Living Altars

Living Altars is a remarkably intimate short film by directing duo Peggy Peralta and Lourdes Figueroa.

Artists Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez and Eli Reyes, folk arts teachers at Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy in San Pablo, CA, hoped to create an in-person, community altar for the Academy's traditional Day of the Dead gathering, but this became impossible due to Covid-19 restrictions. So the filmmakers were invited to create a film to convey their creative process and stories of loss, gratitude and healing.

Do-Rodriguez and Reyes present wearable Day of the Dead altars as living installations. The visually stunning film depicts the artists wearing their altars, created with mixed folk arts media, while narrating stories of family, grief, and consolation.

World Premiere

Peggy Peralta & Lourdes Figueroa
USA // 2020
Documentary
English
8 Minutes