056: Alys Tomlinson

What this episode covers

Congratulations to Alys and the team for winning the Grierson Award for Best Documentary at BFI London Film Festival! Apologies for taking so long to publish this chat. Alys Tomlinson is a renowned British photographer celebrated for her documentary-style approach. Her work explores the interplay between identity, place, and ritual, often achieved through deep immersion within communities. This method allows her to authentically capture their unique relationships with their environments and traditions. With a background in anthropology, Tomlinson brings a distinct perspective to her projects. This is evident in works like "Ex-Voto," which examines faith and devotion through the objects left at pilgrimage sites, and "Gli Isolani”, which documents the unique costumes and customs of Italian island communities. Tomlinson's compelling visual storytelling and sensitive portrayals have earned her widespread recognition, including prestigious awards such as the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize and the Sony World Photography Award. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is in esteemed collections, including the National Portrait Gallery. In this discussion, we focus on Alys Tomlinson's documentary "Mother Vera," which centres on an Orthodox nun from Poland. We explore how Tomlinson gained access to film this intimate portrait and fostered the trust necessary for its creation. Additionally, she shares insights into her process for selecting subjects for her portraiture.

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