In a Guatemalan barrio silenced by fear, teenage sisters lead a luminous rebellion for women and girls. Unleashing art and performance in a joyful fight for survival, they inspire local youth and heal deep wounds.
COMPARSA immerses audiences in the intense world of Ciudad Peronia, Guatemala, where sisters Lesli and Lupe use art and performance to break the silence surrounding gender violence. After 41 girls are killed in a State-run “Safe Home” including their friend Siona, the sisters respond with a comparsa—an exuberant street performance featuring giant puppets, fire-breathing stilt walkers, thundering drums, and a message for the community. The spectacle is produced entirely by Lesli, Lupe, and local youth who rise to join them. They expose a system that permits and commits violence against women, all while building a culture of safety, humor, and creativity with one another. Co-created with the film's participants, COMPARSA is a stirring portrait of sisterhood, peacebuilding, and the healing power of art.
Emmy-winning writer of Sundance and Netflix films The Social Dilemma and Chasing Coral, Vickie Curtis makes her directorial debut with Comparsa. Her work explores the systemic roots of social and ecological crises, and the artists and visionaries working towards solutions. Vickie’s storytelling work spans award-winning documentaries including Searching For Amani (Tribeca), We Are Guardians (HotDocs, Netflix LatAm), Greener Pastures (POV), Unearth (DOCNYC), and Anbessa (Berlinale, Arte). Vickie has also designed innovative, project-based curriculum to accompany docs intended for youth audiences. After years of studying theatre and education, she brings a collaborative ethos to each film project. Vickie holds an MFA from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.
World Premiere - Sheffield DocFest 2025
US Premiere - Woods Hole Film Festival 2025
Canadian Premiere - Calgary International Film Festival 2025
Southern US Premiere - Nashville Film Festival 2025
AFI Latin American Film Festival 2025
Sheffield DocFest - Jury Prize for Best International First Feature, Audience Award runner up
Shine Global - Children's Resilience in Documentary Award
Woods Hole Film Festival - IQ One World Award, Audience Award runner up
Olivia Ahnemann - Producer
Anna Hadingham - Producer
Lesli Canela Pérez - Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Film Participant
Lupe Pérez - Co-Writer, Co-Producer, Film Participant
Carolina Siraqyan - Editor
