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About Uma aka

Soup Commie

Uma Sanasaryan, also known as Soup Commie, is a Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist and storyteller. Inspired by her Soviet upbringing, 1990s sitcoms, and a uniquely California brand of diasporic spirituality, she blends spirituality, history, and cultural introspection into her creative work.

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An Emmy-winning editor and documentary filmmaker, Uma has over two decades of experience in documentary programming. She has worked on critically acclaimed projects that explore identity, history, and social justice, crafting narratives that blend investigative depth with cinematic storytelling.

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Born in Armenia and raised across Russia and the United States, Uma brings a unique diasporic perspective to her work, weaving personal history into broader cultural themes. Her passion lies in amplifying underrepresented voices through stories that examine political and spiritual complexities, and the power of food as a cultural connector.

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Uma is the founder of SCI Collective, a micro-documentary initiative that merges impactful storytelling with branding. SCI Collective specializes in producing short-form, visually compelling, and mission-driven content. By bridging documentary filmmaking with branding, SCI Collective helps amplify meaningful narratives across platforms in innovative and engaging ways.

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In addition to her film work, Uma hosts monthly community gatherings at The Pop Hop in Highland Park, where she shares homemade soup and stories—continuing her mission to create spaces for connection and storytelling through food.

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