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aleph

aleph derives from an unlikely hypothesis: the possibility to meet the incommensurability and infinity of reality. Some of the space-time paradoxes of the literary and philosophical universes of Jorge Luis Borges (“The Aleph”, “The Zahir”, “The God’s Script” and “Book of Imaginary Beings”) are transported and reinvented through a sound narrative that operates through oneiric accounts that (con)fuse themselves: dreams from which is not possible to wake up, vortexes that do no accept an exterior, glowing fishes that support the world, walls that are portals, mountains that are skies, moments that contain every moment, spaces that contain every space or mirrors through which it is possible to enter an exit. The video-installation – that assumes the form of a corridor format and that was conceived to be experienced by one spectator at a time – is enclosed or expanded through the tensions created between the images that language allows to perceive and the images, no matter how large or close, that are impossible to be seen. The spectator is left with the inevitable surrender of its own presence.

  • João Cristóvão Leitão
    Director
  • João Cristóvão Leitão
    Writer
  • Joana Peralta
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Web / New Media, Other
  • Genres:
    Fiction, Video-installation, Jose Luis Borges, videoart
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 5, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Portugal
  • Country of Filming:
    Portugal
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Atelier Concorde
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    October 5, 2019
    International Premiere
Distribution Information
  • VIDEOLOTION
    Country: Portugal
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - João Cristóvão Leitão

Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre (Dramaturgy) at the Lisbon Theatre and Film School, and a Master’s degree in Multimedia Art at the School of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon. Currently acquiring a PhD in Fine Arts by the same institution, researching subjects related to the practices of expanded cinema and to the literary and philosophical universe of Jorges Luis Borges. Also obtained training from Guillaume de Oliveira (2013) of the Oskar & Gaspar collective.

As a creator, founded the performance collective 3.14 (2010-2012) and collaborates, since 2012, with the artistic collective SillySeason. Develops video art and installation projects, which have been displayed around the world and awarded in Portugal. Has a scholarship by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – Centre for Modern Art (2015 and 2017) and by the National Department of Arts (2017 and 2018), and is represented by the French platform Heure Exquise: Centre International pour les Arts Vidéo. Has collaborated with Mole Wetherell, of the British/Belgian Company Reckless Sleepers (2012), Rabbit Hole (2014), VIDEOLOTION (2015-2017), Elmano Sancho (2015), Ana Jezabel and António Torres (2017), Daniel Gorjão/Teatro do Vão (2017), João Pedro Fonseca (2017) and Rodrigo Pereira (2018).

Taught Interpretation IV (Media Workshop) in the Theatre (Actors) degree at the Lisbon Theatre and Film School (2014-2015) and monitored a live-image workshop at the School of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon (2016). Also taught Art Management at the António Arroio Secondary Arts School (2016-2018).

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Director Statement

aleph derives from an unlikely hypothesis: the possibility to meet the incommensurability and infinity of reality. Some of the space-time paradoxes of the literary and philosophical universes of Jorge Luis Borges (“The Aleph”, “The Zahir”, “The God’s Script” and “Book of Imaginary Beings”) are transported and reinvented through a sound narrative that operates through oneiric accounts that (con)fuse themselves: dreams from which is not possible to wake up, vortexes that do no accept an exterior, glowing fishes that support the world, walls that are portals, mountains that are skies, moments that contain every moment, spaces that contain every space or mirrors through which it is possible to enter an exit.

The video-installation – that assumes the form of a corridor format and that was conceived to be experienced by one spectator at a time – is enclosed or expanded through the tensions created between the images that language allows to perceive and the images, no matter how large or close, that are impossible to be seen. The spectator is left with the inevitable surrender of its own presence.