Ivan Yaroshko

The film world is holding its breath for a unique premiere – the documentary film “Aldeas — A New Story.” Announced shortly after the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, this project is not just a film, but a poignant spiritual testament born from the collaboration between the Pontiff and legendary director Martin Scorsese.

At the heart of the film is the global educational movement “Scholas Occurrentes,” founded by Pope Francis back in 2013. Its goal is to promote the “Culture of Encounter” among youth through education and creativity. The “Aldeas” initiative, a key component of “Scholas,” sees cinema as a powerful tool to achieve this goal. Pope Francis himself called “Aldeas” “an extremely poetic and very constructive project… that reaches the roots of what human life is.” The film doesn’t just document these principles – it becomes their embodiment, demonstrating how art can be a catalyst for social change.

The heart of “Aldeas — A New Story” lies in the voices of young people from Indonesia, Italy, Gambia, and other corners of the globe. They create their own short films, reflecting on their identity, history, values, and social challenges. The film delves into the “behind-the-scenes” of this creative process, providing young authors with a platform for self-representation. This approach, which centers on authenticity and rejects external observation, aligns with contemporary calls for the decolonization of narratives, transforming participants into active co-creators.

Previously unseen dialogues between Pope Francis and Martin Scorsese lend special weight to the film, culminating in what the creators describe as “the Pope’s last profound on-camera interview.” Scorsese, known for films on spiritual themes (“The Last Temptation of Christ,” “Silence”), met with the Pontiff multiple times, and these conversations influenced his work. “Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other… Cinema is the best means for this,” notes the director. The documentary intertwines these conversations and the stories of young creators with Scorsese’s personal journey to Sicily, the homeland of his ancestors. This fusion of the global and the personal, the spiritual and the artistic, makes the film’s message deeper and more intimate.

Although Martin Scorsese’s name is central, he serves as a producer for “Aldeas — A New Story.” The directorial helm was taken by Clare Tavernor, known for music and arts documentaries, and Johnny Shippley, experienced in factual series. This duo promises a blend of artistic storytelling with structured factual presentation. The visual component is handled by distinguished cinematographers Ellen Kuras and Salvatore Totino.

The main message of “Aldeas” is creativity as “a path to hope and transformation.” The project isn’t limited to a film premiere: the youth’s short films are planned to be screened in new local cinemas that will become “permanent centers for cultural self-expression.” Independent funding and the reinvestment of all proceeds into expanding the initiative underscore its non-profit, mission-driven nature.

“Aldeas — A New Story” is a unique fusion of spiritual vision, cinematic art, and grassroots empowerment. Although an official release date has not yet been announced, the film is expected to tour international film festivals before wider distribution. This approach indicates a commitment to bringing the message of the “Culture of Encounter” and Pope Francis’s legacy to the widest possible audience, turning the film into a long-awaited cultural event. “Aldeas” has every chance to become not just a film, but a source of inspiration and an enduring message of hope.