Natalia Almada
From the transnational dimensions of narco-corridos to the material expression of symbolic power in the form of extravagant mausoleums, Natalia Almada offers unique and intimate portrayals of cultural phenomena stemming from the Mexican drug trade. Departing from the experience of common people, her films shed light on the complex interrelations between violence, immigration, the economy, and cultural production.
Recipient of the 2009 Sundance Documentary Directing Award for her film El General, Almada’s most recent film El Velador premiered at New Directors/New Films and the Cannes' Directors' Fortnight. Her previous credits include All Water Has a Perfect Memory, an experimental short film that received international recognition, and Al Otro Lado, her award-winning debut feature documentary about immigration, drug trafficking, and corrido music. Almada’s films have screened at Documenta13, The Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim Museum and The 2008 Whitney Biennial. All three feature documentaries have broadcast on the award-winning series POV. Almada has received the MacArthur, Guggenheim, USA Artists, Alpert, and MacDowell fellowships. She graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design and currently lives in Mexico City.
