*UK & IRELAND Rights

mother vera

directed by Cécile Embleton
& Alys Tomlinson

UK / 91 Mins / Belarusian, French, English

Logline:

MOTHER VERA weaves the inner world of a strikingly unusual Orthodox nun, with the community that saved her life. As an unexpected new chapter opens, Vera’s path is changed forever.

Synopsis:

In a hidden Orthodox monastery in Belarus, MOTHER VERA weaves the inner world of an unorthodox young nun with the community that saved her life. After 20 years as a monastic, Vera faces deep inner conflict. Now, she must confront her past and trust her instincts to find the liberation she desires.

"Transfixingly beautiful" - Screen Daily
"Sublime and sensorial debut feature" - The Film Verdict
"Absorbing and majestically shot" - The Film Verdict
"‘Exploring the notions of individual freedom and identity, Mother Vera is a touching and beautifully crafted film, with the final scene being, in my opinion, a poignant example.’"- Film Fest Report
Cécile Embleton is a French-British documentary director. Her directorial debut, “The Watchmaker”, screened at Hot Docs, Dok Leipzig and SXSW and won the Grand Jury Prize at Boston International Film Festival. Mother Vera is her first documentary feature film which is supported by Sundance, winner of Locarno First Look 2023 and second place winner at the Hotdocs Forum 2021.
Alys is a photographer based in London, working mostly in black and white film. Her work has been included in over twenty international exhibitions and she was named Sony World Photographer of the Year 2018 which included a portrait of Vera. Her long-term project ‘Ex-Voto’ was published by GOST Books in 2019. ‘Mother Vera’ is her directorial debut.
2024
World Premiere: Visions du Reel 2024 (International Competition)
Milliunnium Docs Against Gravity (International Competition)
US Premiere: Camden IFF, USA (Competition)
London FF, UK (Winner of Documentary Competition)
Central Scotland Documentary Festival, UK
Cork Film Festival, Ireland
Cinecity, UK
2025
Antenna Documentary Festival, Australia
Borderlines FF, UK
Year: 2024
Country: UK
Length: 91 mins
World Premiere: Visions du Reel 2024
Director: Cécile Embleton & Alys Tomlinson
Producer: Laura Shacham (She Makes Productions)
Cinematographer: Cécile Embleton & Alys Tomlinson
Editor: Romain Beck, Cécile Embleton
Sound: Leonardo Cauteruccio