LOS FILMS' Gabriel Novis Premieres 'Alice' at Hot Docs
The documentary short film “Alice”, directed by Gabriel Novis, who is represented for commercial work in the U.S. by LOS FILMS, the director-lead live-action discipline of the award-winning creative studio LOS YORK, premieres at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto today. The film screens in the festival’s shorts program within their “Learning to Fly” section. One of the most important documentary festivals in the world, Hot Docs is one of the paths to Oscar nominations in the category.
The documentary tells the story of Alice, a trans multi-artist from Alagoas and a childhood friend of the director, and her journey back to surfing as a way of dealing with her grief over the death of her father. The narrative, told from the perspective of the protagonist herself, reveals her experiences in key locations from her youth in Alagoas, while questioning the elitism, misogyny and transphobia present in the surfing community.
A Young Guns 2022 finalist recognized for his work with major brands such as Nike, Adidas, Disney and Louis Vuitton, Novis decided to make the film out of personal discomfort. As a surfer and former photographer for renowned surf magazines, he witnessed the lack of acceptance and prejudice in the industry.
“Alice is a powerful voice, raising an important debate for the surfing community,” he said. “It was up to me to open the doors to this universe so that she could tell her own story.”
“I had a lot of things stored up inside me and the movie came about as an opportunity to share them with the world,” said Alice. “I hope it will promote dialogue on topics that are much needed and help other people find their way.”
With a cinematographic approach marked by rich and sensitive images, Novis builds an intimate and poetic portrait, reinforcing his directorial style that mixes adventure, discovery and humanity. The film promotes an urgent debate about diversity and inclusion in surfing, while celebrating Alice's resilience and artistry.
“Alice” was produced by LOS FILMS and MyMama Entertainment, the International Emmy winning company responsible for works such as ‘Medusa’, which premiered at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes, ‘Amarela’, nominated for the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film, and ‘Vitória’, a Globoplay Original, co-produced with Conspiração Filmes and distributed by Sony Pictures, which features Fernanda Montenegro as the protagonist in a powerful and critically acclaimed performance.
Mayra Faour Auad and Gabrielle Auad at MyMama are the film’s producers, and Gabriel Novis, Seth Epstein, Melina Osornio and Scott Hidinger with LOS FILMS are co-producers.
