Bio
Inspired by nature and myth, Sonia creates visually poetic films that draw from her Puerto Rican-American culture roots. As a writer/director, her creative voice centers on the stories of women, LGBTQ+ and people of the global majority.
Sonia has directed an episodic TV documentary series for Comcast and commercials for Nike, Facebook (Latinx Heritage Month Campaign), Vogue Italia, L’Oreal, Condé Nast - Them, Carol’s Daughter, State Farm, Citibank, Dis Arts, Maroon World and Booooooom.tv
Her work has received accolades from festivals/awards worldwide including the Tribeca Film Festival, Clios, Webbys, 1.4 Awards, One Show Awards and Kinsale Shark Awards. Sonia received grants from the Jerome Foundation and NYSCA. She was selected for the DGA/AICP Commercial Director’s Diversity Program, the NALIP Woman of Color Film Incubator (2024) and the Actors Studio Directors Unit (2024-25).
An athlete as well as an artist, Sonia’s first career was as a wilderness educator leading backpacking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, scuba diving and sea kayaking expeditions. She received her training from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Sonia is in development on her directorial narrative feature debut, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNI. The script participated in the Gotham Project Market: US Features In Development (2024), NALIP Latino Media Accelerator (2024), Film Independent’s Fast Track (2023), the WIF and Sundance Financing Intensive (2022) and was a Sundance and Outfest Screenwriting finalist.
She holds a B.A. and M.A. in American Studies (Gender and Race Relations).
Inspired by nature and myth, Sonia creates visually poetic films that draw from her Puerto Rican-American culture roots. As a writer/director, her creative voice centers on the stories of women, LGBTQ+ and people of the global majority.
Sonia has directed an episodic TV documentary series for Comcast and commercials for Nike, Facebook (Latinx Heritage Month Campaign), Vogue Italia, L’Oreal, Condé Nast - Them, Carol’s Daughter, State Farm, Citibank, Dis Arts, Maroon World and Booooooom.tv
Her work has received accolades from festivals/awards worldwide including the Tribeca Film Festival, Clios, Webbys, 1.4 Awards, One Show Awards and Kinsale Shark Awards. Sonia received grants from the Jerome Foundation and NYSCA. She was selected for the DGA/AICP Commercial Director’s Diversity Program, the NALIP Woman of Color Film Incubator (2024) and the Actors Studio Directors Unit (2024-25).
An athlete as well as an artist, Sonia’s first career was as a wilderness educator leading backpacking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, scuba diving and sea kayaking expeditions. She received her training from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Sonia is in development on her directorial narrative feature debut, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNI. The script participated in the Gotham Project Market: US Features In Development (2024), NALIP Latino Media Accelerator (2024), Film Independent’s Fast Track (2023), the WIF and Sundance Financing Intensive (2022) and was a Sundance and Outfest Screenwriting finalist.
She holds a B.A. and M.A. in American Studies (Gender and Race Relations).
Press
Argent The Work Continues BTS - March 2025
Ad Age 13 Creative Campaigns to Know About Today - March 2025
Variety NALIP Unveils Fourth Cohort of the WoC Incubator - November 2024
Deadline Gotham Week 2024 Lineup Unveilled - August 2024Melanin Basecamp Patagonia Backpacking Article - June 2024
Billboard New Music Latin (Juanita) - Februrary 2024
Remezcla News Releases (Juanita) - February 2024
Deadline Film Independent Fast Track - December 2023
Mooseknuckles Canada “An Air Down Introspective” - May 2023
Shots Diversity Focus - October 2021
Webby Award Winner Fashion and Beauty - May 2020
The Standard Culture: Bendiciones- March 2020
One Show Awards Nomination - January 2020
1.4 Director Interview: Shooting Strength - January 2020
1.4 Director Nomination - October 2019
Vogue Italia “Simone: A Survivor's Story” - September 2019
Shoot Online “CDDP Alum Sonia Malfa Joins Good Company's Directorial Roster” - June 2018
Shoot Online “Up-and-Coming Directors:Assembling the Spring Collection” - April 2017
DGA/AICP Commercial Director Diversity Program (CDDP) - 2017
Awards / Festivals
Webby Award - Business
Telly Award - (3 Gold, 2 Silver)
NALIP x NETFLIX WoC Incubator Gotham Project Market
NALIP Latino Media Accelerator
Film Independent Fast Track
WIF x Sundance Financing Intensive
Jerome Foundation
Clio Award - Fashion and Beauty
Webby Award - Winner Fashion and Beauty
Kinsale Sharks Documentary Short
1.4 Director Shortlist
One Show Awards Shortlist
Tribeca Film Festival
LA Short Fest
Atlanta Film Festival
Woodstock Film Festival
Milan Fashion Film Festival
Los Angeles Latino Film Festival
New York Latino Film Festival
DC Shorts Fest
AMDOCS
Way Out West Festival
One Screen Film Festival
Telly Award - (3 Gold, 2 Silver)
NALIP x NETFLIX WoC Incubator Gotham Project Market
NALIP Latino Media Accelerator
Film Independent Fast Track
WIF x Sundance Financing Intensive
Jerome Foundation
Clio Award - Fashion and Beauty
Webby Award - Winner Fashion and Beauty
Kinsale Sharks Documentary Short
1.4 Director Shortlist
One Show Awards Shortlist
Tribeca Film Festival
LA Short Fest
Atlanta Film Festival
Woodstock Film Festival
Milan Fashion Film Festival
Los Angeles Latino Film Festival
New York Latino Film Festival
DC Shorts Fest
AMDOCS
Way Out West Festival
One Screen Film Festival