in 2016. The Company focalizes on the development and the production of international feature films, as well as the emergence of promising filmmakers. Not wanting to limit itself through questions of genre, Velvet Films perceives itself a hub of exchange between talents and cultures, aiming to craft diversified films with strong subjects and unique visions.
We are currently developing four feature film, including the English speaking scif-fi drama “Soma” by Miklos Keleti and “The Siren and the Crocodile” a fantastical drama by Charles Habib-Drouot.
Velvet Films’s latest productions include ‘Everybody Loves Touda’(2024) by Nabil Ayouch (Cannes Premiere 2024), ‘The Lost Children’ by Michèle Jacob (Karlovy Vary 2023, Sao Paulo 2023, Stockholm 2023 and Thelassoniki 2023) ‘The Blue Caftan’ (2022) by Maryam Touzani (Prix FIPRESCI – Un Certain Regard 2022). As well as the TV series ‘Oktoberfest 1905’ (2024), 2nd season of the award-winning ARD series, ‘Aspergirl’ (2023) for OCS (Best Actor Award at Series Mania 2023) and the English-speaking ZDF Studio series ‘The Window’ (2022).