“Con Alma marked an opportunity to celebrate the power of activism, solidarity and resilience..It appealed to the creative arts to spark transformation and demonstrate the power of intergenerational solidarity...” - UN Women News

Synopsis

Magos Herrera and Paola Prestini, two renowned musicians and composers of the international contemporary scene, created a long-distance strategy through music to build community and foster empathy in a time of uncertainty and pain. From this collaboration, and with the participation of more than 30 outstanding musicians, the album "Con Alma" was born. In 2022 they decided to take this music to reconnect and heal through live concerts and ultimately bring the conversation of care to the most important global conference on gender equality at the UN headquarters in New York, celebrating resilience and speaking through their artistic voices to transform. Through intimate testimonies of the musicians, archival footage, animation by Syrian artist Kevork Mourad and scenes filmed by filmmakers Marta Ferrer and Pedro González Rubio, the documentary portrays this process of creation, going through the songs of Con Alma in a journey that goes from the memories and sensations of isolation to the reunions and celebration of life and friendship. A journey full of emotions where collective creation builds friendship, solidarity and possible futures for the next generations.

Technical info

Original title: Con Alma

Category: Documentary

Genre: Biographic, music

Length: 85 min

Format: HD | Color | Aspect ratio 1.85:1 | Sound 5.1

Original languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese, Nahuatl

Country: Mexico

Release: 2024

Featuring

Magos Herrera and Paola Prestini, with Jeffrey Zeigler (USA), Gonzalo Grau (Venezuela), Vinicius Gomes (Brazil), Ensemble Sjaella (Germany), The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (USA), Kevork Mourad (Syria).

Crew

Co-Writers, Co-Directors and Co-DPs Marta Ferrer Carné, Pedro Gonzalez Rubio

Producer Paola Herrera

Coproducers Magos Herrera, Paola Prestini, Alejandro Blazquez de Nicolás, Joakim Ziegler, Øyvind Stiauren, Hector Ruiz

Associate producer: Enrique Rivero, Lola Newman

Sound Eloisa Diez (unit MX), Raquel Belver (unit US)

Editor Pedro Gonzalez Rubio

Postproduction Joakim Ziegler

Color correction Øyvind Stiauren

Sound Design Aldo Domínguez, Hector Ruiz

Company credits

Produced by Una Comunión

In coproduction with VisionIntoArt, Celuloide Films, Terminal Films, MCO Studios

Filmed thanks to Instituto Estatal de la Cultura del Gobierno de Guanajuato

With the support of UN Women, Directorate of Tourism of the Government of San Miguel de Allende, Goethe Institute, Rancho Cañada de la Virgen, Hacienda Santa Clara, Cerveza Allende, Tequila Maestro Dobel.