By Noah Suh

When Soraya Simi ‘19 screened her student short film Salt Water in 2017 as a junior in the SCA Kevin Feige Film & Television Production Division, she had no idea that this project would open the door for her to direct her first feature film right out of film school. One moment she was a proud graduate and aspiring filmmaker and the next she was directing a feature documentary that would eventually land on major streaming platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Documentary Plus. 

SCA alum and director Soraya Simi (center) with crew of Row of Life at the start of filming in 2020. Courtesy of Soraya Simi.

Simi’s debut feature film, Row of Life, follows Marine Corps veteran, three-time Paralympian, and 14-time Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen as she attempts a solo 2,500-mile row across the Pacific from Los Angeles to Hawaii. The project became a defining start to Simi’s career, teaching her the importance of adaptability, resilience, and continuous professional growth while working on an ambitious and unpredictable production.

While preparing for her Pacific crossing, Angela Madsen came across Simi’s USC short film, Salt Water, and knew she had found the filmmaker to tell her story and reached out. Simi jumped at the opportunity, assembling a team of fellow USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni and filmmakers to bring the ambitious project to life. 

With the help of fellow Trojans, Ruhi Mansey '22 (Producer), Joseph DeRose '19 (Editor), Nestor Trujillo '20 (Field Sound), Rett Madison (Original Song), Lukas Dong '19 (Additional Cinematography), Aodhan Burns '19 (Motion GFX), Ryan Griswold '14 (Drone), Shaun Wolfe (Drone), and Brendan Bennett '20 (Additional Editing), the project was officially underway in 2019. 

Crew of Row of Life in front of Norris Cinema Theatre post SCA screening. Courtesy of Soraya Simi.

The excitement of making her first feature quickly gave way to the realities of independent filmmaking. Row of Life took more than six years to complete, weathering financial setbacks, production challenges, and the evolving demands of shaping such a powerful story. However, in February 2025, the team's perseverance paid off when Row of Life celebrated its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The film went on to win Best Documentary at the 2025 FilmOut Festival and the 2025 Nesandy and Schwartz Documentary Competition before becoming available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Documentary Plus in July of 2026. 

Courtesy of Soraya Simi.

Simi credits her time at SCA as a major step in preparing her for her career in filmmaking. “It sharpened my storytelling instincts and allowed me four years of intense practice in the documentary craft,” she states. The practice of shooting films consistently, learning the art of receiving and providing constructive feedback, and being able to collaborate with a variety of creative voices and points of view are highlights of her time at SCA, stating, “these are the skills I nurtured for four years and have felt the compound interest from every single day since.”

To learn more about Soraya Simi’s work and Row of Life, visit: https://sorayasimi.com/