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Embark on a journey to discover the lives and dreams of ten straight and genderqueer teenage girls living in a Bogota refuge through a new documentary entitled “Alis.”
The documentary “Alis” is the result of five years of filming at La Arcadia, a public institution that serves as a refuge for teenagers whose families cannot care for them and is located in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.
In “Alis,” ten young women came together to create an imaginary friend, Alis. The directors invited them to close their eyes and imagine the story of this girl of their age. This enabled them to forget their traumas and speak freely without worrying about the obstacles they face daily.
By organizing these documentary workshops, the directors created what they call a “psychological documentary” that allows the main characters to speak freely about any subject, including sex and sexuality, without being forced to address past traumas.
The directors opted here to interrogate rather than observe during the shooting to protect the girls above all else. However, this was also to give them control over what they wanted to share or not about themselves.
The banter, which was captured by Helkin Rene Diaz G.’s camera and preceded the interview, was kept in the edit. This allowed viewers to admire the cheerfulness of the eight teenage girls and see how alive each one of them is, freeing themselves from the formalities of filming.
In “Alis,” the strength and spirit that inspire these teenagers to imagine a better life are inspiring. Girls living on the streets are indeed confronted with a seemingly endless cycle of violence. Despite this, the story of "Alis" demonstrates their determination to overcome this situation and reach for a better future. Despite poverty and difficult circumstances, they find inspiration in each other and lend support by imagining what their re-envisioned life would be like with Alis by their side. What was originally an innocent game quickly becomes a way to escape the difficulties they face and create a different vision for their future.
Directors Clare Weiskopf and Nicolas Van Hemelryck (photo by Géraldine Aresteanu)
Through this documentary, the directors wanted to explore the place of women in the current world and what that implies. By giving these young girls a chance to express themselves, they discovered their ability to take control of their destiny when given the opportunity.
“Alis” is a sensitive and generous act that meant to encourage viewers to have more empathy and compassion for young girls who are facing discriminatory prejudices. It is designed as a tool for those affected to understand how to create new realities through collective imagination. The directors wanted to offer everyone an encouraging and inspiring message so that everyone can better explore their place in this world.
Check out the trailer for the documentary “Alis” below!
Clare Weiskopf and Nicolas Van Hemelryck have done something remarkable with their documentary film “Alis.” This achievement is not surprising, considering the extensive background and experience of its creators.
Clare Weiskopf, a director-producer from Colombia and Ireland, has over fifteen years of experience as a filmmaker and journalist. She has worked on various social issues, including armed conflict in Colombia, sexual violence as a war weapon, and the spread of cumbia music across Latin America and Europe.
Her debut, Amazona, premiered at IDFA, opened DocsBarcelona, was distributed in 11 countries, and received nominations for Fenix Awards and Goya Awards, winning three Colombian Academy Awards.
Clare is twice a winner of the Colombian National Journalism Award and has been selected for IDFAcademy, Cinema du Reel, Dok.Incubator, GoodPitch, and Campus Latino. Her projects have received support from Ibermedia, Sundance, Catapult, the IDFA Bertha Fund, Tribeca, and the Colombian Film Fund (Proimagenes).
Additionally, she has directed several documentaries and documentary series for TV channels, has been a teacher of filmmaking in several universities, and usually works as a jury in film funds.
Nicolas Van Hemelryck, a member of both the Colombian Film Academy and Cinema 23, an Ibero-American filmmakers' collective, has been nominated for best cinematography at the Fenix Awards for his work as a DOP. Director Clare Weiskopf is a filmmaker and journalist with over a decade of experience addressing various social issues, including the armed conflict in Colombia.
With such an impressive background and a wealth of experience behind them, it's no wonder that Weiskopf and Van Hemelryck were able to create a powerful and impactful documentary in "Alis." Their unique perspectives and dedication to telling important stories have resulted in a film that not only highlights the struggles of Colombian teens but also garners significant recognition and accolades on the international stage.
“Alis” will be released on January 25th, 2023 in France and on March 3rd, 2023 in Romania on March 3rd, 2023. No other release dates have been announced yet. The documentary will then continue its tour of various festivals around the world. It will make a stop in Helsinki, Finland on February 1st, 2023, to be screened at the DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival.
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