Comparsa
About the Film
COMPARSA immerses audiences in the intense world of Ciudad Peronia, Guatemala, where sisters Lesli and Lupe use art to break the silence surrounding gender violence. After 41 girls are killed in a State-run “Safe Home” and the government refuses to act, the sisters respond with a comparsa—an exuberant street performance featuring fire-breathing stilt walkers, thundering drums, and giant puppets. The spectacle exposes a system that permits and commits violence against women, all while building a culture of safety, humor, and creativity for the young people participating. Co-created with the film's participants, Comparsa is a stirring portrait of healing through art.
Directors: Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson
Producers: Olivia Ahnemann, Anna Hadingham, Doug Anderson, Vickie Curtis
United States, Guatemala // 2025 // Documentary // Los Features
79 minutes
About the Filmmaker
Vickie Curtis (director, producer, writer)
Emmy-winning writer of Netflix Originals 'The Social Dilemma' and 'Chasing Coral', Vickie makes her directorial debut with Comparsa. Her work explores the systemic roots of social and ecological crises, and the artists and activists working to rebuild. Vickie’s storytelling spans award-winning documentaries including Searching For Amani (Tribeca), We Are
Guardians (HotDocs, Netflix LatAm), Greener Pastures (POV), and Anbessa (Berlinale, Arte). After years studying theatre and education, she brings a collaborative ethos to each
project.
Doug Anderson (director, editor, producer)
Doug is a New York-based filmmaker and founder of Paper Moth Media, where he creates politically engaged documentary work, including for the groundbreaking 2018 campaign of
US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Credits include cinematography for To The End (Sundance 2022) and The Providers (Independent Lens), and sound work on Predators (MTV Documentary Films), Knock Down the House (Netflix) and Pride (FX). Comparsa marks his directorial debut.
