Before making his directorial debut in 2023, Alexander David had already carved out a broad and interesting career as an actor. After studying Theatre Studies in Évora and graduating in Acting from Lisbon's Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema, he was cast in films directed by Gabriel Abrantes, João Botelho, João Pedro Rodrigues, Márcio Laranjeira, Miguel Clara Vasconcelos and Rita Nunes. His career as a filmmaker began with a feature film, First Age, which premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival and presents us with an unusual universe, without adults, where children are ruled by strict precepts and where the loss of innocence is the awareness of a world beyond their island. This was followed a year later by the short film Water Hazard, which premiered at the same festival and follows a pre-adolescent child during the summer holidays, a period of discovery.

At Batalha, we present his two debut works, portals to fascinating and unique worlds that offer new perspectives on childhood, growing up and the creation of identity.

Screening followed by talk with Alexander David and Renato Cabral (film critic)