Biography
Ruth Somalo is a Spanish visual artist, filmmaker, curator, researcher and educator based in New York.
She is interested in creating a non judgmental non anthropocentric space to discuss and embrace emotions, myth, fragility, death and ritual. Her latest work is concerned with taboos of the female body, chronic illnesses, patriarchal structures and narrative medicine, human remains, tears, ritual healing, experiences of loss and the legacies of the Witch Hunts. Her feature and short films have been shown in theaters, festivals and museums internationally in cinemas and institutions such as Verdi Cinema, Zumzeig Cinema, Anthology Film Archives, Reina Sofía Museum, Cineteca de Madrid/Contemporary Art Center Matadero de Madrid, San Sebastian International Film Festival, Cinéma du Réel, Mimesis, ADFF, L’Alternativa, Rural Life Museum, Documentamadrid, MOMA PS1 (Expo1) and at the EYE Film Institute in Amsterdam.
Ruth currently works as Senior Programmer at DOC NYC, DocumentaMadrid, The Architecture and Design Film Festival and the DOCMA monthly screening series at Cineteca Matadero in Madrid. Some of her independent programs include "The affection for small things” (Cineteca Matadero de Madrid), "Filming One’s own Ghosts”, "Ritual and Magic: Portals for Audiovisual Creation & Healing”, “Holy Fluids and Absent Wounds”, “Queer Utopias” (Union Docs) and the Flaherty NYC Series “Broken Senses” (Anthology Film Archives). She currently serves as the chair of the Programming Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Flaherty Seminar and was its President for three years.
Ruth holds a PhD. in Cultural Studies by Autonomous University of Madrid for her dissertation Mending Objects: Mourning, Healing and the Self in Contemporary Nonfiction Film. She is a member of the international research group Hist-Ex (Anthropology of Experience) at the Spanish National Research Council, currently working on a project that re-evaluates gesture as a form of community building and as a mark of political distinction.
Ruth works as a mentor, seminar Instructor and as advisor of non fiction projects. She was the President of The Flaherty Board of Trustees and currently serves as the chair of their Programming Committee.
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Select filmography/videography
Feature documentaries:
A Small Catalog of Loss (work in progress), Researcher/Producer/Director/ Camera/Editor, 2025.
Arquipelago, Co director/Co-Producer/Cinematographer (Arquipelago Collective), 2024.
Notas Sincopadas (Syncopated Notes). Co-directed, co-produced & edited with Sandra Ruesga, 2023.
A Witch Story. Producer/Cinematography/Creative Consultant, 2022.
Consulta 32. Researcher/Producer/Director/ Camera/Editor, 2017.
Till Youʼre Told To Stop: James Blunt. Producer/Director/Camera/Editor, 2010.
200Km. Co-producer/co-Director/Camera/Script (Discusión 14 Collective), 2004.
Experimental non-fi ction shorts:
Memento Mori, Researcher/Producer/Director/ Camera/Editor, 2021.
La flor triste (The Sad Flower) Researcher/Producer/Director/ Camera/Editor, 2021.
Charla con planta (Plant Talk). Researcher/Producer/Director/ Camera/Editor, 2020. A Monthly Ritual. Researcher/Producer/Director/ Camera/Editor, 2018.
Sensorium produced at The Colony art residency at MOMA PS1, 2014
71% selected by MOMA PS1 Expo 1, 2013.
Ethnographic shorts:
Eusebio, el Americano (The American: Eusebio). Director/Producer/Writer/Camera/editor, 2015.
The Ancient Power of Menʼs Hands. Commissioned by Cataloniaʼs Museum of Rural Life.
Director/Camera/Editor, 2011.
Short documentaries:
Play Me. Director/Producer/Camera/editor, 2014.
Going Places: Attempting an International Mobility Biography. Producer/Director/Camera/Editor, 2007.
Thank you Dr. Gowne. Producer/Director/Camera/ Editor, 2006. 4
Call Center: A New Memory (Locutorio: Una nueva memoria). Producer/Director, 2003.
Narrative Shorts:
Machine for Life. Director/Producer/Writer/Camera/editor, 2012.
Spanish Eyes. Producer/Director/Actress/Voice over, 2004.
Desde la bañera (From the Bathtub). Producer/Director/ Editor, 2003.
Artist residencies
WALDEN Art Residence, Spain, October 2022.
Hewnoaks Artist in Residency, Maine, US, August 2016.
3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH, The Colony of Light, Artist in Residency, 2015.
Basilica Hudson, The Colony of Light, Artist in Residency. Final Presentation: “Utopia, Collective Living, Death, and Dark Optimism in “Sensorium” and “The American: Eusebio”. 2014.
MOMA PS1, The Colony of Light, Artist in Residency and screenings of my work, 2013.
Awards
Arquipelago, Special Mention Award at CO- (Collaborative) Film Festival, Barcelona, 2024.
A Witch Story, CIMA Award at Alcances Film Festival, 2023.
Screw You Cancer, Seventh Annual Television Academy Honoree, (Series Producer), 2014.
Till You’re Told To Stop, Director’s Choice Award at the Rincon International Film Festival, 2012. Best International Documentary Award RIFF, 2010. Best European Documentary Award, International Film Festival South Africa, 2010. Best Film, Best Documentary, and Best Director at Tenerife International Film Festival, 2010. Golden Palm Award at Mexico International Film Festival, 2010. Accolade Award of Merit for Feature Documentary, 2010.
200Km, Best Documentary Script Award at Golden Gate San Francisco International Film Festival, 2005. Barcelona de Cinema Award, 2005.
Official Selections at: San Sebastian Film Festival, Documentamadrid, NXNE, International Film Festival Thailand, Docuwest Film Festival, Tucson Film & Music Festival, Granada International Film Festival, Nashville film Festival, Female Eye Film Festival, Roving Eye-Rhode Island Film Festival, ADFF, RIFF, Sycamore Film Festival, Lifetree Film Festival.